Month: March 2024

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Our Scripture reading is Mark 4:30-32

[30] Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? [31] It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. [32] But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.” 

Learn the lesson from the parable. We’ll call it:

From a Tiny Seed, a Mighty Plant Grows:

 The Inspiring Lesson of the Mustard Seed

Imagine holding a single grain of sand between your fingers. Now, picture a tiny mustard seed, no larger than that minuscule speck. It’s hard to believe that from such a small beginning, a plant nearly 10 feet tall can emerge, isn’t it? Yet, that’s precisely the awe-inspiring reality of the mustard seed.

This little seed holds a profound lesson for us all: never underestimate the power of small beginnings. Just as the mustard seed contains the potential for a towering plant, the seemingly insignificant starts in our own lives can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

When we embark on a new journey, it’s easy to feel discouraged by the small scale of our initial efforts. We might question whether our actions can truly make a difference. But the mustard seed reminds us that with faith, patience, and perseverance, even the most modest of beginnings can bloom into something magnificent.

In the face of life’s challenges, we can draw strength from the mustard seed’s example. Though our problems may loom large, we have within us the capacity for tremendous growth and transformation. Just as the mustard seed relies on the nurturing power of the earth to realize its potential, we too can trust in a higher power to guide us toward our fullest expression.

So the next time you find yourself doubting the significance of your small beginnings, remember the mighty mustard seed. Embrace the power of faith, and trust that with God’s great presence, your tiny seed of potential can flourish into a beautiful reality beyond your wildest dreams.

Let the mustard seed be your inspiration, and watch in wonder as your small starts grow into great outcomes.

Lonnie Davis

https://youtube.com/watch?v=dDMPOMpz8-0%3Fsi%3DA-duaAhlrsIo15cz

The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

Our text for today is: Matthew 13:24-30

[24] “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. [26] When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 

[27] The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 

[28] ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. 

 So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 

[29] ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’” 

So, let’s look at the meaning of the parable of Weeds among the Wheat.

In this profound parable, Jesus reveals a fundamental truth about the nature of our earthly existence, that is this: good and evil will always coexist in this world. As you navigate life, you will inevitably face the enemy’s attempts to sow weeds in your path. God did not place you in a perfect, idyllic world; instead, He purposefully put you on earth where you can train and prepare for the perfect place where He eagerly awaits your arrival.

If you find yourself searching for perfection in this life—whether in a mate, school, job, family, or church—you are setting yourself up for inevitable disappointment and frustration.

Consider this: if your spouse were truly perfect, they would have never chosen to be with you in the first place. If your church were flawless, they would have no choice but to ask you to leave. And if your family were without fault, your mere presence would disrupt that perfection.

Embrace the reality that as long as we walk this earth, good and evil, right and wrong, will always be present, intertwined in the fabric of our lives. Rather than seeking an unattainable ideal, focus on growing, learning, and preparing yourself for the perfect existence that awaits you in the presence of God.

Lonnie Davis

Did you ever wonder why so many people hear the Gospel but reject it? After today’s devotional, you will understand. The answer is straight from Jesus’s word.

Our text for today is Matthew 13:3–8.

[3] Jesus said, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. [4] And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 

[5] Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. [6] But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 

[7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings. 

[8] Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. 

Upon hearing this parable, the disciples were confused and did not understand its meaning. Jesus, therefore, explained:

Some people have hearts that are like a hardened path. As soon as the seed of the word is sown in their hearts, evil comes and snatches it away.

Others have hearts that are like rocky ground. They hear the word and receive it with joy, but since they have no root, their faith remains for only a short time. When trouble or persecution arises because of the word, they quickly fall away and become unfaithful.

Then there are those whose hearts are like a thorny field. They hear the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and they become unfruitful.

However, some people have hearts that are like good soil. They hear the word, understand it, and bear fruit accordingly.

Through this parable, Jesus teaches us that Christians are expected to bear fruit. He also explains why some people hear God’s word but remain unfruitful. The condition of one’s heart determines the outcome. 

