Month: August 2023

Our text for today is Romans 8:38-39

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In these words from Romans, Paul tells us that God’s love for us is unbreakable, unwavering, and utterly unconditional.

Consider a mother’s love for her child. Even when that child makes mistakes, rebels, or takes the wrong path, the mother’s love endures. In the same way, but infinitely greater, God’s love remains constant. He does not love us based on our perfection, achievements, or our ability to reciprocate His love. He loves us simply because he made us.

Think about the Parable of the Prodigal Son. A young man took his inheritance, left home, and squandered everything. Yet, when he returned, broken and repentant, his father ran to him, embraced him, and restored him fully as his son. The father’s love was not based on conditions or the son’s worthiness. It was pure, unfiltered, unconditional love.

In our moments of doubt, fear, or when we feel unworthy, let’s remember that there is no force in the universe powerful enough to separate us from the love of God. He loves us deeply and passionately, without reservation. In His embrace, we find grace, acceptance, and the true meaning of unconditional love.

Lonnie Davis

The Call to Self-Examination

Our text for today is Matthew 7:3-5:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

After years of studying the Bible, this passage has never lost its profound resonance. At its core, Jesus encourages us to embark on a journey of self-reflection and humility. Before pointing fingers, we ought to examine our own flaws and imperfections.

You see, it’s easy to focus on others’ faults. It’s convenient to critique from the sidelines. However, Jesus paints a vivid picture: imagine trying to help someone with a tiny splinter while you have a massive beam obstructing your vision! Not only is it comical, but it also accentuates the irony and impracticality of judging others while being blind to our own imperfections.

According to this verse, we must;

Be Self-aware: Before we correct or critique, we should look inwardly. Recognizing our shortcomings can breed compassion for others.

Be Humble. Accepting our own flaws puts us in a position of understanding, not superiority.

Since none of us are perfect, we must strive to be understanding and humble. When we acknowledge our planks, we are better equipped to handle the splinters of others with love and grace.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is 1 Peter 1:15-16

“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”

What does it mean to live a holy life? Holiness isn’t about wearing a halo or being flawless; it’s about pursuing a heart transformed by God’s love.

Living a holy life starts with our thought life. 

We must fill our minds with things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). This means being careful about what we watch, read, listen to and think about. The old saying about computers, “Garbage in, garbage out” fits perfectly. In our thoughts it truly is garbage in, garbage out.

A holy life also requires taming our tongues. 

We should avoid gossip, lies, and slander. Instead, we must speak words that build others up (Ephesians 4:29). Our speech should be gracious, seasoned with salt and should point others to Christ.

A holy life involves our actions. 

Holyness means to flee from sin and cling to righteousness. This means replacing bad habits with godly disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, fasting, fellowship and service. 

Finally, holiness requires full surrender. 

We must die to self and live wholeheartedly for God, holding nothing back. If Jesus is Lord of our life, He must have full Lordship over every area of our lives. 

The holy life is not easy, but it is incredibly fulfilling. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, His Spirit empowers us to live righteously. Day by day, moment by moment, we can walk in holiness and bring glory to God.

Lonnie Davis

How a Man Ruined His Family

In today’s text, Lot and his family are fleeing away from the wicked city of Sodom. Our text reads:

Genesis 19:24-26

The Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Reading this story, the event of Lot’s wife looking back at the burning cities and herself turning into a pillar of salt catches the eye. However, Lot’s wife turning into pillar of salt is a side story in the more tragic tale. The real story is about Lot. I call him, the man who ruined his family.

It all started when Uncle Abraham, gave lot the pick of the land. Abraham said he would take whatever was left over. Lot looked on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He saw they were rich and well-watered and picked those for himself and his family. Uncle Abraham could take for himself the leftover land.

