Month: January 2024

Day 36
Matthew is Called
Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32

Our devotional is called:
The Unexpected Guest

As Jesus walked along the shore of the lake, His gaze settled on a man hunched over a tax collector’s booth. In that seemingly mundane space, destiny stirred. “Follow me,” Jesus said, words simple yet laced with possibility. And Levi? He rose, no questions asked, no past clinging to him like barnacles. In that swift obedience, a lesson whispered: when God calls, we answer, leaving hesitation on the dusty roadside.
Jesus was welcomed to dinner by Levi, a man ostracized by society. Sinners and outcasts mingled with disciples, a tapestry woven not of righteousness, but of grace. The Pharisees who saw this, scowled, clinging to their rigid notions of holiness, but Jesus’ gaze held compassion, not condemnation. He had come for the lost, not the self-proclaimed “found.”

Levi’s life, transformed by a single encounter, stands as a beacon. We are all, in some way, tax collectors burdened by past choices or lost souls navigating life’s pathway. But Jesus beckons, offering not judgment, but a fresh start. He sees beyond our stumbles, recognizing the potential for healing, for growth.

So let us walk in the sunlit wake of His call, ready to answer promptly, hearts open to second chances. Let us seek the lost, not with judgment, but with the outstretched hand of love, remembering that in the embrace of compassion, even the most shadowed path leads to the radiant light of grace.

This, too, is Levi’s legacy: a reminder that every encounter, every table shared, offers an invitation to join the grand tapestry of redemption, woven with threads of forgiveness, acceptance, and boundless love.

Our story today came from Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32.

Lonnie Davis

Further Thoughts:

1. Jesus calls sinners: Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. He didn’t call the righteous, but sinners.
2. Jesus dines with sinners: Jesus ate with Matthew and other tax collectors and sinners. He didn’t shy away from those who were considered outcasts.
3. Jesus desires mercy: Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” He wants us to show compassion to others, not just follow religious rituals.
4. Jesus is a doctor: Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” He came to heal the sick and the sinners.
5. Jesus teaches: Jesus taught the people who followed him. He shared his wisdom and knowledge with them.
6. Jesus calls us to repent: Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He calls us to turn away from our sins and follow him.
7. Jesus can use anyone: Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. He shows that he can use anyone, even those society rejects.
8. God allows second chances: Everyone deserves a chance to change their path. Jesus reaching out to Matthew, a tax collector, shows that no one is beyond redemption.
9. Jesus welcomes everyone: Jesus welcomes everyone, regardless of their past. It is not your past that matters to Jesus, it is your future.
10. Jesus emphasizes caring for the sick: Jesus emphasizes caring for the “sick” who need healing, not the “healthy” who are already well. This translates to focusing on helping those in need and offering guidance to those who may have strayed.

Day 35
Jesus Heals a Palsied Man
Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26

Do you remember the story of the man lowered through the roof to see Jesus?
Its story is found in Matthew 8, Mark 1, and Luke 5. In this story, when Jesus returns to Capernaum, four friends carry a paralyzed man to see him, but the crowds block access. Showing remarkable faith, they lift their friend onto the roof, dig through it, and lower him down before Jesus. Seeing their belief, He forgives the man’s sins and heals his body.
This devotional today is about that event. I named it:

When Faith Meets Action

Inside a packed house in Capernaum, a man lay paralyzed on his bed, his hope as thin as dust in the air. His friends, burdened by his suffering, refused to accept defeat. Faith, fierce and unwavering, burned in their hearts.

They knew of Jesus, the healer. But getting in to the house where he was teaching seemed impossible. Undeterred, they hatched a daring plan. With unwavering hands and great boldness, they hoisted their friend to the roof, then they cut a hole in the roof. The clatter echoed through the room, drawing startled gazes, then stunned silence as they lowered the paralyzed man right before Jesus.

Jesus, seeing their faith, not the unconventional entry, spoke words that rang throughout the room, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The religious elite scoffed, but Jesus, knowing their skepticism, silenced them with a challenge, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” Then, with a touch of divine power, He healed the man, his forgiveness made obvious in the man’s newfound stride.

In that act, a web of truths shimmered into view. The friends’ amazing faith, a testament that action speaks louder than words, moved not just a roof, but mountains of doubt. Jesus, the bridge between heaven and earth, showed His power to heal not just bodies, but souls. And the man, once bound by physical and spiritual limitations, walked free, a beacon of hope for all who dared to believe in Jesus.

