Author: londavis@hotmail.com

It was more than twenty-five years ago that I found myself estranged from a dear friend. We hadn’t spoken very much for a couple of years, and it felt sad to me. I thought he had said some hurtful things about me, but that didn’t matter. I finally got in my car and drove two hours to his house. With gentleness on both of our parts, we talked it out. I left him with these words, “My friend: we’re too old to make new lifetime friends.” In our discussion with each other, we discovered that each of us could have done better. Our friendship was restored. We will be friends for the rest of our lives and throughout eternity.

What I did was not my wisdom, but the wisdom of Matthew 18:15. 

“If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”

When someone wrongs you, Jesus commands you to go to them privately, not wait for their apology or involve others. Going alone protects the relationship’s chance for restoration. Approach with gentleness, not to win an argument but to win back a brother, reflecting Christ’s own heart.

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

Our reading today is Matthew 6:4

“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

One Sunday after the sermon, a man handed me an envelope containing $600 to be delivered anonymously to a church family who was struggling. I was touched.

There have been times when you have done that same kind of thing. You helped a neighbor carry in groceries. No one saw. You prayed for an neighbor going through surgery.  You gave to a beggar on the  street. No cameras caught it.

And that’s exactly how Jesus said it should be.

Three times in Matthew 6, Jesus whispers the same stunning promise. When you give in secret—your Father sees. When you pray behind closed doors—your Father sees. When you fast without fanfare—your Father sees.

He doesn’t promise applause. He doesn’t guarantee a spotlight or a stage. He simply assures you of an audience of One, Him.

The Father sees what is done in secret.

In a world obsessed with platforms and profiles, this truth is revolutionary. God isn’t scrolling through your social media looking for proof of your faithfulness. He’s already watching. He’s already listening. He catches the prayer you breathe at 2 a.m. He notices the gift you give to the poor. He sees the sacrifice you make in the shadows.

His reward isn’t always immediate, and it’s rarely public. But it’s always enough. 

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

Matthew 16:6

“Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

When I was a teenager, my mother baked frozen yeast rolls that everyone loved, including a neighbor who was new to the country. Wanting to try them, she bought a few packs but stored them in her kitchen cabinet. By the next day the thawed dough had risen and filled the whole cabinet. That is the power of yeast. It spreads into everything around it.

Yeast in bread is not the only thing that spreads. In today’s passage Jesus warns us that unless we are careful the attitudes and actions of the people and culture around us can work their way into our own hearts.

This is such a powerful principle that it even affected the Apostle Peter. In Galatians 2, the apostle Peter was pulled into hypocrisy simply because he was afraid of the pressure from certain Jews who came from Jerusalem. The text says that the rest of the Jews joined in and even Barnabas was carried away. That is the power of atmosphere. The wrong crowd can turn courage into cowardice.

Paul also warned of this, “Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals.” (First Corinthians 15:33). In modern times one speaker said: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

We still need that warning from Jesus. Watch out. Beware of the influence of the people and culture around you. 

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

Matthew 10:28 says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

As a child, reading this in the King James, I thought it meant we should be scared of God. Men can harm the body, but only God holds eternity. Yet as faith matures, we discover the Bible never teaches us to cower before Him.

John clarifies this in 1 John 4:18: “Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” The word perfect here means mature, full-grown. Mature love removes the kind of fear that makes us shrink back. It invites us close instead of pushing us away.

Think of a child learning to trust a parent. At first, fear of discipline may linger. But as love deepens, trust grows. The child learns the parent’s heart. In the same way, as our love for God matures, fear of punishment fades. What remains is awe, reverence, and confidence in His goodness.

To fear God is to worship or reverence Him. It is standing in awe of His holiness, bowing in gratitude for His mercy. Mature love steadies the soul. It draws us near, even at Judgment.

Love God in a mature way, and you will have no reason to be scared.

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

Our reading today is Matthew 10:16

“Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” 

What a pairing, a snake and dove. One slithers with caution, the other soars with gentleness. Yet together they form the posture of a disciple in a dangerous world.  

