Lenten Devotional, Day 17: Sowing & Eating; Reprise: Daily Bread
Dear Saints,
Scriptures for Friday: Psalm 95, Exodus 16:9–21, Ephesians 2:11–22.
REPRISE: DAILY BREAD:
Yesterday we looked at the idea of daily bread: "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). And we noted in our Exodus readings that there was a bread called manna. It was true, physical food. And yet being from heaven, we looked at it as a type/allusion pointing to God's Word as spiritual sustenance.
This is no theological stretch for Jesus said: "I have food to eat that you do not know about." (John 4:32). Jesus meant spiritual food, communion with the Father. And Jesus said when physically hungry and tempted, i.e. fasting: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 5:5). And much like the daily gathering of manna, so is there to be a daily gathering of spiritual bread: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34).
In that Verse I believe God is saying: Seek Me for today; I'll provide, but afterward rest, enjoy, balance. Don't stress and try to get a leg up on tomorrow. Don't eat tomorrow's meals today, for you will become uncomfortably stuffed to the point of indigestion or possibly even vomit. Live life in a God-ordained, daily rhythm: some Bible, some prayer, some "watching," some table family fellowship, some friends, some vocation, some chores, some play, some poetry, some pen collecting, some steps/exercise, some walk the dog, some helping of others, some sleep.
IDENTICAL SEEDS, DIFFERENT PURPOSES:
And here is one more thought from the Exodus Readings: "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack." (Exodus 16:18). Hmm, that Verse is requoted in 2 Corinthians 8:15. Why is it that a balance or equilibrium occurs between the abundant harvest and the sparse harvest?
Is it through a covenantal re-distribution of wealth, a sorta Christian communalism? The church actually had that in the very early years of intense discrimination and persecution. Survival required it! "And all who believed were together and had all things in common." (Acts 2:44, in context VV. 42–47). And again: "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." (Acts 4:32, in context VV. 32–37). Conditions could arise bringing this to the fore once again.
But that wasn't the situation in Corinth. Why no inequity? "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7). Wow!
Now notice something: "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food." (2 Corinthians 9:10). God gives us both, not either/or. What's amazing is that the seed for both looks exactly the same. So which is which? What's more, in context, it is not the 90:10 tithe principle. So it cannot be decided by measure or proportion. (Just let that hang there today without comment). The only guidance is "generously" x5 and by "grace abounding" or some variation of it x5 (rf. 2 Corinthians 9:6–15).
That is not a matter of formula, ratio, math but rather one of heart, love, and trust. Amazing!
Finally, even in the prayer — give US this day OUR daily bread — well, the idea is there. That is to say: Of the seed He gives each one, what portion is for my bread and which portion is to share? The prayer is for both concerns. I'm soo embarrassed; only recently after myriad recitations of those words in unison did it dawn on me: That although my mouth said the words "our" and "us" my heart seemed to be saying "me" and "my." O dear!
The Only Best in/is Christ,
tIM