Month: October 2023

He was blind, but Jesus gave him sight. He went from a beggar on the side of the road to a man who could see. Surely this was the happiest day of his life. Jesus healed him and then told him to “Go.” (Mark 10:52). If you were that blind man what would you do?

Go home and see you family.

Go walk around town and see what before you had only heard.

Go see the people who had given to you and thank them.

Jesus said “Go,” but left the choice of where to go to the beggar. His choice would define him. 

I loved the blind beggars “next.” He didn’t go hunt family. He didn’t go to town. His “next” was to immediately follow Jesus. 

Our next choice defines us too. The blind beggar made the right choice, but sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don’t. 

When Moses killed an Egyptian, he ran. (Exodus 2)

When Abraham lied to the Pharaoh, he fled the country. (Gen 12-13)

They were there when Jesus was arrested, but the Apostles ran. (Matt 26)

These were all great men, but if they had it to do all over again, all of these men would have made different choices. What makes the story of Moses, Abraham, and the Apostles great is not because of what they did “next,” but because of their second next. After running, Moses came back to confront the Pharaoh. After Abraham fled the country, he went back to a Bethel and worshipped God. After the Apostles ran, they later went to the temple and preached the word of God (Acts 2).

Everyday, you get to make a choice. Everyday you are confronted with your “next.” What will you do next? Today’s challenge is to realize that even though you made some bad choices in the past, you still have another next, another choice to make.

Like the blind beggar, choose wisely.

Lonnie Davis

Our text today is an unusual one. It is from Genesis 27:4 

“Make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.” 

The background of this verse is that Isaac was old and thought he was about to die. He called his outdoors type of son, Esau, and told him to get him some of that meat that you know I love to eat. It seems that men have always loved to eat meat. It is normal. It is the first time in the KJV that a man ever said that he loved anything, and it is about men loving to eat meat. Wow! 

There is another first time in the Bible worth noting. In Genesis, after God made each thing, he saw that it was good. The first time in the Bible that God ever said something was not good is Genesis 2:18: 

“And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone.’ “ 

No matter how tough or strong men (or women) feel they are, God said “It is not good for man to be alone.” 

From the beginning, we are not made to be loners. A little later in the Bible, God explains why this is so. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” 

We are not made to be loners, not because you don’t ever need some alone time, but because there will come a time when you need someone. Sometimes we all need a little help. 

Lonnie Davis

A Stinky Place 

My father-in-law was a pig farmer. I learned a lot about pigs from him. I learned that pigs are not just plant eaters. They will eat anything. That may be why we call them pigs. I learned that pigs can get angry with you. When they do, don’t go near them. Since my only experience with pigs these days is around ham and bacon, I don’t need those lessons anymore. 

Today, I want to tell you about a young man who needed to know more about pigs and pigpens Jesus tells the story in Luke 15. It is about a boy who got his inheritance, left home, lost his money, came to his senses, and went home to his dad. It is a story familiar to many of us, but do you know the essential place in the story? It is the pig pen. After he spent his money the only job he could find was feeding pigs. It was in that pig pen that his starvation led him to go home. Jesus said: 

“He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.  When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!’” (Luke 15:16-17). 

His story is a common one. When folks leave God and head out into the world, sooner or later, they too will come face-to-face with the pig pen. Here are three lessons from this story. 

1. There is always a pig pen. 

No one leaves God thinking “I am heading to the pain and humiliation of the pig pen. The backslider always thinks he is headed to something better, but not a pig pen. 

2. The pig pen stinks. 

Life in the pig pen is never good. It is a stinky place. At first, the Devil makes you think it’s good, but this is merely a deception.  

3. The pig pen changes you. 

Thank God for the pig pen. The pig pen brought the prodigal to his senses. It still brings wayward folks to their senses. 

The only way out of the pig pen is the way the prodigal son got out. He came to his senses and ran home to the Father. Any of us in the pig pen should do the same. 

Lonnie Davis 

Our text for today is Proverbs 6:6-8

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.”

There are four great lessons to learn from this brief text. 

1. Learn from Ants:

The statement, “Go to the ant,” means look at the ant and learn. 

There are approximately eight billion PEOPLE on earth. That seems like a lot until you realize how many ants there are. Ultimately no one knows how many there are, but some who study them have concluded that there be as many as 100,000 ants for each man, woman, and child on the earth. It is amazing to realize that God uses such a common creature to teach the one creature who is made in his image – mankind. What is the lesson we learn from trillions of ants? The lesson is this “Be prepared.”

