DAILY BREAD
Daily bread
is the word of God given each day. Just as we eat three meals a day, so
also God devised a way for His people to have a personal relationship
with Him through manna training (see Deut 8:3). Likewise, we encourage
God's people to read the Bible daily, pray regularly, meditate on, and
even memorize the word of God each day. Through this process our lives
may be guided by God, and we may gain spiritual power to live each day
for Him. The Daily Bread booklet published by the University Bible Fellowship
acts as a spiritual aid to help us eat and digest the word of God. Using
this booklet as a tool, we can read the text of the Bible, meditate on
it, and receive from it spiritual food for one day. The Daily Bread booklet
is designed to cover all 66 books of the Bible once ever four years. It
interprets the Bible passages, helping each person to apply the words
of God to his or her daily life. By eating daily bread faithfully in this
manner, we can write a personal commentary on the entire Bible once every
four years. Personal time alone with God is necessary for all of us.
When should
one eat daily bread?
Daily bread should be eaten daily. In Exodus 16:17-21, we see God
providing manna for His people one day at a time. Some people tried to
gather enough for two days, but maggots came and spoiled the surplus making
it stink. Whatever was left after they had gathered their daily portion
melted away when the sun came up. This shows that we need daily bread
fresh every day. We cannot rely on the bread eaten the day before to sustain
us, just like we cannot eat three meals one day and expect to be fully
satisfied the following day. When we eat daily bread every day, we can
receive day-by-day instruction from the Lord and renew our faith in Him,
thus leading a victorious life.
Daily bread should be eaten first thing in the morning. Mark 1:35 says,
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up,
left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, we understand that we
must eat daily bread in the morning. The first thing we do in the morning
should be to meet with our Father in heaven and enjoy sweet fellowship
with Him through reading His words and praying. Furthermore, the word
of God equips us to face all the trials and battles of the coming day.
In the morning, we are still fresh, clean, and undistracted by the cares
of the world. It is at this time that we are most confident in our faith
and able to see the world most clearly. When we come to the Bible with
a fresh mind, we are able to accept its truth more completely.
How does
one eat daily bread?
Prayer: Before reading the word of God, we out to prepare our minds with
prayer. "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your
commands" (Psalm 119:10).
Reading: What
does the passage say? Notice the facts carefully so that we may know what
the word actually says.
Thinking:
What does it mean? What is the context and meaning which the author is
seeking to convey?
Notice especially:
a) Teachings about God the Father, His only Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
b) Teachings to be followed in the Christian life:
1) Are there promises to believe and claim?
2) Are there commands to be obeyed?
3) Are there warnings to be heeded?
4) Are there habits to be changed?
5) Are there sins to be avoided?
c) What is (are) the important teaching(s) of this passage?
d) Think about the key verse (memorize if possible).
Writing: Summarize
in writing the content and meaning of the passage, and write briefly how
it applies to you in your own situation.
Prayer: Conclude
by writing your own prayer and confession of faith before God based on
the passage. Write your own "one word," a catchphrase or slogan
to carry with you throughout the day, which summarizes what you learned
Why should
one write a daily bread testimony?
Often people merely read the daily bread words and do not sit down to
meditate on the meaning or write a testimony of what they learned. However,
just reading the daily bread is not enough. God wants to indelibly impress
His word upon us. When His word is written on our hearts, we can be led
by His wisdom and live a faithful life. If we simply read the words, they
will quickly evaporate from our mind. But if we make the effort to struggle
with a text, grasp its meaning, accept its truth, and make a personal
application of it to our lives, we will be less likely to forget it in
the future. By writing this kind of testimony on a simple notebook, we
allow the Holy Spirit to write God’s words on our heart.
