daily bread
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” -Matthew 4:4
What does this phrase mean, “our daily bread?” When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness after fasting for 40 days, He replied, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Even though he knew that by shaking hands he could feast on his fingers, he decided that in order to pass the test, God’s words must be more important than eating. To gain the right to conquer the spiritual, He had to conquer the natural.
“He humbled you, made you hungry and then fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors knew, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” -Deuteronomy 8:3
When Jesus teaches us to pray, He includes the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread,” (Matthew 6:11) as a reference to when the Israelites lived on manna for 40 years in the desert. God’s daily provision is a great blessing when we are learning to trust Him. This provision also has a spiritual meaning – the Israelites could only store manna for that day’s food, otherwise it would rot. God has words He wants to give us every day – if we will only seek Him for them. He has “fresh bread” waiting for us. We cannot live today on tomorrow’s revelations. As it is said in Lamentations, “Because of the Lord’s great love we do not perish, for his lovingkindnesses never fail. They are new every morning” (3:22 & 23).
Do you seek God for your daily bread? Let each of us seek God daily so that our lives may become a living reflection of Him.
