Our Daily Bread

In his book The Unchained Soul, Calvin Miller describes his own struggle with envy and pride. When he was pastoring, he and another church member listed their houses for sale at about the same time. It took Miller’s house a year to sell, while the other house sold in 3 days. When people asked the other man why his house sold so quickly, he always replied, “I just put that house in the hands of God, and the Lord sold it in 3 days.”

During every morning worship service in a small church I attended, the congregation would share prayer requests. After each one, the pastor would say, “Lord, in Your mercy,” and the people would respond, “Hear our prayer.” One Sunday, a 4-year-old boy behind me became more intense after each request, until he finally shouted out, “Hear our prayer!” The little boy probably expressed what a lot of us were feeling that morning.

The name of Peter Carter is probably unknown to most people today. He was a 19th-century American Presbyterian pastor. He wasn’t as famous a pulpiteer as Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He didn’t write great works of theology like his contemporary Charles Hodge. He never achieved the international recognition of Henry Ward Beecher of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. But he lived his faith in such a way that he encouraged hundreds of people to trust and serve Jesus Christ. Carter radiated the Savior’s love to children as well as to adults.

A newsletter of the Procrastinators’ Club of America is printed every so often and is free to members of their organization. A sample from one edition reads:

While traveling to speak at a Bible conference in Malaysia, I had to fly nonstop for 20 hours. Some sympathetic friends made remarks like this: “My, that must have been tiring!” I couldn’t encourage their well-meant comments, however. During the flight I had been thinking about the hardships of the pilgrims as they sailed to America on the Mayflower, and I could find no reason to complain.

The atoning death of Christ is a truth so profound that scholars have been unable to fully plumb its depths. Think of it—Jesus, God’s Son, died to pay the penalty for our sins! Various theories have been advanced to explain what happened, but Scripture teaches that substitution lies closest to the heart of this great mystery. One innocent man bore the sins of all humanity.

Most of us do our share of complaining, but few of us see it for what it is. Although we condemn some sins in others, we tolerate our own murmuring as nothing more than a negative attitude. But in the Scriptures, God condemns it as a grievous sin. One example of its seriousness is found in Numbers 13 when Israel refused to enter the Promised Land, objecting that the people were stronger than they were (vv.26-33).

Although forgetfulness sometimes increases with age, it’s really common to us all. Even children have lapses of memory and excuse themselves by saying, “I forgot!” But there’s one kind of forgetfulness that is inexcusable at any age—forgetting to be grateful to God. The psalmist David was determined not to fail the Lord in this way, so he exhorted his soul: “Forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

When we’re going through a difficult time, we may not feel particularly grateful. Yet, even in periods of suffering and fear, we can thank God for His abundant promises and unfailing goodness. When we do express our gratitude to God, a wonderful change takes place within us.

When was the last time you and God met together for a worship service? No choir. No piano. No order of service. Just you and God and prayer.