Pentecost Week Twenty-One - Day Three – Nourished by Christ

Day Three – Nourished by Christ
New Testament: Luke 11:3
Old Testament: Exodus 20:12–16

“Give us each day our daily bread.”
At first glance, this seems practical — even basic.
Bread. The stuff you eat. A simple request for food.

But wait – what did Jesus say last week?
“Don’t worry about what you will eat or what you will wear… Your Father knows what you need.” (Luke 12:22–30)

So why pray for bread now?

Because this prayer isn’t about anxiety — it’s about dependence.

Jesus is teaching us to lean into the provision of God — not just for food, but for life itself.
In Jesus’ world, “bread” meant more than carbs.

It meant sustenance. What keeps you alive. What holds you up.
It was shorthand for everything you need to survive.

And Jesus is saying: “Let that come from Me.”

Think about the Israelites in the desert.
They had no idea how to survive in the wilderness — but God gave them manna from heaven and quail at night.

They didn’t earn it.
They couldn’t store it.
They just had to receive it — daily.

That’s what Jesus is pointing to.
“Let your soul be nourished by Me. Let your spirit feed on My presence. Let your life depend on Me — not just on what’s in your pantry.”

Christ, Our Daily Bread
Jesus would later say something shocking:
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.”
(John 6:35)

He isn’t just offering provision — He is the provision.

So when we pray “Give us each day our daily bread,” we’re not just asking for food.
We’re asking for Jesus.

Fill me with what I need today — not just to live, but to live like You.

Feed me with Your Word.

Strengthen me by Your Spirit.

Renew me with Your mercy.

Oh, and notice the pronoun: “Give us…”

This isn’t just a solo prayer. It’s a communal one. Look at the entire prayer – 100% Communal! We’re asking God to meet the needs of everyone, not just ourselves.
And sometimes, you might be the answer to someone else’s prayer.

When you share your time, your resources, your encouragement — you become someone’s “daily bread.”

Commandments of Community
Exodus 20:12–16 shifts the focus from God to others.  
We will talk much more about these tomorrow and the next day.  For now, look at the commands as about relationship.
And relationships require humility, trust, and sacrificial love.  (Remember - we are still talking about bread here!)

Modern Reflection
We’re taught to be self-made, self-sufficient, and independent.

But Jesus teaches us to be childlike, dependent, and communal.

This prayer isn’t just about God giving us what we want.

It’s about God giving us Himself — and teaching us to live in daily trust.

So stop asking for control. Stop asking for stuff!  Start asking for Christ.

And don’t miss the tension:
Last week, Jesus told us not to worry about food or clothes.
Now He tells us to ask for bread.
This is a prayer of surrender!

Reflection
Dependence has a way of revealing what the heart truly trusts. Sometimes it's yesterday’s manna we cling to — past experiences, old provisions — hoping they’ll carry us through today. But grace doesn’t hoard; it arrives fresh each morning.

There is quiet beauty in becoming part of someone else’s sustenance — not as a savior, but as a vessel. Bread shared becomes a picture of the kingdom; provision passed hand to hand, heart to heart.

And beneath it all, a deeper hunger stirs — not for certainty or control, but for Christ Himself. This is the kind of dependence that shapes us: daily, humble, surrendered.

Prayer
Jesus,
You are the Bread of Life — and I need You every day.
I confess how often I try to feed myself with control, distraction, or self-reliance.
Teach me to depend on You.
Give me what I need today — not just to get by, but to live fully in You.
And make me a vessel of Your provision for others.
Amen.