So, the next time doubt clouds your heart, remember the man lowered through the roof. Remember the faith that moved mountains, the forgiveness that granted freedom, and the friends who made the way. And you go forth, ready to move your own mountains and guide others to the light.
Lonnie Davis

Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16

We begin our study of Jesus healing a leper by reading:

Luke 5:12-16
[12] While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
[13] Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
[14] “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
[15] But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. [16] Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

From this story, I call your attention to the:
The Leper and the Lord

He came to Jesus broken, in need of healing. When the leper begged on bended knee to be made clean, Jesus replied gently, “I am willing.” How often do we fail to ask for help, assuming the Lord has better things to do? Yet he waits patiently for our call, ready to act in compassion.

Consider the leper’s condition – rotten flesh, foul odor, painfully alone. Yet the text says simply, “Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him.” No hesitation, no disgust, only tenderness. As Jesus ministered, His heart broke for the crushed and desperate. He saw not disease but a precious child crying for relief. And so He acted.

Christ’s compassion compels our obedience. After healing him, Jesus instructed the man to present himself to the priests as Moses prescribed – both to verify his cleansing and give thanks to God. Thus Jesus demonstrated submission to authorities. Likewise, we cannot accept his blessings while rejecting his commands. Grace is not an excuse for lawlessness.

Finally, as the leper’s grateful steps faded, Jesus retreated to the hushed solitude of the wilderness. For even He, who carried the weight of our woes, needed the quiet embrace of prayer. In this, He reminds us of our own need for renewal, for moments where we shed the world’s clamor and commune with the Source of our strength.
Lonnie Davis

Day 33 of our study of the Life of Christ.

Jesus’ Early Ministry in Galilee

Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44

All of these writers cover this event, but our reading will focus on Mark 1:35-39

[35] Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. [36] Simon and his companions went to look for Him, [37] and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!” 

[38] But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” [39] So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 

Let me summarize this text with a two word title:

Jesus Unplugged!

What does this title mean? Even Jesus took time to unplug from all the things going on around him. At least   he did for a time each day.  In today’s reading from Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, and Luke 4:42-44, we see Jesus in the midst of his busy ministry, but also taking time for prayer and retreat-a time to unplug. This teaches us valuable lessons about nurturing our spiritual life and balancing ministry with personal spiritual renewal.

Firstly, Jesus prioritizes prayer. Even in the midst of a busy ministry, Jesus makes time for prayer and alone time with the Father. This reminds us of the importance of nurturing our spiritual life through quiet time with God. In a world that is constantly demanding our attention, it can be easy to neglect our spiritual well-being. However, Jesus’ example shows us that taking time for prayer and reflection is crucial for maintaining a strong connection with God.

Secondly, crowds seek Jesus and that is as it should be, but Jesus also seeks solitude. While Jesus welcomes the crowds who come to hear him, he also withdraws for prayer and reflection. This teaches us the importance of balancing ministry with personal spiritual renewal. It is easy to get caught up in the demands of ministry and neglect our own spiritual needs. However, Jesus’ example shows us that taking time for solitude and reflection is essential for maintaining a healthy and effective ministry.

Lastly, Jesus’ message is one of hope and healing. Jesus goes about preaching the good news and healing the sick. This shows that his ministry is one of bringing hope and restoration to those in need. In a world that is often filled with pain and suffering, Jesus’ message of hope and healing is a powerful reminder of God’s love.

Lonnie Davis

Jesus Healed Peter’s Mother-in-law: Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41

These texts tell the story of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. He also healed many sick and demon possessed. He cast out the demons who proclaim Him Son of God.

From this story let’s look at the devotional called

Compassion Beyond Words

The house was quiet when Jesus entered, but he could sense the suffering within its walls. As he stepped inside, he saw her – Peter’s mother-in-law, lying ill with burning fever. Feelings of compassion awoke within Jesus’ heart. This woman was family to his close friend, and she needed relief. Without hesitation, Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her up. Power flowed through his touch and she was healed. Overflowing with newfound energy, she began serving them. 

This tender scene holds gentle lessons for us. First, Jesus’ compassion ignites healing. He saw this woman’s struggle and acted. Compassion is more than an emotion – it compels us to alleviate others’ distress. When we encounter pain, it should use us to respond. Our empathy can spark comfort, progress and restoration. 

Second, actions speak louder than words. Though undoubtedly kind, Jesus didn’t merely offer verbal comfort – he leveraged his power to rescue Peter’s mother-in-law from affliction. Likewise, soothing words often fall short without accompanying efforts. As Christ’s followers, we are called to lives of service, not just noble philosophies. Deeds of substance reach far beyond proclamations of virtue.

