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Today’s Scripture is Nehemiah 8:10.

“Then Nehemiah told them, ‘Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'”

I love the story of the little mouse that climbed up on the back of an elephant as they walked along a road. When they crossed a bridge, the entire structure shook under their weight. As they reached the other side, the mouse said to the elephant, “Boy, we really shook that bridge, didn’t we?”

Maybe you’re facing a tough day, or perhaps things are going well.

Regardless of what lies ahead, we’re all riding with God. Like the mouse on the elephant, we often feel small and overwhelmed by the challenges we face. Yet, it’s not our own strength that carries us through, but God’s. His joy is our strength, just as Nehemiah reminded the people of Israel.

In life, we may not be the ones shaking the bridges, but with God by our side, we have the strength to cross them. So, don’t be afraid—rejoice in the Lord’s strength today.

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

Today’s Scripture is Ephesians 5:21.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

This verse lies at the core of Paul’s teachings on relationships, particularly emphasizing the bond between husbands and wives. This verse calls for mutual submission—a deep expression of respect that is crucial for any loving marriage. It advocates for a balance where each partner honors the other, not out of duty but driven by their reverence for Christ and each other.

John Gray’s insights resonate with this Scripture. He notes, “When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences, then love has a chance to blossom.” This statement highlights that genuine respect within a marriage stems from acknowledging and valuing each other’s unique contributions and perspectives. Such respect is not just an ideal but a practical pathway to deeper love and understanding.

In this light, Ephesians 5 is not merely instructive; it deepens marital bonds. Through practicing mutual submission, husbands and wives actively demonstrate their love and respect for one another, reflecting the selfless love Christ has for the church. This shared commitment fosters a partnership rooted in mutual respect, where both individuals support and uplift each other in their spiritual journey. Such a relationship not only fortifies the marital bond but also serves as a compelling testament to God’s design for marriage.

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

Today’s Scripture is Proverbs 22:3:

“The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.”

As I read this verse, I’m reminded of a time when my son was in first grade. He got it into his head that he wanted to jump out of a plane with a parachute. Now, when you’re six, that’s not going to happen. So, being Jeremy, he grabbed the biggest trash bag he could find and climbed up onto the roof of the house. Holding the bag over his head, he jumped. You can guess how that turned out. Sitting on the ground afterward, he wondered why his makeshift parachute didn’t work.

The following week, his class played the parachute game at school—where the kids grab part of a large parachute and bounce a ball around. It was the first time he saw a real parachute up close, and he noticed that it had a hole in the middle. In his mind, the problem was solved. When he got home, he grabbed another trash bag, cut a hole in it, and jumped again. You can guess how that ended.

Now, back to today’s verse. “The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going.” I’ll give my son a pass—he was only six. But how many times have we adults been guilty of the same thing, ignoring the warning signs and charging ahead, thinking we know better? 

This verse reminds us of the importance of being alert and cautious. As George Santayana once said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” If we ignore the lessons around us or fail to recognize danger, we only bring trouble upon ourselves. 

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

Our Scripture today is Ephesians 6:4  

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

I remember this verse from my teenage years. It was the first Bible verse that I ever abused. My Dad did something that made me upset, and I remember thinking, “He is violating the Bible. Ephesians 6:4 says, ‘Fathers, provoke not your children unto wrath.’”  

I’m not making that up. I took solace in thinking that he would have to answer for upsetting me. It was a classic case of going to the Bible to find a proof text for what I wanted it to say.  

So what is the point? Here it is: Before you make a teaching out of a verse, even a personal teaching, you should take the time to understand what it means.  

Today’s verse is not a call to make sure that fathers never do anything that upsets their children. The verse tells fathers to bring up their children to know and follow the instructions of the Lord.  

Before we try to use any verse of the Bible as a “proof text” for what we believe, we must make sure that we know what the verse is teaching.  

That great thought is a call to be daily students of the Bible.

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

Today’s Scripture is Psalms 32:8-9.

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.”

In these verses, we find a comforting promise from God, paired with a strong warning. God pledges to guide us, offering not only instruction but also vigilant oversight. This promise encapsulates His readiness to lead us through life’s complexities, provided we are willing to listen and follow His counsel.

Yet, the following verse presents a hard alternative: if we choose not to heed His guidance, we risk being treated like unthinking animals, needing bits and bridles for direction.

This imagery is powerful and clear—without understanding and willingness, we relinquish the gentle guidance of God’s hand, only to face harsher measures to bring us back to the path.

