Month: November 2023

“What will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
                            — Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:20)

We live in a world where Satan asks that question and then offers whatever we answer. 

I once read the interesting story of 20-year-old Adam Burtle who tried to answer that question. In February of 2001 he put his soul up for auction on eBay, a relatively new concept of online sales. He advertised his soul as “Hardly used” and then added:

“I make no warranties as to the condition of the soul. As of now it is in near mint condition, with only minor scratches.”

The price started at a nickel and in the final hour of bidding rose to $400. The auction was removed by eBay before bidding closed so we will never know how much it might have brought. Mr. Burtle is not the first to want to sell a soul.

– Ahab was willing to sell his soul for a piece of land that he could use as a vegetable garden. (1 Kings 21).
– Cain sold his soul for a fit of anger. (Genesis 4).
– Judas sold his for 30 coins. (Matthew 26:15).
– Demas sold his for worldly pleasures. (2 Timothy 4:10)

The question in Matthew 16 is not about eBay auctions. It is not even about Ahab or Cain or Judas. It is about what you and I value as more important than our souls.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Burke meant his offer as a joke. In real life Satan offers to buy your soul and it is not a joke. Peter warned, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).

Make sure he does not close the deal on your soul.

Lonnie Davis

The Scripture for today is 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Before I read it, let me share a thought about it. I remember memorizing this verse when I was a teenager. It meant a lot to me then and has never failed to encourage me. As one verse of scripture goes, this one is fairly long. Don’t let that stop you from learning and treasuring it. It contains a promise that will get you past many dark places in your life. 

Here is the verse:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Let me paraphrase it for you.

“When you are tempted (and you will be) always remember,  other people have faced the same struggles and done well. You can too. Your faithful God has promised that there is a way to get past the temptation without sinning. Look for it.”

Every time the devil has tried to tempt me, I can look to the promise of this verse. It has never failed me. Unfortunately, sometimes I have failed it. Moses murdered an Egyptian, King David committed adultery, Peter denied he knew Jesus – three times! God did not fail them, they just didn’t lean on Him. 

Satan has two rules that we believe too often: (1) I am the exception to the rules. (2) I will get more pleasure from doing things my way rather than doing things God’s way.

Here’s the problem: Those are fake rules.  No, they are lies.

Today’s scripture gives us the real true rule: There is always an escape from sin, so you don’t have to give in. God is not only pulling for you, he is actively providing a way out.

I know 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a long verse, but store it up in your heart. Someday, maybe today, you will need the encouragement.

Lonnie Davis

This week I got to thinking about the phrases from the Bible that people frequently say, even when they don’t know it is from the Bible. I made a list of 70 such phrases. Here are a few of the common phrases that non-Bible readers say that come straight from the Bible.

#1. “The Blind Leading the Blind.” 

This, of course, means that people turn to a leader who is incapable of leading. In Matthew 15:14, Jesus aid, “And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

#2. I’m “At Wit’s End”. 

Something people say this when they are confused and don’t know what to do. It is found in Psalms 107:27, “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.”

#3. Living off “The Fat of the Land.” A phrase that means living on the best.

This phrase comes from Genesis 45:18. The Pharaoh speaks to Joseph and tells him to bring is family to Egypt. He said, “Take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.”

Some other phrases are: “By the Skin of Your Teeth,” (Job 19:20), “The Root of the Matter,” (Job 19:28), and “Do unto others and you would have them do unto you.”(Matthew 7:12).

BUT, do you know which Bible verse is quoted most frequently by people who don’t know God? It is Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Of course, they misunderstand the verse.

Before we leave today’s devotional thought, let me share one more verse. Mark 12:30-31

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

That does sound like something we should say and remember. After all, Jesus said it was the most important commandment.

Lonnie Davis

Today’s Bible verse is Romans 1:20.

“Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.”

Those who do not believe that there is a God love to say we have no evidence for God. In fact, they often refer to our faith as blind faith.

Recently I heard a speaker compare faith in God to a scene from Indiana Jones. In one episode, Indiana entered a large cave/temple and came to a wide chasm he had to cross. He handled it by taking a blind step of faith. He stepped into the chasm and blindly felt an invisible bridge. That scene is often thought of when we think about taking a step of faith. It misses the point.

After the lesson, I pointed out to the speaker that in the movie, Indiana crossed the bridge twice. The first time he stepped blindly. The second time he stooped down, grabbed some pebbles and tossed them into the chasm. They landed upon the previously unseen bride. He saw some of the bridge and then stepped on it.