Finally, Peter’s mother-in-law models how blessing elicits gratitude, and gratitude turns to service. Healed by Christ’s hand, her health restored, her first impulse was to give to others. When we receive God’s gifts, great or small, may we pass along the goodness we’ve known. For freely we have received, so freely may we give.

Lonnie Davis

Event 24: Even Demons Obey

Text: Mark 1:23-28; Luke 4:33-37

Our text today tell us of Jesus’ power over demons. The story is set in a synagogue, and it stuns the crowd, igniting curiosity and spreading news of his authority and unique teachings.

This writing is about that story.

Even the Demons Obey Jesus!

Imagine yourself seated amongst the hushed crowd in the synagogue. Suddenly, a tremor ripples through the assembly. A man possessed by a demon cries out, a wail that breaks the silence.

But amidst the pandemonium, a figure stands calm and resolute. Jesus, his eyes holding the depths of eternity, speaks with quiet authority. The demon writhes and recognizes the holiness that is in him. It cries out his true name: the Holy One of God.

In that electrifying moment, we witness not just Jesus’ power, but the undeniable truth it reveals. His teachings are not mere words, but voices of the Divine. His touch brings not condemnation, but deliverance.

Yet, Jesus is not just a miracle worker. He speaks with authority! This invites us to open our minds, not just to his words, but to the possibility of fresh perspectives on faith.

The wonder in the eyes of the onlookers is a mirror reflecting our own hearts. It’s okay to be amazed, to have questions, to stumble in the dark seeking answers. Faith is not a rigid path, but a journey of exploration that grows with our experiences with the Savior.

The news of that day spreads like wildfire, carried on the tongues of those touched by Jesus’ grace. It reminds us that the ripples of our choices stretch far beyond the moment. When we choose to follow Jesus, when we allow his light to touch our lives, we become beacons that beckon others towards hope.

Lonnie Davis

Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11

Summary
Jesus calls his first disciples – fishermen Simon, Andrew, James, and John – to leave their nets and follow him, promising to make them fishers of people. Despite an initially unsuccessful fishing trip, the miraculous catch of fish convinces them to leave everything and become Jesus’s disciples.

From this story I want to think about “Fishing for Souls.”

The day started like any other day for the fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James, and John. But that day would change their lives and ours.

The sun cast long shadows as Jesus strode the Galilean shore. His voice cut through the morning air, calling out to weathered men mending nets. In that simple call, a shift rippled through time. It wasn’t just the nets that were cast aside that day; it was the very fabric of their lives.

There’s a boldness in Jesus’ call, an urgency that has no hesitation. Leaving behind not just nets and boats, but familiar routines and well-worn paths, these fishermen answered with hearts aflame. It’s a stark reminder that following Jesus might mean venturing beyond the cozy places of our comfort. 

Yet, within this boldness blooms a profound humility. For, who were these men that Jesus chose? Not scholars steeped in scripture, nor priests adorned with piety. His gaze fell upon calloused hands and sun-kissed faces, upon men of the earth, ordinary in their toil, extraordinary in their calling. It whispers a truth etched in eternity: God calls the willing, not the elite.

Peter’s cried out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” In the face of the miraculous catch, he doesn’t bask in pride, but recognizes his own smallness before the divine. It’s an humbling lesson for us all, a gentle reminder to approach Jesus with reverence, not entitlement, acknowledging our need for His grace, not assuming our worthiness.

The call that fell on the Galilean shore wasn’t a singular event, but the opening chord of a greater play. These passages mark the dawning of a journey for these men, a lifelong adventure alongside the Master. Following Jesus isn’t a fleeting choice, but a continuous act of learning, growing, and serving. 

It’s a path filled with challenges and blessings. So, let us step onto that path, nets abandoned, hearts surrendered, ready to be swept away by the tide of His calling. For in the end, it’s not about how grand is our offering, but the depth of our surrender, the unwavering echo of “Yes, Lord” that ripples through our lives.

Luke 4:14-30

Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth to teach in the synagogue, as was his custom. Look at that again, “as was his custom.” Today so many people will declare they don’t need to gather with others to worship, that they can worship God at home. Note this truth, it was Jesus’ custom to gather with other spiritual people. They were flawed. They were judgmental. There were hypocrites there, yet it was his custom to meet with them on the Sabbath day.

Before these people, Jesus stood to speak. Though initially impressed by his words, the people soon turned against him. Jesus continued preaching the challenging truth foretold by Isaiah – that God’s grace is for all people, even foreigners and outcasts. His message of radical inclusion sparked anger and rejection. The people dragged him to the edge of a cliff, intent on killing him. But Jesus passed through the crowd and escaped unharmed by God’s protection. 

