Commended to the Word: Equipping leaders for ministry impact … around the world
Devotions
Today's Devotion
Our Daily Bread
Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you…I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger… John 6:27,35
One of the most consistent promises throughout the Bible is God’s assurance that He will provide for us in every way. He desires to care for us, to meet our physical, spiritual and emotional needs. He gave manna in the wilderness to the rebellious children of Israel who had already refused the provision of “milk and honey” in the Promised Land. His commitment to give us what we require continues even in the face of our periodic waywardness.
Too often, however, we get caught up with worry about such mundane and elementary things as food, shelter and clothing. Tight finances, empty cupboards and searching for a place to live all have a way of screaming at us for priority attention. We become consumed with attention on such matters.
Only with difficulty do we resist the temptation to be anxious and troubled—consumed with focusing on these particulars. Sometimes we are even tempted to grow bitter against God when it seems to us that He has somehow let us down and not fulfilled His part of the bargain. We want to know ‘what gives?’ when His provision for us appears inadequate. What we often forget is why He chooses to provide for us. He wants, firstly, to demonstrate His love and affection for us like a father caring for His children.
Additionally, He supplies our every need so that we can more fully devote ourselves to what life is all about: developing a closer relationship with God in His Kingdom, and with the people around us whom He values with such passion and purpose.
Ultimately, riches, food, shelter, clothes, etc. cannot provide any real profit in our lives. They are all things destined to perish with use (Colossians 2:22), and they cannot ever truly satisfy the soul or give it rest. Consequently, when we find ourselves in situations where provision seems lacking (no job, no money, no place to stay), we should interpret them as reminders of what life is really about.
I’m not saying that tight finances or needing a room to rent are necessarily indications of sin or wrong priorities—like we’ve really blown it and now God is getting back at us. But, if we can understand that God always does provide for us, then we can focus our attention freshly on Him and ask Him to “move us” spiritually, emotionally, etc., to that place of provision He already has for us. It’s all part of the process of learning to walk with Him day by day.
Coming to Him over and over again is the best way to stay covered, fed and satisfied.
