Bread

Give us day by day our daily bread. (Luke 11:3 KJV)
I am that bread of life. (John 6:48 KJV)

I don’t know the source for this graphic – I saw it on Facebook and was struck by two things – first, bread. That’s my logo and these two verses that tie that thought together. It really isn’t to enjoyed only on special occasions.

The second are the few words showing in the graphic: “… it was found written …”
Nehemiah’s story is almost complete. He started in Artaxerxes’ presence and in Chapter 13, he returned. In his absence, some of Moses’ writings were found and re-instituted:

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. (Nehemiah 13:1-3 KJV)

They knew the temple was important. They knew it was a symbol of God’s work in this world. But, somewhere along the line the people had forgotten:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7 KJV)

This was important enough to be repeatable:

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 11:19 KJV)

The Bible is nourishment, which we need daily, not just on Christian holidays, not just on Sundays. Why?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

I believe this to be true – scripture provides the foundation for our beliefs. Without a knowledge of scripture, it is easy to be led astray:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:1-2 KJV)

I firmly believe that time spent with the scriptures, especially when accompanied by prayer, offers awesome results. I’m reminded of the Ethiopian eunuch, riding in his chariot, reading Isaiah when he noticed Philip.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? (Acts 8:30 KJV)

The man did not, and his questions were answered. That’s the nourishment I expect, and have received, from the bread of life.