From this story, notice three more brief lessons:

#1. We must have the courage to speak difficult truths, even at personal risk. Anyone can tell the truth when it is popular. Jesus declared God’s message of unconditional love, even when it wasn’t popular,

#2, Standing firm in our convictions may require weathering dislike or condemnation. Without regard for others’ approval, Jesus boldly delivered a message that provoked outrage. Change often meets fierce resistance. We must have the courage to be disliked when necessary.

#3. God’s care shields us when danger looms. 

Jesus ventured to the cliff’s edge yet emerged unscathed. I want God to save me long before I have to look down the cliff. I want to be delivered from the cliff, not in the cliff. Jesus was willing to look down the cliff. That is courage.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture today is John 4:46-54. It is the story of Jesus healing from a distance. 

I call this story:

“Faith that Leads to Prayer”

The story is true. It was a time when 

Pain filled a royal official’s heart. His son, 20 miles away in Capernaum, lay feverish, life slipping through his fingers. The sun beat down on dusty roads, but the father had no time to worry about blistering heat. With each frantic step, he traveled the miles between him and Cana,  because word that a miracle worker named Jesus was there.

Twenty miles might not seem much now, but in those days, on foot, under a punishing sun, it was hard. Yet, the man carried no anger, no entitlement, and no pride. Arriving in Cana, he bowed before Jesus, not with the haughtiness of a royal official, but with the raw humility of a father not just praying for his son’s life, but begging.

He made no grand speeches, but just a broken plea: “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Jesus, the one who turned water into wine, met the man’s plea with a simple command: “Go, your son will live.”

No fanfare, no dazzling display of power. Just a quiet word, heavy with faith. Faith was all this father had and he held it like a lifeline.

He started home, hope and fear battling in his chest. Then, a messenger from home met him halfway. Just as Jesus said, “Your son lives! The fever is gone and joy fills the house.

This wasn’t just a physical healing; it caused the entire household to believe in Jesus. The father, who sought a miracle, found faith. His family, bathed in the glow of their loved one’s recovery, embraced the light of belief.

The story tells a powerful truth: when love and passion runs deep enough, it becomes a force that drives us to overcome any obstacle. It reminds us that God, though unseen, can cross miles of difficult roads.

This isn’t just a testament to Jesus’ power; it’s a beacon of hope for anyone caught in the storm of fear and a reminder that desperate prayers can reach ears far beyond our sight, and sometimes, the greatest wonders arrive wrapped in the quietest words. Words like, “Go, your son lives.”

Lonnie Davis

Beneath the scorching midday sun, in an ancient Samaritan village, an encounter by a well sparks a timeless conversation.  A weary Jesus and a Samaritan woman engage in a profound exchange, one that goes beyond the ordinary request for a drink. Their conversation, rich with hidden meanings and metaphors, offers lessons that transcend time and culture. It beckons us to quench our deepest thirsts, embrace vulnerability, and heed the call to share the divine message. 

So, come gather at the well, and prepare to be nourished by the wisdom it offers. The journey towards living waters awaits in the story of Jesus and The Woman at the Well.

First, a brief summary of John 4:4-42:

At a well in Samaria, Jesus offers “living water” to a Samaritan woman, surpassing physical thirst and quenching the soul. He reveals himself as the Messiah. The woman becomes a believer and spreads the news, while Jesus encourages his disciples to see the harvest of souls ready for salvation.

Of the many lessons to learn, here are three:

#1. Seeking Living Water Quenches a Deeper Thirst.

   The concept of “living water” offered by Jesus to the Samaritan woman is a metaphor for something far more satisfying than physical water, H2O. It’s about quenching a deeper spiritual yearning within us. What could this “living water” signify for you? Perhaps it’s a profound connection with your faith, or a rediscovery of love, or a newfound sense of purpose. To find how the Living Water can change your life, you must discover what you are thirsting for.

#2. Honesty Opens Doors to Seeing Jesus

   It is only after the Samaritan woman’s past is revealed that Jesus reveals His true identity to her. It’s a powerful reminder that vulnerability and honesty can pave the way to significant spiritual experiences. In our moments of openness, we too will find deeper insights and connections.

#3. The Harvest is Ready, and There’s Work to Do.

   His disciples were amazed at this whole event. It is to them that the great lesson for us all is revealed. Jesus said, “The fields are white unto harvest.” Jesus’ metaphor of the ripe fields ready for harvest is an urgent call to action. It’s an invitation to look around and discern where we can sow spiritual seeds, share the Gospel of Jesus.

Lonnie Davis