Give us each day our daily bread. – Luke 11:3
People without a smattering of Yiddish vocabulary may still be familiar with chutzpah. It is that sense of confidence, generally in one’s self, bordering on arrogance. But, like many Yiddish words, finding a translation into English that brings the full flavor of meaning is elusive.
Jesus had just responded to the disciples’ request to teach them to pray by giving them the example you know as the Lord’s Prayer. He follows it with a teaching parable. During His time on Earth, hospitality was an important part of life. One had always to be prepared in the event guests arrived, as it would dishonor them not to have needed provisions. In the parable, an unexpected traveler shows up late at night. Much to the embarrassment of the host, he was out of bread. One might go to a neighbor during the day, but imposing on a neighbor for bread in the middle of the night took chutzpah. The neighbor, as might be expected, was annoyed and reluctant to get out of bed and help his friend. But the Bible says because of the “impudence” of the host, the neighbor got up and provided what he needed.
After asking a couple of rhetorical questions of His disciples, Jesus reminded them, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
So, what is your daily bread? It is the knowledge, even at the midnight hour, that you always have the Holy Spirit available to you. It is less about a satisfying meal to nourish the body than it is about the satisfying presence of Christ in you that nourishes your soul.
Give thanks today for neighbors and friends who help meet your needs even at inconvenient times. Then thank God for His indwelling Holy Spirit who more than provides all you need. Pray confidently for the nation’s governing officials to turn to the Heavenly Father to meet their spiritual needs, enabling them to govern the nation more righteously.
Today’s Verse: Luke 11:3
Give us each day our daily bread,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Luke 11:1-13
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
