“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:11
Our current sermon series at St. Luke’s is “The Prayer He Taught Us.” We are looking at the Lord’s Prayerfound in Matthew 6:9-13. This is the only time that Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. Disciples are to pray to “Our Father in heaven.” While praying, disciples are to petition God for the things we need. Part of this prayer is the request, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
The request to “Give us this day our daily bread” is the practical part of the prayer. It is a specific request to help meet the daily needs of each person. It is a recognition of our dependence on God. During the times when we have little or the times when we have much, we are still dependent on God for all that we have. (Matthew 7:11)
The language of “daily bread” reminds us of the powerful way that God cared for the slaves that escaped from bondage in Egypt. As God led them through the wilderness, He provided for their daily needs. The most significant way that God met the practical needs of the Hebrew people was by sending manna. Manna was the name the people gave the “bread from heaven.” (Exodus 16:4) Each day, God would provide enough food for the whole nation. The people would collect enough for the entire day. It was an amazing gift of God as God brought the people to freedom.
As the Hebrew people wandered the wilderness, they realized their dependence on God. We also depend on God for so much. It is sometimes difficult to see how truly dependent we are on Him. This is why we learn the Lord’s prayer and make it part of our faith practice. It reminds us that God cares for us. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us how to ask our Heavenly Father for what we need. And, as a loving father does, God will “give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:11)
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
