Our Daily Bread

"Give us, today, the bread we need."

This is literally a prayer for our needs to be met. That's it. Simple, right?

So, I see the word "bread" and think of practical, everyday needs.

But Jesus said that people can't live on just bread by itself: we live on the very Words coming out of God's mouth. 'Needs' here also means the things we need to hear God say.

We are forgiven. That's what He says, so it must be true. And apparently forgiveness is something we need, because it's put in the same sentence here. Actually, asking for daily bread is kind of a 'Part 1 of 2' thing- it's paired with ". . . And forgive our sins, as we forgive the people who've sinned toward us."

So, why is forgiveness so important? What's the big deal? Why do we need it so much?

I was actually talking to my cousin Daisi last night, and the whole forgiveness thing was brought up. What does it mean when God says He forgives us?

She brought up the idea of God taking on someone's debt, and something clicked for me.

There is no way I can undo my mistakes, or fix the hurt I've caused other people, or pay for my sin. There is no possible way for me to pay that debt. The only thing I could do would be to die. Then, at least I wouldn't be causing more problems. It's the only way to pay what I owe.

But, just like any debt, all that matters is that it gets paid. The person paying the debt doesn't have to be the same person who owes it, all that matters is that the debt is paid.

So God took my debt, and He paid it. He died. The debt had been paid, I no longer owe.

And that's forgiveness.

That's why it's important, that's why it's one of the most basic needs of the human race, that's why it's my daily bread.

Every day, it's true. I am forgiven. You are forgiven. Period.

We can live in freedom- there's no more death threat having over our heads! And even when we mess up again, because of course we will, we can go to God and He can say, "I already paid for that." Because He did.

It's awesome.

~Dolly