In this present day “gluten-free” environment bread might
not be as popular as it once was.
Seems everyone is concerned with counting
carbs and watching their starch intake. However, my Mom always says, “Bread is the
staff of life.”
The American Heritage
Dictionary defines it this way:
staff of life
- n. pl. staves
of life or staffs of life. A staple or necessary food, especially
bread.
Bread was the ancient
Israelites’ essential food. It was made of flour, either of wheat or barley,
ground in a hand mill or quern consisting of two stones. When ground, the flour
might be coarse or fine. Flour was generally made into leavened bread, but at
Passover only unleavened bread was eaten. 'Spelt' is sometimes mentioned in the
Bible; this was grain of poor quality. Poor people ate barley bread.
During the exodus from
Egypt, the Hebrews ate a special food provided by God. Manna came from heaven at night,
resembling frost, coming with the dew (Numbers 11:9). Josephus and other ancient writers attribute
the name manna to the question “Is it food?” which helps to explain the Hebrew
version of the word man (which is a
question) added to hu - thus forming the word manna ("What is it?"). This life-giving substance appeared daily in the wilderness on their journey to the Promised
land.
Manna was described as
white, delicious in flavor, and may have resembled the seed of coriander, a
plant of the eastern Mediterranean area which was both tasty and nourishing
(Exodus 16:31).
It was ground and used
to make cakes. Manna was a temporary
provision for God’s chosen people. It
was called bread from heaven in Psalm 105:40, and Jesus Himself was referred to
as the true Bread from Heaven in John 6:31-63.
Jesus taught the
multitudes in His famous Sermon on the Mount that Kingdom living would be challenging. The
Beatitudes were a series of teachings that centered on a declaration of blessedness
– spiritual conditions set forth by God for man’s benefit. In Matthew 5:6 Jesus says, “Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”
As I began to meditate on
that verse, I understood that my hunger
would only be satisfied in the Living Bread Himself – JESUS - my Manna from heaven! I
need Him every day – afresh and new. I must make time for Him
to speak to me and refresh my soul.
One of my favorite
devotionals is Our Daily Bread which has been translated into over 40 languages
and favored for over sixty years worldwide. Our Daily Bread has resources to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to people of
all nations, helping them grow in Christlikeness and in the knowledge of God’s
Word.
If I am to remain
steadfast in my love for Him and for my husband, I need to partake of His
grace, teachings and spirit-led living every day.
My practice of prayer, devotionals and
studying the Word of God helps me to maintain my Christian walk and witness to
others. If you are living in an unequally-yoked marriage you must fortify yourself daily with the Manna from heaven.
Jesus is your daily bread - eat and be satisfied...
Jesus is your daily bread - eat and be satisfied...
Deborah
is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is
written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their
passion. It will encourage and challenge
the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to
share it with others.
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