Lonnie Davis

Since we are reaching the part of the life of Christ where he teaches in parables, our devotional thought for today will introduce us to Jesus’ parables. Of course, Jesus taught many times in his sermons, going point by point, but the parable seems to be Jesus’ favorite way of teaching. 

There are two questions we need to ask about parables.

First: What is a parable?  

In its simplest form, a parable is a story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Second: Why did Jesus teach in parables?

In Matthew 13:10, we read: “Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do You speak to the people in parables?’” 

Answer #1: Jesus answered in these words: Matthew 13:11-13

“The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’

Let’s paraphrase his answer as: I teach in parables because I am saying things you need to hear, but the unspiritual person does not want to hear, or at best is not ready to hear.

We are all familiar with this kind of answer. If you have children, you sometimes spell things out to them that they are too young to understand: “Today, I am going to take little Johnnie to the D O C T O R.”

If you just said the word, that is all the young child would hear.

Answer #2: Because people remember stories better than statements.

When Jesus taught people often only heard him once. He wanted to tell them a spiritual truth in such a way that the spiritual people would remember it. 

To accomplish this, Jesus, the greatest storyteller ever, would teach them the greatest stories ever told, his parables. An illiterate crowd didn’t take notes. They just went and listened, remembered and reflected. The parables made it easier for people to remember and reflect.

Lonnie Davis

Our text today is Matthew 12:46-50

[46] While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. [47] Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” 

[48] But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” [49] Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. [50] For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” 

Let’s call this text “Brothers and Sisters in Christ.”

From today’s text, we notice three things:

1. We see the heart of Christ’s mission. 

While His biological family sought His attention, Jesus turned to His disciples and declared, “Here are my mother and my brothers!” This statement invites us to understand that Jesus came to establish a spiritual family. We are his brothers and sisters. We are Brother Jones, and Sister Smith. What sounds like just religious expressions, really is grounded in truth.

2. These verses call us to rethink our understanding of family. 

While Jesus’ biological family stood outside, seeking, Jesus turned to His disciples and declared, “Here are my mother and my brothers!” This powerful statement reveals that the bonds formed through faith in Christ surpass even the closest earthly ties. 

Jesus emphasizes that those who embrace the will of His Heavenly Father are His true family, transcending the limitations of biological kinship. The blood of Christ, shed for our redemption, proves thicker than the blood shared by ancestry. This should cause us to realize that our spiritual family, united in devotion to God, holds a sacred and eternal significance that is greater than all else.

3. In the midst of a gathered crowd, Jesus defines family not by blood but by obedience to God’s will. It’s a gentle but powerful reminder that our spiritual kinship with Jesus is forged through our actions and commitment to follow the Father’s commands.

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Matthew 12:38-45 

But we will focus on verse 38 because it captures the whole idea.

“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”’

They asked Jesus for a sign, but God already gave them a sign. They were just too blind to see it.

As a matter of fact, throughout history, many have demanded that God perform signs to prove Himself. They seek flashy miracles as evidence of God’s power and presence. Yet when God Himself came to earth incarnate in Jesus Christ, performing astonishing wonders that validated His authority, people still stubbornly resisted Him. 

In today’s reading, the scribes and Pharisees challenged Jesus to show them a miraculous sign. But they had already witnessed Him heal the sick, cast out demons, and forgive sins. His deeds of divine power and mercy testified to His identity as the Son of God. Still, they wanted more supernatural spectacle to indulge their hard hearts. 

Jesus called them an “evil generation” for requiring still more signs after all they had seen. They had more than enough evidence to recognize that the kingdom of heaven stood among them in Christ. Yet they pridefully clung to their unbelief. Sign-seeking often masks stubborn unbelief and distracts from true spiritual insight. 

God has displayed His glory and presence throughout history in both subtle and spectacular ways. In Scripture’s pages, in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, and in creation’s majesty, God has given us abundant signs of His reality if only we open our eyes to perceive them. 

We need not test God for what He has already clearly displayed.

We only need to see.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Matthew 12:33-37

[33] Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 

[34] You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. 

[35] The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. 

[36] But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 

[37] For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

Inspired by these verses, I am going to title this Devotion with the strange name: 

“Who are you and what did you say?”

