God is the overflowing fountain of all good. Who are you giving the credit to?
Read / Listen
Read Acts 14:15-17
Listen to passage & devotional:
Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 125
Q. What does the fourth request mean?
A. “Give us today our daily bread” means,
Do take care of all our physical needs
so that we come to know that
you are the only source
of everything good,
and that neither our work and worry
nor your gifts
can do us any good without
your blessing.
And so help us to give up our trust
in creatures
and to put trust in you alone.
Summary
If you learned about the Greek gods in school, you likely remember how much drama was involved: from the intricate family feuds and love triangles to the epic battles and cunning schemes, their stories were full of intense and intrigue.
There's a big difference between the mythological Greek pantheon and our Father, "who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them." Whereas the Greek gods were simply reflections of humanity, albeit with superhuman powers, the God of the Bible is the exact opposite. Humanity is created in His image, not vice versa. And although God certainly has superhuman powers, He is much more than an all powerful being; He is the very definition of goodness itself!
The Belgic Confession, which we'll be learning about next year, describes God as being "the overflowing fountain of all good."
Our Father shares this goodness with all people, both those who put their faith in Him and those who continue to rebel against Him. He shows kindness by plentifully providing for needs, sending rain from heaven even filling people's hearts with joy. We call this doctrine common grace.
Dig Deeper
Paul's awesome description of who God is comes in the context of a massive warning. Our sin impaired minds have always attributed the good blessings God gives to other things. In the past, fabricated idols were given credit. In our own day and age, governments, businesses or our own inflated egos are said to be the source of the good life we have.
Whatever it is that you point to as the source of your abundance, if it's not the living God, then as Paul writes, it's a "worthless thing."
"In the past," Paul writes, "He let the nations all go their own way (v16)." God keeps providing rain and joy to people regardless of who they attribute it to, but His patience will not continue forever. He will call all people to account.
As you pray the simple words, "give us this day our daily bread," you're not just asking God for what you need, you're acknowledging that He is the only source of everything good in your life.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them, and who is the overflowing fountain of all good;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will recognize Him as the source of blessing in your life and that He will continue to provide for your daily needs.
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Revelation 9
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