With that choice, Lot ruined his family. The cities were so wicked that God drove Lot and his family to leave. They found it hard. Eventually, Lot started his exit with his wife and two married daughters. His sons-in-law would not leave Sodom. In fact when it was time to leave the wicked land, Lot, his wife and daughters hand to be taken by the hand of the angels to get them to leave. Though told not to look back at the cities, Lot’s wife turned back and turned into a pillar of salt. His two daughters had so much of the wickedness of the city in them, that when they were alone with their father, they justified to themselves getting their father to get them pregnant. In an effort to make Lot look a little more innocent, some have pointed out that his daughters got him drunk so that he would do this evil thing. Of course we might ask, why would a righteous Lot get drunk? 

Lot’s whole family left Sodom, but still had too much of Sodom still in them. If you’ve ever heard the old saying, “You can the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy,’ then you can relate that saying to Lot’s family. They left Sodom, but after years living in such a wicked place, Sodom was still in them.

Lot’s ruining of his family started when he chose to pitch his and his families tent toward Sodom. (Genesis 13:13).

Never pitch your tent toward wickedness. That is how Lot ruined his family.

Lonnie Davis

 Our text today is  Matthew 26:27-29

“Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’”

When my son was a high school senior and played on the golf team, his team was fortunate enough to go to the state championship tournament. I called and asks the legendary golfer Byron Nelson, if he would say a few things to them. Byron being Byron, topped that thought. He and his wife, Peggy, hosted the entire team to a dinner at his house.

As we were sitting around the table and he was giving them wise advice, we asked one of the young golfers what he thought. The young boy’s words were unforgettable. He said, “I think I am going to throw up.” Obviously, we all laughed. Being around someone famous can make one feel nervous. 

What if you have dinner with someone even more famous? A President? A billionaire? No. Even more famous than those. Yet this is exactly what Jesus promised you in verse 29 of today’s reading. “I will drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” The Father’s kingdom is not heaven, but the Church.

When we gather to worship on the Lord’s Day, He is there eating and drinking with us.

That shouldn’t make us nervous. It should make us grateful. 

Lonnie Davis.

In John 13, we read the incredible account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. This act displayed His amazing love and humility towards the very men who would soon betray or abandon or deny him. 

Knowing full well that Judas would betray Him and Peter would deny Him and all the others would abandon Him, Jesus nevertheless stooped down to wash their feet – a task usually done by a servant. He knew their flaws, failures, and future sins, yet He loved them unconditionally. 

As a preacher, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and feeling like an imposter. But Jesus knows me fully, with all my shortcomings, and loves me anyway. His love is not conditional on me being perfect or having everything together. 

In our humanity, we may love imperfectly. But Christ demonstrates relentless love towards undeserving sinners. A mother loves her newborn baby with complete, unearned acceptance. This is the tiny image of the greater, deeper love that Jesus has for each of us. 

He loves us in spite of our sin and weaknesses. His love transforms our lives, compelling us to love others. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). 

Let Jesus’ unconditional love for you sink deep into your heart. Rest in the security that you are fully known and fully loved by Him. This love is the foundation we need to then love and serve others – even those might wrong us. Jesus loved perfectly and calls us to follow His example of sacrificial, humble service rooted in grace.

Lonnie Davis

Our Text for today is Matthew 5:44

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Jesus calls us to a special kind of love – one that blesses, serves, and prays for our enemies. This goes against our natural desire for payback when hurt. Loving enemies requires supernatural strength and grace.

The Bible story of Joseph powerfully illustrates loving one’s enemies. Joseph’s brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. Later when Joseph had power and authority in Egypt, during a famine, his brothers appeared before him in desperation. Joseph could have easily taken revenge, but instead he forgave them completely (Genesis 45:5). He even reassured his brothers, saying “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good” (Genesis 50:20). 

Joseph allowed God to heal his wounds and fill his heart with undeserved grace toward those who betrayed him. This broke the cycle of bitterness and violence. Reconciliation and restoration followed. Joseph’s choice to love his enemies brought tremendous fruit.

Like Joseph, God calls us to bless and serve those who have hurt us deeply. Doing good to enemies seems counterintuitive and goes against our human nature. But God can empower us to love as Jesus did, even from the cross. 

