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The Great Promise

Our Scripture today is Revelation 21:4

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Over the years, I’ve been part of many groups and classes where people are asked, “What is your favorite Bible verse?” It’s always interesting to hear which verses have captured people’s hearts. Often, you’ll hear familiar ones like “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” from Philippians or John 3:16, “For God so loved the world.”

Yet, in 50 years of preaching and teaching, I’ve never heard anyone choose Revelation 21:4.

One writer beautifully said, “The beauty of Scripture is that it speaks to our hearts at the very moment we need it most.” This verse, in particular, offers a deep well of comfort. When we’re young, life often feels full of health and promise, but as we grow older, grief inevitably becomes part of our journey. We face sickness, and eventually, we all say goodbye to someone we love. In those moments, this verse shines brightest.

Revelation 21:4 reminds us of the hope we have in Christ: a day is coming when God Himself will wipe away every tear, and death, pain, and sorrow will be no more. This is our Great Promise, made possible through Jesus.

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

Today’s Scripture is Mark 3: verse 35.

“For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

In this verse, Jesus explains that His true family is made up of those who do God’s will. It’s not about blood relations, but about obedience. When we choose to follow God’s plan, we enter into a spiritual family with Christ. This shows that obedience to God’s will is a foundation of our relationship with Him. It’s a choice that leads us closer to Jesus, connecting us as His brothers and sisters.

Obeying God’s will isn’t always easy. It requires trust, patience, and sometimes giving up our own desires. As one writer said, “We are all pencils in the hand of God, doing His will.” When we surrender to His guidance, He uses us for His greater purpose. Just like a pencil in the hand of a writer, we are part of God’s work, even if we don’t always see the big picture.

Being in God’s family means aligning our lives with His will. In doing so, we experience His love and guidance more fully. This is what Jesus invites us to when He calls us His family.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Our verse today is Titus 2:7

“In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works.”

One of my earliest memories of going to church was when I was five years old. My family attended the South Park Church of Christ in Beaumont, TX. There was a man who always sat in a big chair on the platform. I wasn’t quite sure what his role was—perhaps he led prayers. When you’re five, you don’t always understand everything. He had white hair and a long white beard, and to my young mind, there was no doubt: this man was Jesus. 

Later on, we started attending a different church, and that man wasn’t there. It bothered me, even as a child, to go to church where “Jesus” didn’t seem to be. Of course, I was confused, but I was only five. Still, the principle holds true—never go to church where Jesus isn’t present.

We can’t determine who is with Jesus based on someone’s appearance, like their white hair or long beard. I once went into a restaurant with a deacon who had a long white beard. A little kid saw us, pointed, and said, “Santa Claus!” You might recognize Santa by his beard, but we see godly people by their actions and beliefs.

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

Our text today is Matthew 22: verses 17 and 21:  

“So tell us what you think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus replied, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 

If you had the chance to pose a question to Jesus, would taxes be at the top of your list? It seems that disdain for taxes has been a timeless sentiment, echoing through the ages and still resonating strongly in America today. We’re faced with a dizzying array of taxes: income tax, sales tax, property tax, payroll tax, self-employment tax, capital gains tax, excise tax—and let’s not forget the estate tax that comes up after death.

While these taxes can feel overwhelming, there’s an even more insidious tax we pay—one that doesn’t come with a receipt. I call it the “Gotta Have It Now Tax.” This is perhaps the most foolish tax we incur. It’s an invisible fee we willingly pay when we prioritize instant gratification over thoughtful spending.

Think about it: whether it’s shelling out extra for expedited shipping, succumbing to impulse buys, or opting for convenience at the expense of cost, this tax quietly siphons away our hard-earned money every time we let impatience take the wheel.

The symptoms of this tax are glaringly obvious: empty bank accounts and mounting credit card debt. But fear not! There’s a remedy rooted in wisdom. Here it is: Save a little for a rainy day!

Proverbs 21:20 reminds us:  

“Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.”

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth pondering. 

Today’s scripture is Deuteronomy 6: verse 7. 

“And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

The them this verse is clear—God’s Word. This verse calls us to ensure that our children, and our families, know God’s Word and make it the foundation of their lives.

Teaching children can sometimes be a challenge, but it must be done. Dads, if you aren’t sure how to reach your child, ask their mom. Not all dads have to, but I surely did.

Our kids, Janet, Ginger and Jeremy, were so engaged with the Word that they would weaponize it for their arguments. Ginger, at 13, would lash out at her 8-year-old brother with Ephesians 6:1: “Children, obey your parents.” 

Jeremy would respond with Proverbs 6:16: “God hates a lying tongue.” Neither of them was especially disobedient or dishonest, they just used scripture as their defense!

