We’ve been working through Luke’s version of the Lord’s prayer in the Passion Translation.

One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” So Jesus taught them this prayer: 

• “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns.
• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.
• Manifest your kingdom on earth.
• And give us our needed bread for the coming day.
• Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
• And rescue us every time we face tribulations.” (Luke 11.1 – 4, Passion Translation, emphasis mine)

“Give us our needed bread for the coming day.” This is the way our pastor, George Hunsberger, taught it almost 50 years ago. It’s not just bread although that’s certainly included. George explained that in “give us this day our daily bread,” the daily could be translated “bread for tomorrow.” It’s Kingdom bread. The strength we need to live out the Kingdom.

Manifest your Kingdom on earth and give me what I need to help bring it about, to live into it.

Here’s the Passion footnote:

This is more than asking for food, for Jesus has taught us not to worry about the needs of our body. It is the request for tomorrow’s living bread to come and feed us today. (Passion Translation footnote to Luke 11.3)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1.3, 4, ESV)