02/13/2026
Give Us This Day
(by Keith Hamilton)
“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
During the “sermon on the mount,” our Lord spent time instructing His disciples on the manner of prayer. As a part of their daily practice, He encouraged petitions and thankfulness for one’s daily bread (life’s necessities). Our Lord was excellent at connecting His disciples to the Father in practical ways. Moving past superficial platitudes and philosophies to connecting in real practical ways. The Lord’s disciples could take what He taught and use such in their lives every day. For me, that has been an agonizing challenge in preaching and teaching God’s word. Even now as our class is studying from the major prophets and currently in the book of Ezekiel, I find myself often asking the class, “What can we learn from this for us today? What is there in the story of God’s dealing with the people of Israel and the heathen nations that we should remember? What use can we make of the things we learn about God’s dealings with the prophets? How he communicated to them and how they responded. What can we take away from this building and into our homes, places of work, families, etc. and use in our lives each day?” Somehow if we cannot take what we learn from the Bible and apply such in practical ways, then it seems as if we are just garnering information for the sake of information. Information that might be useful in a game of Bible Trivia but outside of that, has little if any use. I just fail to believe that is the purpose of Bible study.
“Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 - ASV)
“Furnished completely unto every good work.” Notice “furnished completely,” not partially or mostly but completely. How so? I have pointed out in Bible class before that the Bible was not written as a “how to” book. God provides us with what and why we are to do certain things, but not how to do those things. Oh, I know, in the Old Testament, the Jews were given detailed instructions for how things were to be carried out. However, we don’t find such in the New Testament. As an example: the Lord instructs us to participate in the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week and to do so in remembrance of Him. We are given what to do and why to do it, but where are the specific instructions on how? How should the Lord’s Supper be served? How should we partake? Yes, in a worthy manner, I know but in addition to that, just how? The fact is, we are not told. That desire for specifics when it comes to doing something is one of the annoying tendencies we have as human beings. For many, that is truly bothersome. For others, that lack of instructions for how something should be done has become a license to introduce all kinds of unscriptural innovations into the work and worship of the Lord’s church. For example, the lack of instructions on how to sing and make melody in one’s heart (Ephesians 5:19), has led some to conclude they can introduce mechanical instruments of music into the worship services. No, God has specified the “what” – sing. That excludes the use of mechanical instruments of music because it is another form. The lack of instructions regarding “how” we are to sing does not give one a license for introducing another form of music into the worship services. Neither does the lack of instructions on how to minister to the widows and orphans provide a license to use an unscriptural arrangement in the form of a secular institution to do so. Such has been the failing of liberal brethren. Many have failed because they think the silence of God on a matter permits when instead it prohibits. However, let us not digress from the original intent of this article. Just how do we take the instructions of our Lord telling us “What” and “Why” to do and determine “How” to do so in a way that meets with His approval?
Now, my friends, this is your challenge. Think about this and kindly send me a note about something you take from the scriptures and apply in a practical way in your daily life. That is the challenge I issue on a regular basis to those in the Bible classes I teach. I ask them to describe how they use or can use what they have learned. Please, I would love to hear back from you. Maybe in another article I can provide a list of suggestions from our readers. I look forward to hearing from you. Now, get to work.
Please join us for Bible study and worship each Sunday at 10:00 and Wednesday at 6:00.
Midway church of Christ
151 Otter Falls Road
Sewanee, Tennessee
