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Sep 26, 2023 18:30pm

God is Our Source

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I’m not a seamstress. I really have no idea what I’m doing. But when I see something, I immediately think, “I can make that!”

So, off to Hobby Lobby I go.

I get to the fabric section, pilfer through the sale aisle and then through the plethora of materials until I find the print or texture I like.

I take it to the – well, I don’t even know what they’re called, so, we’re going to go with the lady with the scissors.

“How much do you want?”

Well, now we’ve come to the million dollar question, haven’t we?

Since I have no idea what I’m doing, how am I supposed to know? In fact, I don’t really even know measurements well. I still measure an inch with the tip of my pinky. I still use my steps to measure a foot, which I already know is incorrect.

Yards?

What is that?

I think back to the long yard stick that was in Mr. Williams’ science room in the 8th grade. Again, what do I know?

So, I come clean with the lady with the scissors, and I tell her I really don’t know.

“What are you planning to make?”

Oh, now that’s an easy one. I share my idea and a smile comes to her face.

“I know exactly what you need.”

She starts measuring, cutting, folding, and pins my receipt to the top.

I stare at it for a moment wondering if that will truly be enough.

“Are you sure that’s all I need?”

She smiles. “I’m certain. Trust me.”

Luke 11:3

“Give us day by day our daily bread.”

We’re studying prayer through the book of Luke. The disciples want to know how to pray. John has shown his disciples and these men have now asked Jesus to show them.

So far, we’ve acknowledged God as our Father and all the attributes that come with it. We’ve recognized His authority over Heaven, earth and us. And now, we come to bread.

Three things pop out at me in this verse.

“Give us day by day our daily bread.”

Give us. This prayer is asking for something. But the key here is to whom they are asking. The prayer is addressed to “Our Father” so we see they are looking to God for what they seek.

1. God is the source of what we need, not ourselves.

Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, said “everything is meaningless”. Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, we hear of Solomon’s quest for fulfillment, but he comes up empty-handed. Why? He realizes it’s because he was trusting in himself and the things of this world for fulfillment and not God.

Think back to the Old Testament. Moses led the people out of bondage in Egypt. God provides food for them – manna, which was bread from heaven. They were instructed to only take enough for each day. They couldn’t store up any of the food or it would spoil and rot. Why? God was teaching them that He was their source. They should rely on Him for all that was needed.

“Give us day by day our daily bread.”

Day by day. Not today and tomorrow, but day by day. Why would Luke write that?

2. Life is temporary. We are not promised a tomorrow. What He gives us is sufficient for the day.

Proverbs 27:1

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

James 4:14

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

In both Proverbs and James, we understand how fleeting life can be. Here one minute, and gone the next. When we pray, we should be asking God for what we need today. Each day is a gift but we only get one at a time.

“Give us day by day our daily bread.”

Our daily bread. If we are only given one day at a time, and we should only take what we need, how do we know how much?

3. God knows exactly how much we need each day.

Whatever you’re searching for, whatever you need, God knows. Just like the lady with the scissors, God already sees the finished product and knows exactly how much you’ll need to make it.

I want to live every day where I have poured out everything I have for the Lord so that I can return to Him with an empty cup and say, “fill me again”.

Are you trusting in God as the source? Are you living each day as if it’s your last? Are you relying on Him to know exactly what you need?

“Give us day by day our daily bread.”