There are two answers to this question.

1. First, Who are You?

Well, you are what you do! The words in Matthew 12:33, “for a tree is known by its fruit,” remind us that our actions ultimately define who we are. It’s not enough to simply claim good intentions or hold positive beliefs. Just as a healthy tree naturally produces good fruit, a person of genuine character demonstrates their goodness through their deeds. Our actions speak volumes, leaving a lasting impression on the world around us. This simple yet profound truth encourages us to constantly strive to live our values and let our actions reflect the best version of ourselves. 

2. Second, Who are You?

You are also known by what you say. Our words reveal our hearts. What resides in the inner recesses of our being eventually comes out through our speech. If our hearts are filled with goodness, kindness, and wisdom, our words will reflect those virtuous qualities. We’ll speak life, encouragement, truth, and love. But if our hearts harbor hatred, jealousy, foolishness, and malice, then our hurtful, careless, and destructive words will expose the decay within. Try as we might to conceal it, what dominates our hearts will find expression through our lips. Our unfiltered speech betrays our true selves. We can’t hide our inner darkness or light. The overflow of the heart’s abundance rushes forth, for better or worse. Our words make known the condition of our hearts.

Lonnie Davis

Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 11:14, 15, 17-23

There are many great lessons in today’s reading, but we will focus on Matthew 12:31-32

“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.”

For 50 years, I have heard people debate the subject of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The reason Christians ponder this is because Jesus named it the unforgivable sin. 

Since we want to believe that any sin can be forgivable, some have deduced that this sin must be the one for which you never repent. That is not what Jesus is teaching here. He doesn’t speak of the unforgiven sin, but that “whoever speaks a word against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither in this world nor the one to come.” It is a sin that is literally unforgivable.

So what is this sin?

To answer the question, consider what happened to cause Jesus to teach about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

Jesus accuses those present of committing the unpardonable sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, that is, by charging that Jesus performed His miracles by the power of Satan rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. Listen again to what they did, they charged that Jesus performed miracles by the power of Satan rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The unpardonable sin is not the same as rejecting the gospel; a man may spurn the Savior for years, then repent. Nor is the unforgivable sin the same as backsliding; a believer may wander far from the Lord, yet be restored.

Many people worry that they have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Even if this sin could be committed today, the fact that a person is concerned is evidence that he is not guilty of it. Those who committed it were hard and unrelenting in their opposition to Christ. They had no qualms about insulting the Spirit and no hesitancy about plotting the death of the Son. They showed neither remorse nor repentance.

The great message of the Gospel is that we have forgiveness for sin!

Lonnie Davis

Luke 7:36-50

Our text today is Luke 7:36-50, only 14 verses, but I challenge you to get your Bible (or Bible app) and read them. I started reading them early this morning and thinking about them off and on through the day. It is amazing how much we don’t see until we mediate on the verses.

It is the story of Jesus having dinner at the home of Simon the Pharisee. You might not recognize the name of the home owner, but you will remember the story. While he was there, a woman, deep in sorrow for her sins, came up behind Jesus and washed his feet with her tears.

There are other details to the story: She came up behind Jesus while he was eating at the house of the Pharisee. She wept on his feet till they were so wet that she could wash them with her tears. To dry them off, instead of a towel, she used her hair. She then kissed his feet and put perfume on them. What a great demonstration of love and gratitude!

Simon the Pharisee saw this and cast doubt on Jesus. When we read the story, the point we often see is how much she loved Jesus, but Jesus calls our attention to WHY she loved Him. 

Here is the why. She did all this because her sins were forgiven by God and this was her way of thanking God and honoring His son. We know this because Jesus told us this in verse 47, “Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Jesus is telling us today that those who feel the forgiveness of God, will love God the most. This woman stood weeping because of her sins. 

If you do not feel a need for forgiveness, you will not love deeply. Well, that’s what Jesus said.

Before we go, let me ask you just one more thinking question. Were her tears, tears of sorrow or tears of joy? What I am really asking is was she weeping because she was a sinner or, was she weeping because joy of her forgiveness? 

Lonnie Davis