Month: August 2025

Our reading today is John 1:35-39, 43

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked.

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”

“Come and see,” He replied.

The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”

In this text, two curious disciples trail behind the Lamb of God. Jesus doesn’t ignore the hesitant footsteps. He turns. He sees. He speaks.They don’t know what to say, so they ask, “Where are You staying?” Not a theological question. Not a request for proof. Just a desire to be near Him.

And Jesus? He doesn’t hand them a map or a manual. He simply says, “Come and see.”

That’s how faith begins—not with answers, but with presence. Not with certainty, but with invitation. Jesus notices the seeker, even when the seeking is clumsy. He welcomes the heart that longs to be close.

Then, in verse 43, He finds Philip and says, “Follow Me.” No prerequisites. No resume. Just a call to walk with Him.

This is the rhythm of grace: Jesus sees, invites, and leads. He doesn’t demand perfection—He offers Himself. He calls you to follow Him.

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

Our reading for today is Matthew 4:9-11

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”

“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.

The devil’s last temptation was bold. He pointed to the kingdoms of the world and whispered, “It can all be Yours—just bow down.” He offered Jesus a crown without the cross and glory without sacrifice. Jesus knew better. There are no shortcuts to greatness!

I love how He handled it. No debate. No bargaining. Just three words: “Away from me.” Temptation doesn’t need a discussion; it needs a dismissal. 

Then came the angels. After the desert, after the hunger, after the struggle, God sent the angels. That’s how God works. Strength comes after resistance. God’s comfort follows faithfulness. He doesn’t leave His children stranded in the wilderness.

So what do we learn? Don’t look for shortcuts. Worship only God. Reject the devil. Speak firmly to temptation. Lean on the Word. And trust that God’s help will come.

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

Our reading for today is Matthew 4:7.

“Jesus replied, ‘It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Jesus was reaching back to Deuteronomy 6:16, where Moses reminded Israel, “Do not test the Lord your God as you tested Him at Massah.” Do you remember Massah? The people were thirsty. Their mouths were dry, their hearts were fearful, and instead of remembering the God who parted seas and rained down bread, they looked at their need and doubted His presence. They asked, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7).

That is the meaning of testing God—demanding proof when His promises should be enough. It’s like putting God on trial. “Lord, I’ll believe You, but only if You do this for me.”

But real faith doesn’t bargain. Real faith trusts. Jesus understood this when Satan dared Him to jump from the temple roof. He wouldn’t play games with His Father’s love. He didn’t need another sign. He had His Father’s word, and that was enough.

And isn’t that where we struggle too? We whisper, “Lord, if You fix this, then I’ll trust You.” But faith doesn’t wait for conditions to be met. Faith stands on God’s word even when the circumstances are dry.

Trust Him. Don’t test Him.

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

Our Bible reading from Jesus is John 13:34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

A father once received a call no parent wants: his son was in jail. As he headed out the door, a neighbor muttered, “If he were my kid, I’d leave him there.” The father replied, “If he were your kid, I would too.”

Love changes everything.

It’s easy to critique from a distance. Easy to say, “My kids will never…” until your toddler throws a tantrum in aisle five. Love doesn’t make us blind—it makes us merciful. It sees the mess and chooses grace.

Peter knew this. He wrote, “Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Love covers. Not ignores. Not excuses. But covers—with patience, with forgiveness, with hope.

Parents thrive when love covers. Spouses endure when love covers. Friendships heal when love covers.

Read that verse again. This time, pause after “covers.”
“Love each other deeply, because love covers…”

Yes, it does. Love covers the broken promises, the sharp words, the long nights. Love covers… whatever.

And that, dear friend, is how we live together in grace.

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

Quoting Jesus: Matthew 5:14.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

This can be hard. The preacher’s Sunday began with a missed alarm and a coffeemaker that forgot its calling. He stumbled into the day, shirt half-buttoned, heart half-ready. Then came the thump-thump of a flat tire, the smear of grease on his collar, and the flashing lights of a patrol car after a missed stop sign.

“License and registration,” the officer said.

The preacher grumbled, fumbling through frustration.

The officer smiled gently. “I know how you feel. I used to have days like that, before I met Jesus.”

Ouch.

It’s easy to shine when the sun is out and the coffee is hot. But what about when the tire’s flat and the patience is thinner than the preacher’s tie? That’s when the verse from Matthew 5, whispers its challenge: “Let your light so shine before men.”

God doesn’t ask for perfection. He asks for presence. He doesn’t expect us to float through life untouched by traffic tickets and tangled mornings. But He does invite us to respond with grace. To let our light flicker, even when the wind howls.

So today, if your coffee’s cold and your plans unravel, remember: your light matters most when the darkness tries hardest.

