Lifted to Safety

He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
Job 5:10-11
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Lifted to Safety
In the fourth petition to the Lord’s Prayer we pray, “give us this day our daily bread.”  We are asking not only that our daily needs be met, but also that we would recognize where they come from and give thanks for God’s many blessings.  We know, as we confess in the explanation to the fourth petition, that “God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayer, even to all evil people.” And in this we recognize God’s gift of universal grace which He bestows upon His creation.  We understand that through His grace alone we are sustained in our physical bodies and lifted to safety from the plight of starvation and famine.  Yet because God gives to us in this way, we too often become complacent and forget what He does for us, even though we have proof of it every time we sit down for a meal.  And even more so we all too often fail to recognize the eternal blessings we have been given.  We take our faith for granted.  We starve ourselves of God’s gifts of Word and Sacrament when we neglect church attendance.  And when we hunger for God’s truth, instead of coming to His table we feast at the trough of the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh.  Lapping up the empty promises and false ideas they offer.  But God does not leave us nor forsake us.  He continually calls us to repentance and offers His forgiveness through His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ.  Through the Holy Spirt we are lifted to safety and held secure in the faith.  He feeds us richly and daily through His Word.  He gives us the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, so that we may be fed in abundance, and never thirst nor hunger again.