Be Prepared, is the official motto of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. From our text, it is obviously the motto of trillions of ants.

Go to the ant.

2. Plan ahead. 

Actually, if you plan at all, you plan ahead. Those who do not prepare for the future, simply do not plan at all. “Go to the ant,” Solomon said, because ants are known for their ability to plan ahead. They gather food during times of abundance to prepare for times of scarcity. 

“Go to the ant.” 

3. Self-Motivation: 

One comedian commented that some employees nick-name ought to be ZEUS, Z.E.U.S. Which means, Zero Effort Unless Supervised.

There are no ZEUS ants. Ants don’t need supervision to work; they are self-driven. 

“Go to the ant.”

4. The Harvest only comes for those who prepare.

Solomon said the ant “Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.”

The ant knows the secret of reaping – you only reap in the harvest, if you have prepared in the summer.

Go to the ant.

So today, look in the mirror and said, “Go to the ant.” Maybe it will remind you to get prepared.

Look at your children and say, “Go to the ant.” This may cause them to ask, “What do you mean?” and you can teach them about the important life skill of being prepared.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Proverbs 29:17

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”

After reading this verse, I want to shout “Don’t stop now. Tell me more about how to do this.

The story is told of one man who was called to bail his son out of jail. As he left for the jail, a nosey neighbor said, “If he were my kid, I’d leave him in jail.” The father answered, ““If he were your kid, I’d leave him in jail too.”

One of the curses of being the oldest child is having kids before your siblings and listening to them tell you how to raise your child. You hear famous words like, “When I have kids, they will not…”

One of the joys of being the oldest child is watching your younger siblings have children and seeing those children do exactly what their parents said they would never do. It is easier to discipline and control other people’s children better than you can your own.

To understand the principle behind this, read 1 Peter 4:8, “Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” The reason my kid’s sins are not as bad as your kid’’s sins is because I love my kids and “love covers a multitude of sins.” It is the way of love to look past faults and imperfections.

 Without this truth, the imperfections of those with whom we live nearly 24-7 would becomes so glaring that their faults will drown out the good.

 Without this principle of love, the wonder of marriage changes to “I wonder what went wrong.”

 Look one more time at that great text, 1 Peter 4:8, “Love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Now read it again and this time stop after the word “covers.” It now reads ““Love each other deeply, because love covers…”

Yes it does. Love covers…whatever. That is the secret of living together in happiness.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is Matthew 3:13-15

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

I understand the question of John the Baptist. The purpose of John’s baptism didn’t seem to be relevant for Jesus. John’s message was one of repentance. He called people to turn away from their sinful ways, confess their sins, and be baptized as a symbol of their commitment to change their lives. For evidence of this read, Luke 3:3, “He [John] went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus had no need for repentance or forgiveness of sin, because, as we know, he never sinned. Surprised at Jesus’ request, John felt he did not need to baptize Jesus. Really, he was right, so then why did Jesus seek baptism.

Jesus’ answer was “to fulfill all righteousness.” Let me suggest an additional answer that might give guidance for all of our lives. By being baptized, Jesus was setting an example for others. Others who look to Jesus needed to know that they too should always do the right thing.

Jesus’ journey to go to his baptism, was a journey of several days – each way. It would have been far easier for Jesus to stay home and not make that difficult journey. He didn’t really need baptism, at least not for himself. But he inconvenienced himself, made a hard journey for those who follow him, for me, and for you.

From this great story we learn, no matter the circumstances, no matter the difficulties, always, always do the right thing.

Lonnie Davis

Our verse for today is James 1:2

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds”

These words from James seems counterintuitive – how can we find joy in the midst of difficulties and pain? Yet God’s Word challenges us to embrace this Kingdom perspective. 

As we read on, James explains that our trials have an intended purpose – “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (v.3). Hardships, though unpleasant, are allowed by our loving Father to strengthen our trust in Him. Like a refiner’s fire, they burn away impurities in our faith, purifying us to reflect Christ more clearly. 

God uses trials to mold our character, helping us develop godly virtues such as perseverance, or as one man called it, “Stick-to-it-tiveness.” As we learn to cling to the Lord in the midst of struggle, we find our roots growing deeper in Him. Difficulties teach us to rely not on our own strength, which often fails us, but on God’s limitless power and grace to sustain us. 

Though trials can be painful in the moment, God promises to be with us in the pain (Deut 31:6). He enables us to endure and emerge refined, with greater maturity and faith. Our suffering produces in us an eternal weight of glory, as Scripture says (2 Cor 4:17). God ultimately uses pain for our good, making us more like Jesus and sharing in His holiness (Rom 8:28-29).