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

Quoting Jesus – Matthew 4:4

Jesus stepped into the wilderness. Forty days without food. His stomach empty. That’s when Satan showed up. Not with horns and a pitchfork, but with a whisper: “Turn these stones into bread.” A simple fix. A shortcut. A temptation tailored to the moment.

But Jesus didn’t reach for bread. He reached for Scripture.

“It is written,” He said. Not “I feel,” not “I think,” but “It is written.” The Word of God was His weapon. His shield. His sustenance.

“Man shall not live by bread alone.” Bread fills the belly, but not the soul. We need more than carbs; we need God’s Word.

He continued, “But by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” That’s our nourishment. That’s our strength. That’s our hope.

And notice when Satan came: when Jesus was hungry. Weak. Vulnerable. That’s his strategy. He doesn’t tempt us when we’re strong. He waits until we’re vulnerable. Then he whispers.

But don’t let him win. When temptation knocks, answer with truth. When weakness creeps in, lean on the Word. Remember, God’s promises are stronger than Satan’s lies.

You’re not alone in the wilderness. The Word walks with you.

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

Our reading for today is Matthew 6:33-34.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…”

We love the verse. We frame it, quote it, underline it. But when the pantry is bare and the bills stack high, it feels more like a distant hope than a present comfort.

Habakkuk knew that feeling. He said, “Though the fig tree does not bud… though the fields produce no food… yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”

That’s not denial. That’s defiance—holy defiance. A soul that says, “I will trust, even when I cannot trace.”

I’m older now. I’ve seen God show up in ways I never expected. But I’ve also felt the silence. The ache. The “My God, why have You forsaken me?” moments.

Even Thomas doubted. Even Jesus cried out. 

So what about you? What storm are you facing? What fig tree refuses to blossom?

You may not choose your storm, but you can choose your stance. Choose joy. Choose trust. Choose to say, “Yet I will rejoice.”

Because the struggle is temporary, the kingdom is eternal. And the King? He’s already working on your tomorrow.

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

In John 11, Jesus stood before the grave of His friend. The stone was still in place. The grief was fresh, the loss still raw. Lazarus had been gone four days. The air was heavy with sorrow and death.

“Take away the stone,” Jesus said.

Martha hesitated. Her words carried both love and doubt: “But, Lord… by this time there is a bad odor.”

Did she think He didn’t know? Or was it just too big to believe? Sometimes we’re like Martha. We long for God to work, but the problem smells too bad, feels too far gone. We remind Him of the impossibility—as if He needs reminding.

Jesus answered, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Then came the miracle. With a loud voice He called, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came—still wrapped in grave clothes but alive.

We remember that God said he is still “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Yet how often do we not ask… or even think?

The world may doubt. Some believers may hesitate. But we serve a God whose compassions never fail, whose faithfulness is new every morning. The stone still moves. The dead still rise. And the glory of God still shines. You can count on it!

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

Our reading today is Matthew 20:28.

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Ransom is a tender word. To ransom is to redeem, a buying back, a restoring of something precious at a price. The Savior didn’t arrive with royal fanfare or demanding a throne. He came with the gentle hands of a servant, giving all for our redemption.

There is a story told of a little boy and his treasured toy boat. He spent months building, carving, and shaping it. His fingerprints pressed upon every inch. When it was ready, he set it afloat on the river. Delighting in his creation, he would watch, then retrieve the boat and start all over. One day, the waters swept it away. The boat was lost, and the boy’s heart ached.

Days passed. He spotted his boat in the window of a resale store. Joy mixed with longing. “That’s my boat!” he told the shopkeeper. But shopkeeper told him he’d have to pay to get it back. With determined steps, he brought his savings, paid the price, and with boat in hand said, “You are mine twice—once, because I made you; twice, because I bought you back.”

That is our story? Crafted by God, lost, and pursued. Finally, eedeemed, bought back by Jesus. 

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

Our reading for today is about the Prodigal Son.

“Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, and here I am starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father’… So he got up and went to his father.”

You know his story. A young man with a pocketful of cash and a head full of dreams leaves home, only to find himself knee-deep in regret and empty pockets. But before we shake our heads at his foolishness, let’s pause to see the one thing he did exactly right.

In the midst of his mess, Luke says, “He came to himself.” That’s more than self-awareness—it’s soul-awareness. He realized where he was and where he needed to be. Then came the words, “I will get up and go to my father.” And he did. He didn’t put it on next week’s calendar. He didn’t wait for better weather. He arose and went.

Indecision is the thief of opportunity. Maybe you’ve been circling a choice, knowing deep down what God is calling you to do. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Don’t stall until the courage comes. At least in this one area, be like the Prodigal son, do it now!

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