Who in your life feels like an “enemy”? Ask God to help you see them through His eyes of compassion. Look for ways – big or small – to convey undeserved mercy and grace. Your acts of honor and kindness can be part of God’s redemptive work, softening hard hearts. As Joseph shows, love for enemies is powerful. It brings healing and makes new life possible.

Lonnie Davis

Is God Listening?

Have you ever felt like nobody is listening to your prayers? Ocassionally, I guess most of us have. On those times when you feel that way, you may fail to pray. But, if you know He is listening, wow! Prayer comes more easily.

Our text today is Psalms 17:6

“I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.” (Psalm 17:6 NKJV)

Read that verse again and notice that David is saying, “Because I know God hears me, I have prayed.” I know I paraphrased the text, but that is the meaning.

As a dad, some of my favorite times are listening to my kids share about their day. Even when now, no matter what, I want to hear what they have to say.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father is always ready to hear us when we call on Him. Though God is infinite and mighty, He bends down to catch each word we utter, small or great. 

As the psalmist says, when he calls out, he knows God listens.That is God’s loving nature.

He wants us to cast every care on Him! He delights not in our strength but in our humility, knowing that in weakness His strength is made perfect. 

No matter the storms of life, God promises to hear us when we call to Him. 

Let’s approach His throne of grace with boldness to find mercy in our time of need. He is ready to listen and act on our behalf when we turn to Him in faith. What a comfort to know He inclines His ear to us!

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Galatians 6:9

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

It was a chilly Saturday morning and I bundled up to watch my daughter’s soccer game. Though only 9 years old, she was one of the best players out there. As she approached the goal ready to score, another girl came in with a forceful kick. The ball smashed into my daughter’s face, knocking her down. 

I rushed over, worried she might be seriously injured. Through muffled tears she kept repeating, “It hurts!” After a few minutes catching her breath, she looked up with determination and said, “I’m going back in. That can’t happen twice!” She returned to the game and played as fearlessly as ever.

In life we all experience hurts and setbacks that knock us down – a lost job, failed relationship, or shattered dream. It’s so easy to let pain and disappointment cause us to give up. We’re tempted to walk off the field and not risk further hurt. 

But God urges us to get back in the game. As our text tells us, “we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” With His strength, we can bounce back from hard hits. It may not feel like it in the moment, but the enemy can’t block us forever. We are made to press onward.

What if leaders like David had resigned after their failures? What if Peter had left the disciples after denying Christ? God uses our mistakes and wounds to build character, deepen faith, and equip us for greater impact. But we must choose to try, try again. 

Ask God for renewed courage to get back in the game after life knocks us down. With Him, we are never out of the fight! Our breakthrough is coming if we do not lose heart.

Lonnie Davis

Our text today is Proverbs 4:20-22

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”

I still shake my head thinking back to that evening when my daughter tried repeatedly to talk to me while I stared obliviously at the television screen (it was a football game). “Earth to Daddy!” she finally said. Thankfully I heard that line and listened.

It hits me that I often treat God this same way – fixating on distractions while tuning out His voice. He is constantly speaking through His Word, nudging my spirit, even sending people to share wisdom. But often I ignore His loving attempts to guide me, missing out on life-giving truth.

Today’s text urges us to lean in and actively listen when God speaks. Be fully present and engaged, not allowing His words to go “into one ear and out the other.” For in His words are the pathway to abundant life! Just as a seed needs planting in rich soil, God’s truth can take root deep within us.

Today, let us fix our ears to tune into God’s words. Give Him our undivided attention. Let’s be ready to receive the treasures He wants to impart. 

We need to ask God’s forgiveness for the times we have tuned Him out or brushed aside His wisdom and become a devoted listener who cherishes every word He says. We must be attentive to capture each whisper from Him. His word brings guidance, joy and purpose. 

May we, with the boy Samuel, say, “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening!”

Lonnie Davis