In these days of prosperity and plenty, in this favored land, comparatively few know what hunger is. And yet there are in this world millions of little boys and girls who go to bed hungry and thousands face starvation.
This story is about a little girl who lived alone with her sick mother in a small upstairs room. There was no Daddy in that home, and the poor mother had been unable to provide for the necessities of life. Still she had taught her little girl to trust in God and to pray.
One morning, very hungry, little Katie knelt down by her bedside and very slowly she prayed: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Then she went into the street and began to wonder where God kept His bread. As she turned the corner she saw a large, well-filled baker’s shop.
“This must be the place,” thought Katie. So she entered confidently, and said to the stout baker behind the counter, “I’ve come for it.”
“Come for what?” he asked.
“My daily bread,” she said, pointing to the tempting loaves. “I’ll take two, please — one for Mother and one for me.”
“All right,” said the baker, putting them in a bag, and giving them to his little customer, who started at once for the door.
“Stop, you little rascal,” he said, roughly; “Where’s your money?”
“I haven’t any,” she said simply.
“Haven’t any!” he repeated angrily; “You little thief, what brought you here then?”
The hard words frightened the little thing and, bursting into tears, she sobbed, “Mother is sick, and I was so hungry. I prayed this morning ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ and then I thought God meant me to fetch it, and so I came.”
The rough, but kind-hearted baker was softened by the child’s simple tale, and he sent her back to her mother with a well-filled basket.
Katie had simple faith in God; she asked and expected to receive. Perhaps if some of us older folks had more faith in asking, we would have more joy in receiving. We read, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God... My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,196Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19).
God is a rich and giving God; He gives the best. In love He gave up His own beloved Son to die upon the cross for sinners like you and me “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). Will you not trust such a God and receive such as Saviour into your heart? Those who trust in Him are the objects of His love and care forever.
ML 07/21/1968