Consider the snake. It does not rush blindly. It tests the ground before moving. It senses danger before it strikes. Its survival depends on alertness. That is shrewdness, wisdom wrapped in caution. Jesus knew His followers would need this same awareness. Wolves lurk in the shadows of culture, ready to tear down faith. Shrewdness keeps us steady, discerning, prepared.  

But shrewdness alone is not enough. Enter the dove. Harmless. Gentle. Pure. The dove reminds us that our caution must never harden into cruelty. Joseph in Egypt, Daniel in Babylon, Paul in Rome, all lived with this balance. They navigated hostile worlds with wisdom, yet their hearts remained soft.  

So Jesus sends us out. Not naïve, but not cynical. Not careless, but not callous. Shrewd as a snake. Innocent as a dove. Wise enough to see danger, gentle enough to reflect His love.  

Walk today with both alert eyes and a tender heart.  

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

Our reading today is Matthew 7:13-14.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Our world says, “All words lead to God.” But Jesus said there are two gates before you today.

One is wide. Welcoming. Well-traveled. It requires nothing of you—no change, no surrender, no uncomfortable conversations with your soul. The crowd streams through it, and the current is strong. It appeals to what comes naturally: comfort, self-protection, the path of least resistance. But Jesus tells us where it leads. Destruction.

The other gate is narrow. It demands something. A deliberate decision. A bending of the knee. A willingness to follow Christ even when it costs you convenience, reputation, or ease. Fewer people choose this road, not because it’s hidden, but because it’s hard. It calls for discipline when you’d rather sleep in. Humility when you’d rather be right. Obedience when you’d rather be in control.

Here’s what matters: the majority is not always right. Popularity is not proof of safety. The crowd can be wrong—and often is.

Discipleship is not accidental. You don’t stumble into holiness. You choose it. Today. Tomorrow. Again and again. The narrow road is not a one-time decision but a daily one, a moment-by-moment commitment to walk with Jesus even when the path climbs steeply upward.

Which gate will you enter today?

Choose well. Choose the road less traveled. Eternity depends on it.

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

Our reading today is Matthew 5:48

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Jesus didn’t say, “Be flawless.” He said, “Be perfect.”

The Greek word “teleios” doesn’t mean without error, it means mature, whole, complete. Like a tree that’s grown tall and strong, bearing fruit in every season. Jesus isn’t calling us to a life of spotless performance, though we should always do our best. He is calling us to a heart that mirrors the Father’s love.

Just before this verse, Jesus paints a picture of divine love: God sends sunshine and rain on the just and the unjust. He doesn’t ration His kindness. He doesn’t withhold His mercy. His love is not a reward. It’s a reflection of who He is.

“Be Perfect” means to love like that.

To love:
–The friend and the foe. 
–The neighbor and the nuisance. 
–The one who thanks you and the one who wounds you. 

Perfection isn’t about never stumbling. It’s about loving. It’s about letting God stretch our hearts until they look a more like His.

You may not get every word right. You may not always respond with grace. But if you’re growing in love, if you’re learning to forgive, to bless, to reach across the divide, then you’re walking in the way of perfection. Not flawless, but full of love.

Just like your Father.

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

Our reading for today is John 13:6-7.

He came to Simon Peter, who asked Jesus, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Peter didn’t get it. The towel, the basin, the kneeling Savior, none of it made sense. Why would the Son of God stoop to wash dirty feet? It felt wrong. So Peter protested. Jesus, with gentle authority, replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

We’ve all stood in Peter’s sandals. The diagnosis that blindsides. The job that disappears. The prayer that goes unanswered. We cry out, “Lord, what are You doing?” And heaven seems silent.

But Jesus whispers the same words to us: “You don’t understand now. Later, you will.”

Later may not come today. It may not come this year. But it will come. Because Jesus doesn’t waste pain. He doesn’t fumble the plan. He sees the whole picture while we only see the puzzle piece.

So when life doesn’t make sense, remember the towel. Remember the Savior who stooped low to lift us high. Trust that His hands are still at work, loving, shaping, and redeeming.

