Wednesday, November 23, 2005
John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
BREAD FROM HEAVEN
People Jesus fed that day on Galilee's far shore hadn't thought about how needful lunch would become when they left their homes in the morning. This is common today as well, with the abundance of the Lord's provision for us. It's easy to take food for granted. (We spend our time worrying about what kind.) It's easy to forget where it comes from. Just like those men in Capernaum who told Jesus: "Moses fed our fathers" (speaking of the manna). Jesus had to tell them, "Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father."
Today people think they themselves are the source of their bodily provision because they work for a living, though those who think this way can't make a single seed sprout or make the smallest rain cloud form.
Too many think like the "self-made" Virginia farmer Jimmy Stewart portrayed in the film "Shenandoah". He "prayed": "Lord, we cleared this land. We plowed it, sowed it, and harvested it. We cooked the harvest. It wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be eatin' it if we hadn't done it all ourselves. We worked dog bone hard for every crumb and morsel. But we thank you just the same for this food we're about to eat. Amen."
Jesus didn't address the Father like that, even though He was about to make bread -- from scratch (truly). In fact He likely used the "common table prayer" of the time when He "took the loaves, and gave thanks before He distributed them . . ." -- a prayer that praised the Father as Ruler of all, both Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
We also pray at mealtimes. It's not mere pious habit. With prayer we acknowledge God as the source of our food. By His word it was and is made. By His word it is nutritious and life-supporting.
O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.