So next time you face trials, remember God’s great purpose in them. Thank Him for the trials He allows, asking for grace to trust Him more. Draw near to Him in difficulty, confident that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6). Joy comes when we embrace His refining process.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Proverbs 20:7
“The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.”

The construct of this verse is not by accident. It begins with a simple statement about how people who do the right things, lead blessed lives, but quickly adds how this affects their children – they are blessed because they follow them.
It is sad that people mindlessly say, “It is my life!” The truth is that it has never been my life and mine alone. Each of us have someone who watches us to see what we do. They do not watch to judge us, but rather to emulate us, to do things like we do.
One older Jewish lady made the point that people who have only done things 15 times, ought to listen to people who have done things 150 times. In fact, they do! They always have.
When Moses led Israel, Israel was blessed. There came a time when Moses was no longer available to lead. Who did the people turn to? Of course the obvious choice is to turn to the young man who followed Moses for 40 years. The man who spent his life following in his footsteps. That younger man was Joshua.
When Moses climbed to the mountain to see God, it was Joshua who followed Moses up that mountain. He did not go all the way to the top but accompanied Moses longer than anyone else.
When Moses met with God in the tent, all the people stood at their tents. Joshua did not. He stood at the door of the tent where Moses met with God.
Unfortunately, it works the other way too. We would do well to remember the words of the unknown poet who said:

A careful man I want to be —
a little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray,
for fear he’ll go the self-same way.
I cannot once escape his eyes.
Whatever he sees me do he tries.
Like me he says he’s going to be —
that little chap who follows me…

Today, someone follows your example. That is why we need to be careful. We do not know who is watching and following.
Lonnie Davis

Our text today is Ecclesiastes 3:1

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

Some years ago, my wife, my daughter, my two little grandkids and I took a short road trip. A short little 275 mile road trip. When I take one of those by myself it is short. When you take them with a wife, a daughter and two young grandkids, it is not so short. I had forgotten what it is like to travel with kids. On our trip there we stopped six times. The first time was for me to get money. The other five times were for kids.

 The next morning I took the kids down for the free continental breakfast. I got food for each kid and then went to cook a waffle. I took it to the table. I went back to cook a second waffle. I got my food and sat down. I had to get up to get syrup. Finally I sat down to eat. I didn’t know about bathroom breaks during breakfast – another interruption. Finally their mom arrived and I could eat.

 What does that have to do with the title “Passages?”

 Gail Sheehy wrote a book called “Passages.” In her work she says that life has many passages. As we grow we change. Life in our twenties is different than life in our thirties. Life in our fifties finds that we have gone through many passages. Life is different.

Here we remember again our text: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (Ecc. 3:1)

 Life changes. It is okay. It is great. Joy does not come because we are in a great place. Joy comes by enjoying the place wherever we are.

 Coming back it was just Liz and me. Going down we had six stops and lots of laughter. Coming back there were no stops and no laughter. I missed the stops.

 Enjoy wherever you are in life. It is all you have. It is the passage you are in. Savor it.

~Lonnie Davis

Our Bible verse for today is Matthew 10:29

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.”

Have you ever seen anyone pick up a found coin—a quarter, a dime, or a nickel? My guess is that you have, but what about a penny? Few people collect pennies. It is noteworthy that Jesus uses the humble penny to show you God’s attention for you. That which man overlooks, God notices. In fact, he even notices more than the penny. In Jesus’ time, you could buy two birds for a penny. Yet, not one of those birds, sparrows, dies without God noticing it.

Jesus is not merely telling us that God knows about a single bird, but that God always, always knows and notices you. That is an important lesson for each of us to remember because it is so easy to forget. It is even easier to feel unnoticed by anyone.

I remember hearing one thirty-something lady remark about how she sometimes feels invisible to other people. I also remember thinking that was an unusual way of putting it. Upon further reflection, I realize there is a kernel of truth in that expression. There are times when all of us feel invisible.

Matthew 10:29 serves as a profound reminder that though the world may not notice you, God always notices and remembers you. God always cares about you and for you.

So that you do not miss the point of this verse, Jesus added these words, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

To further deepen this point, he points out that God does not just know about you; he even knows exactly the number of hairs on your head (Verse 31).

To God, you are important. A world leader or the neighbor next door may not think about you, but the one true God does.

That makes you significant!

Lonnie Davis