The second example more aptly shows the way we have faith in God. God does not call on us to blindly believe.

In Exodus 4, Moses faltered in his call from God. God then showed him evidence that he was God. In Judges 6, Gideon puts out a fleece to test what God wants of him. In both cases God gave them all the evidence that was needed. 

In today’s verse, God said, “His invisible attributes are clearly seen.” How do we see the invisible attributes of God? We understand what we can’t see about God, by seeing the things he does show, that is, “the things that are made.”

Our faith is not blind. It is grown by the evidence we can see.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is Job 2:9-10

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Echoing this thought, there is a true story I want you to keep in your hearts. It is the story of two women in a concentration camp.

A ray of unexpected hope appeared among the horrors of the Ravensbruck concentration camp from an unusual source: fleas. This devotional describes Corrie ten Boom’s and her sister’s moving experience of giving thanks to God for gifts that are often concealed behind really difficult situations.

The story takes place in a flea-infested barrack. Corrie is perplexed by her sister’s persistence on giving thanks to God for the biting fleas as she struggles to accept the harsh reality of their circumstances. It was perplexing that her sister was appreciative of such an apparently bad part of their lives at a country where hope seemed to have vanished. Corrie, however, follows her sister’s example and practices faith by upholding the biblical precept of being thankful under all situations.

Over time, something amazing happens. The guards stopped invading their area; they were no longer a continual danger of assault and torture. The women felt somewhat safer during this brief but unexpected break. When the guards are not there, the barrack becomes a kind of sanctuary where the ladies study the Bible and build a sense of spiritual comfort and camaraderie.

It’s a remarkable turn of events to learn that the guards avoided their barrack because of the fleas. In actuality, what was thought to be a curse acted as a barrier, keeping the women safe. This tale demonstrates ways in which protection and optimism can appear in the most unexpected ways. 

It pushes us to reevaluate how we view the difficulties we encounter by speculating that every adversity could conceal a protecting grace or blessing that we would only be able to recognize in retrospect. 

It may seem hard, but we must ask with Job, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Sometimes we must have the faith to say, “Thank God for the fleas.”

Lonnie Davis

Our Text for today is Matthew 6:14-15

“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

The story that I am about to share moves me. It was written by Corrie ten Boom. Near the end of World War II, she and her sister, Betsy, were cast into the Ravensbruck concentration camp because they helped Jews. Her sister and father died there, but she survived. She wrote the following story about forgiveness:

“It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there, the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsy’s pain blanched face.

“He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message Fraulein,” he said. “To think, as you say, He has washed my sins away!”

“His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

What would you do? If it were you sister who died at his cold heart and deeds and he stuck his hand out to you for recognition of forgiveness?

“I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.”

So let’s remember that anybody can forgive lovable people who out of character, hurt us. But can you forgive those who are hard to forgive?

Lonnie Davis

Kindness

Our Scripture for today is Genesis 39:20-21.

Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison…But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness…

When I tell Joseph’s story, I talk about how God delivered him from death in the pit. I remember how Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and then cast into prison. In all of this, God’s hand was protecting him, but do you ever think about how God showed him kindness?

I want God to be merciful to me, but I especially want him to show me kindness. Kindness is almost a lost word in our world. You can be much younger than me and remember the word that follows “Be Kind.” If you ever visited the old Blockbuster stores, you know it is “Be Kind – Rewind.” No, it is much more than that.

Today I want you to think about kindness. Like the word “Love,” kindness is best defined by what it does.

Once I had to give a blood sample for testing. In an act of kindness, Liz went with me. As we sat waiting my turn, an older lady struggled to her feet and began to walk haltingly. Liz got up, took her arm, and walked her to the room. Why did she do that? Because showing kindness to a stranger was a part of who Liz was. 

Kindness is a smile or kind word to someone.
Kindness is a generous tip to a hard-working server.
Kindness is a thank-you note to someone who helped.
Kindness is cooking a meal or a cake for someone going through a hard time.
Kindness is an encouraging card to a friend.
Kindness is giving to someone in need. 
Kindness is checking in with a friend, or coworker. 
Kindness is sending an old-fashioned letter to a friend or acquaintance from long ago. It is letting them know you still think of them. 

I want God to be kind to me. If so, then I need to show kindness to his children.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Hebrews 13:5

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ’Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ “

Let me read part of that again: “Be content with what you have.” Do any of you struggle with that phrase? Maybe not today, but there have been moments when we probably all have. I know I certainly have.