Over time, I was able to teach them the deeper, true application of these verses. Now, years later, though they no longer live in my house, I’m still committed to guiding them in God’s Word. That is my calling from Deuteronomy 6. And it’s your calling too.

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

It was Thursday night and Jesus knew that this time tomorrow he would be dead, at least, as we think of death. So, he told his disciples, “I am going away to prepare a better place for you.”

That Scripture is John 14:2-3.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

He went to prepare a place for you and me too, but do you really want to go? 

I’m reminded of the street preacher who always used the line, “Do you want to go to heaven?” Of course, people always said yes. One day he stopped a man and asked, “Do you want to go to heaven?” The man immediately said, “No!” 

He never heard that answer before so he responded, “you don’t want to go to heaven when you die?” The man said, “When I die? Yes. I thought you were getting up a load to go right now.”

I get it. We like where we are. 

The first lines of a poem say, 

“If God hath made this world so fair,
Where sin and death abound,
How beautiful, beyond compare,

Will Paradise be found!”

God made our world wonderful, but have you ever stopped to consider how much better paradise will be? Jesus went to prepare it as our eternal home. Where we’ll never grow old.

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

Today’s Scripture is Psalm 32:8.  

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

This verse reminds us of the intimate care God offers as He guides us through life. His counsel is not distant or cold, but full of love and attention. He doesn’t just tell us what to do; He watches over us with tenderness, making sure we stay on the right path. This is the meaning of “I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” He doesn’t counsel us and then turn his back on us.

It’s easy to feel lost or uncertain, but this verse assures us that God is personally invested in our journey. His loving nature means that we are never forgotten or abandoned. God loves each of us as if we were the only one.  This is the heart of His guidance—it’s personal, kind, and constant.

When we trust in God’s counsel, we find peace, knowing that He sees more than we do. He knows what’s ahead, and His love ensures that He will lead us safely. The question we must ask ourselves is, are we willing to trust His love and follow where He leads?

Today, whatever happens, remember God is watching. Not to find your faults, but to see your needs.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Matthew 1:5-6:  

“Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.”

When reading the Bible, have you ever skimmed over genealogies, assuming they have little relevance? It’s easy to overlook their significance, but if you slow down, you’ll see powerful stories hidden in the names. Take this passage, for example. 

King David’s grandmother was Ruth, a Moabite, someone who wasn’t even Jewish. Her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi is one of the Bible’s most moving moments. Ruth told her, “Wherever you go, I will go; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”.

Even more astonishing is King David’s great-grandmother, Rahab. Once a prostitute in Jericho, she showed great faith by protecting Israel’s spies, securing her place in God’s unfolding story. 

Two women from different backgrounds, one who ate from charity and one a prostitute in Jericho, both considered outsiders, became the grandmother and great-grandmother of the great King. By the way, we don’t know the name of his mother, just his grandmother and great-grandmother. 

These two women teach us that God works through the unexpected to accomplish His purposes.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Turning Gifts into Blessings

Our Scripture today is First Peter 4: verse 10
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

“Whatever gift he has received,” is an interesting phrase. It means that we don’t all have the same gift. Peter says that plainly in the following verses.

“If anyone speaks, he should speak…
If anyone serves, he should serve…

If you have the gift of speaking, then be a speaker. If you are a gifted server, then serve. Use the gift God has given you. If you have a special talent for singing, then sing. If you are a great cook, then use that gift too. If you are whatever, then use that whatever you have been gifted.

Notice that he says of the gift you have, that you are a “steward.” That means that God has given you that gift to hold for him.

Use your talent because you were made for that purpose.
Use your talent because God is lending it to you to use.
Use your talent because you will not reach your full potential until you do.
Use your blessing to bless.

As a wise man said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Our gifts have greater value when we use them for the good of others.

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

Today’s Scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.”

In Luke 15, we read the beautiful story of the Prodigal Son. This young man took his inheritance, journeyed to a distant land, and wasted it all. Broke, hungry, and living in a pig pen, he longed to return home but believed he had ruined his chance. His faith in himself was shattered. He had no hope for anything more than being accepted as a servant in his father’s household.

But something greater than faith or hope remained. As he approached, still a long way off, his father saw him, ran to him, and embraced him. Not as a servant, but as his son. What caused this amazing welcome? The answer is found in today’s verse. Love—the greatest of all.

When faith falters and hope seems lost, love stands strong. In this parable, we are the prodigal, and God is the father. No matter how far we wander, when we turn back to Him, He greets us with love beyond measure.

There is no mistake, no failure, and no pig-pen that can keep us from the Father’s love.

I’m Lonnie Davis and this is a thought worth thinking.