10-14-19<\/p>\n
Some day I want to put together a new version of the Holy Bible. Ambitious, yes. But I believe that the Bible is a Book that many people know<\/em>, but not everybody understands<\/em>.<\/p>\n There is a human tendency to assume, to take for granted, things that largely are familiar to us. And you know what often happens when we assume. Familiarity does not always breed contempt\u2026 but it can lead to indifference. Hard truths, even when brilliantly expressed, can grow trite when we are intellectually careless.<\/p>\n My version of the Bible would be called the NSL Version \u2013 Not Saith the Lord<\/em>.<\/p>\n If we can remind ourselves of familiar verses and passages of Scripture, and really \u2013 No: REALLY<\/em> \u2013 think about them, and their meaning; their application to our lives\u2026 they can burst on our consciousness like thunderclaps. Sometimes as if we had never heard them before!<\/p>\n I know, because it has happened to me.<\/p>\n I will revisit this idea, going forward, and solicit nominations of verses and passages from you.<\/p>\n Here is one instance. \u201cGive us this day our daily bread…\u201d Yes, yes, \u201cprovide for me, please.\u201d I think too many of us focus (if we focus at all as we rush through the Lord\u2019s Prayer or the \u201cOur Father\u201d) on the \u201cGive\u201d and \u201cus\u201d and \u201cbread\u201d and what they represent.<\/p>\n But when Jesus outlined the perfect prayer, or topics to include when we approach God, I believe He wanted, in this passage, to remind us of the \u201cdaily.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lord provides for us, we know and trust that. As with the sparrows, as with the lilies of the field. We seek it, and He indeed provides, spiritually as well as materially.<\/p>\n But how often does God provide? Not occasionally\u2026 not in crises alone\u2026 not only when we are desperate. But, daily. Daily \u201cbread.\u201d<\/p>\n That is not merely a petition of wanting, but is worded to remind us to be thankful that God does<\/em> provide. Daily!<\/p>\n In fact, between spiritual and material matters, so much, so often, so \u201cdaily,\u201d that sometimes we take His provisions for granted.<\/p>\n So when you next pray, \u201cGive us this day our daily bread,\u201d you can remind yourself of how much more than bread<\/em> He hath provided (and we \u201cshall not live by bread alone,\u201d right?). But have your mind focus too on His daily, constant, reliable provisions.<\/p>\n His gifts\u2026 before we know we need them! Indeed, great is His faithfulness.<\/p>\n