I love the story of the young bride who showed her grandmother all the modern conveniences of her new kitchen. She showed her the ice maker, the microwave oven, the double ovens, and the garbage disposal. She proudly ask, “Grandma, which of all these modern conveniences do you like best?” The grandma thought for a minute and then said, “I think I like running water the best.” 

The secret to being thankful is remembering the running water, the forgotten blessings.

Today, Somewhere in the bombed-out buildings of Ukraine, a mother bows her head and thanks.  In a little house in Israel, amidst the sound of rockets pouring in from angry countries, another mother gives thanks. In a city in America, a father says a Thanksgiving prayer. He knows his bank account is empty and his lights might be shut off tomorrow, but for today, he gives thanks.

How can anyone be thankful in the ruins of war or the threat of rockets flying overhead? How can we give thanks when tomorrow might bring disaster? 

We give thanks because being thankful is not about what you don’t have. It is about seeing what you do have. It is about remembering the running water.

 I am thankful I have a yard to walk in and a roof over my head. I am thankful I have lungs that work and blood that carries oxygen. I am thankful for eyes that see the wonderful things around me.

I am thankful that my family loves me. I am especially thankful that they like me. 

I am thankful that I am here because God wanted me here. He wanted all of us to be here or else we wouldn’t have been born. 

For today, we can say thanks. At least if we remember the running water. 

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is John 16:32.

“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.”

Jesus was at the end of his earthly trail. He knew that soon he would be arrested and crucified. He knew, but his apostles did not. Jesus told them, “The hour is coming.” When it did, he knew they would run from him. You will “leave me alone,” he said.

He knew that when the arrest would come, neither Peter, James, John, or any other apostle would stay with him. He would be left alone to face the murders. Then he told them the beautiful words, “Yet, I am not alone, for the father is with me.”

Each time I read those words, they remind me of what real faith is. Real faith is knowing that God is always with you, and feeling it.

Many years ago I knew a Godly man who was describing fighting a grass fire at his house. He told a group of men in a meeting, “We were fighting the fire. It was hard, but we were winning.” One of the men interrupted him, “You said, ‘We were fighting the fire.’ Who else was there with you? He answered, “The Lord.” He wasn’t being cute or pretending. That is the way he thought. 

Sometimes we pray for faith and we work on building our faith, but do we know what faith looks like? Real faith looks like, “Yet I am not alone, but the Father is with me.” It is evident in the phrase, “We were fighting the fire.”

Faith is not just knowing that God is with us, but feeling that God is by our side at all times.

Too often, we are like the little boy going to bed at night. His mother came to tuck him in and he asked her to stay in the room with him. “I’m scared of the dark,” he said. His mother said, “You don’t need me here; Jesus is with you.” The little boy said, “I want somebody who has skin.”

Does God feel real to you? Can you feel his presence? When he does, then that is what real faith feels like.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Isiah 40:31

“Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

The first thing I want you to notice about this verse is that I left out a word. Here it is: before it starts with “Those who wait upon the Lord,” it starts with “But.” With this one little word, the Holy Spirit tells us that this verse is here because of what he has already said.

 The verse before it reads, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall.” Then he says, “But those who lean upon the Lord.”

Freshly rested young people with a strong will can stay with a task for a very long time, but even they will wear out. Not so with God!

I am old enough that I have lost many that I have loved. When my brother was on his dying bed, each Friday morning, I would drive five hours to spend time with him. On Sunday afternoon, I would go home. It was my privilege to do that. One Sunday, as I told him I would be back next weekend, he said, “That is so far to drive.” I told him that was all right. 

I didn’t come near the end of my strength. As I walked by his wife, I knew she had been doing much more than this for years. I was visiting with him, but she was his caregiver. I felt the weight of being in her place when my own wife struggled with her final months. 

 We (me, her, and you) are proud to get to be this, but it will eventually sap you of your strength. This is what the scripture means when it says, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary.” 

Now the words “But those who lean upon the Lord” can give us comfort. 

God is our helper. He never grows weary or fails. 

King David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Psalms also says, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you.” (Psalms 55:22).

There may come a day when I will exhaust my loved ones. They will help, but their strength may eventually struggle. Fortunately, I have a helper in God who always, under every strain of life and death, will be my shepherd and my helper. He will never grow tired or weary. AND, He will help those who tend to me.

Lonnie Davis