This dynamic mirrors the truth of the saying, “Fools do eventually, what wise men do immediately.” God’s invitation is to wisdom—to respond to His guidance promptly, and avoid the painful lessons reserved for those who delay obedience.

Choosing to listen to God’s direction can spare us much hardship and will align us more closely with His will and peace.

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

Today’s Scripture is Psalm 50: verse 21.

“These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes.”

Our understanding of God can sometimes mirror a reflection of ourselves. We have heard many people say, “My God would not,” and then finish the sentence with their favorite subject. This is a silly comment. God is God, and it doesn’t change based on our wishes.

In this verse, God addresses the common error of assuming that God shares our thinking or that His silence on our actions is a nod of agreement. This misconception can lead us to think that we know God’s nature based on our own traits and experiences.

Mark Twain humorously noted, “God created man in his own image.” He then finished the saying with, “Man, being a gentleman, returned the favor.” This quote shows our tendency to shape God’s identity around our personal biases.

Psalm 50 cautions against creating a convenient version of a God who perfectly aligns with our wants and justifications.

God is God. He is distinct and not a projection of our thinking. You can read about Him in His book, the Bible.

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

Today’s Scripture is Genesis 2:24.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cling to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

In Genesis 2:24, we find a profound declaration about marriage that speaks volumes about unity. When a man and woman marry, they are not just signing a contract or making a temporary commitment; they are merging their lives into one seamless entity. This union goes beyond sharing a home or family—it’s about intertwining souls and destinies.

Mignon McLaughlin once said, “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” This idea captures the essence of marital unity. It’s not merely about staying physically together, but about rekindling love day after day. It’s about seeing and appreciating your spouse anew, maintaining a vibrant connection that transcends the routine of daily life.

Unity in marriage, as described in Genesis, is not an automatic state; it’s a deliberate choice. It involves patience, understanding, and, most importantly, a ceaseless effort to nurture the bond that was vowed. As we reflect on this verse, let’s consider how we can foster a deeper unity in our relationships, honoring not just our commitments but the spirit of togetherness that marriage embodies.

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

Today’s Scripture is Proverbs 22: verse 6.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Over the years, I have seen many Christian parents fret about this passage. Their children messed up in life and quit following God. They read this text and say, “It must be my fault.”

Maybe it is, but maybe it is not. We are each free to make our own choices. So are our children. Proverbs is not a book of laws but a book of wisdom.

Adam and Eve knew God personally and still messed up spiritually. For three years, Jesus taught Judas and prayed with him. When Judas failed, it was not Jesus’ fault.

 So, what does this verse really teach? 

The wisdom of this Proverb highlights a profound truth about the impact of childhood training. From a young age, the guidance we provide our children with what we say and with what we do shapes their future. It’s about planting seeds of character and wisdom that grow with them.

Your child, like you, can still make their own choices, but by nurturing their young minds with love, God’s Word, and understanding, we lay a foundation that can help them through the tests of time.

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

 

Our Scripture today is Genesis 2:19.

“Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.”

Here, at the dawn of creation, God entrusts Adam with the significant task of naming the animals. This was not merely an assignment; it was the first act of biology, specifically taxonomy, the science of naming and classifying organisms.

What stands out in this passage is God’s deliberate choice to involve Adam in the creative process. God could have effortlessly named every creature Himself. Yet, He chose not to. Instead, He called upon man to do for himself, what he could do.

God still invites us to use our abilities, to cultivate knowledge, and to contribute meaningfully. Today, as in Eden, God equips us but also expects us to do for ourselves what we are capable of doing.

Adam could not create the animals, so God did it.
Adam could name the animals, so God told Adam to do it.

This partnership with God encourages us to grow, learn, and take responsibility. It calls on us to do what we can, and trust God to do for us what we cannot do.

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

Today’s Scripture is James 1:26.

“If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, he deceives himself, and his religion is worthless.”

Our words carry immense power, much more than we often realize. They have the capacity to heal or to harm, to uplift or to undermine. As believers, the words we speak reflect the state of our hearts and the authenticity of our faith. 

I love the quote from Maya Angelou who said, “When people show you who they are, believe them.” What you do is important, but James tells us that what we say is also important. What we say is an indicator of what is in our heart. Jesus said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45).

Here James tells us about the importance of controlling our tongue. If we claim to be followers of Christ but fail to control our tongues, we not only deceive ourselves, but we also render our religion ineffective.

In other words, you can go to church, read your Bible, and take food to a sick person, but if you don’t guard your words, your religion is vain!

I don’t want my religion to be vain, so I resolve to guard my tongue a little better.

Besides, it would also cut down on my “I wish I hadn’t said that,” thoughts.

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