BUT WE PRAY IN THIS PETITION THAT HE WOULD MAKE US SENSIBLE OF HIS
AND ENABLE US TO RECEIVE OUR DAILY BREAD WITH THANKSGIVING. [Eph. 5:20+] Since all the blessings we enjoy are God's gifts, bestowed without any worthiness on our part, [Gen. 32:10] we pray that we may always receive them with thankful hearts, and express our gratitude with our lips and in our lives. We should give thanks at every meal, and in all our prayers.
Contentment. True thankfulness implies contentment with those gifts which God sees fit to bestow upon us. [Heb. 13:5+, 1 Tim. 6:6-8+] We must not murmur because He does not include in our daily bread some things which we desire to have; nor dare we permit the withholding of those things to prevent us from being truly thankful for the many benefits which God does bestow upon us.
QUESTIONS.—1. What do we acknowledge and for what do we pray in this petition? 2. Why do we pray God to "give"? 3. Why do we pray, "give us"? 4. Why do we pray "this day"? 5. Why do we say our daily bread? 6. What does daily bread include? 7. How much must God give us in order to answer this prayer for daily bread? 8. Why does God give, even to the wicked? 9. What should we bear in mind with respect to all our blessings? 10. How should we receive our daily bread? 11. How should we express our gratitude? 12. What is to be said about contentment?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.—Matt. 6:34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Eph. 5:20. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb. 13:5. Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
1 Tim. 6:6-8. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.
READING.—The Feeding of the Five Thousand, John 6:1-13.