You may not understand now. But later? Later will be worth the wait.

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

At my father-in-law’s funeral, a farmer leaned in and said, “He’ll pay you.” No fanfare. No flourish. Just a quiet tribute to a man whose word was as solid as oak. That’s the kind of integrity Jesus speaks of in Matthew 5:37: 

“Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ be ‘No.’”

Jesus wasn’t impressed by dramatic oaths or flowery promises. He was calling us to truth, plain and powerful. In a world that spins half-truths like cotton candy, He invites us to speak with clarity and conviction. No need for pinky swears or “cross my heart.” Just say it. Mean it. Live it.

When your words carry weight, people don’t ask for proof. They trust your character. Your yes becomes a covenant. Your no, a boundary. And both reflect the God who never lies.

Integrity isn’t loud. It’s steady. It’s the quiet strength behind a handshake, the unseen anchor in a storm of spin. And when we speak with that kind of honesty, we do more than earn respect, we shine a light on the One who is Truth Himself.

So today, speak simply. Speak sincerely. Let your words be a mirror of your heart, and let your heart be anchored in Christ.

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

Our reading is Matthew 6:25.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

Jesus didn’t hint about worry. He spoke plainly. “Do not worry about your life.” That wasn’t advice for the overly anxious; it was a command for every believer. Jesus wasn’t condemning concern. He was freeing us from the kind of worry that forgets who God is.

Concern and worry can look alike on the outside, but inside they are worlds apart. Concern prays. Worry panics. Concern looks at the problem and then looks up. Worry looks only at the problem. Concern acts in faith; worry lives in fear. 

Jesus invites us to trade the tight grip of fear for the gentle hold of His hand. He knows our needs, and He’s already working ahead of us. When we choose trust, we stop trying to play God and start trusting His promises.

So ask yourself today: does what I’m feeling draw me closer to God or further into fear? Concern leads to prayer. Worry leads to paralysis. One feeds faith; the other feeds doubt.

Let worry go. Let trust grow.

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

Our reading is Matthew 5:41

“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

Roman law was clear. A soldier could tap your shoulder and force you to carry his pack. One mile, but no more. It was the law of the occupied, the routine of the powerless.

But Jesus had a different idea.

“Go two miles,” He said. Not because you have to. Because you choose to.

The first mile? That’s the mile of duty. You trudge through it. You count your steps. You rehearse your complaints. It’s the mile where resentment grows with every footfall. You walk it because the law says so, because life demands it, because you have no choice.

But the second mile? That’s different. That’s the mile of love. Nobody’s watching. Nobody’s keeping score. The soldier didn’t ask for it. The law doesn’t require it. You walk it simply because grace has changed your heart.

We all have first-mile moments—interruptions we didn’t want, burdens we didn’t choose, people who demand too much. But the second mile? The second mile changes everything. It changes your resentment into your kindness. 

Jesus didn’t just teach the second mile. He walked it. All the way to Calvary. All the way to the grave. All the way back to life.

So the next time someone forces you to go one mile (perhaps they are rude or thoughtless), remember: the second mile is where your faith shines brightest.

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

Our text for today is Matthew 5:16

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men…” Not hide it. Not dim it. Shine it. Why? Because someone’s watching. Someone’s wondering if God is real. And your life, your kindness, your integrity, your quiet acts of service might be the proof they need.

It is like the story of twins who stood in front of a mirror. One dressed carelessly, shrugging off her sister’s concern. “It’s my business,” she said. The other replied, “No, it’s not. Someone might see you and think it’s me.”

The truth is that some do see you, a Christian, and think about God, either for the good or the bad. 

Your good works are more than deeds; they’re divine reflections. They whisper of grace. They shout of mercy. They point not to you, but to Him.

True spiritual maturity doesn’t seek applause. It seeks reflection. When people see your light, they should see the Father’s fingerprints. Your life becomes a lantern, guiding others toward heaven’s glow.

So wear your light well. Because in the end, it’s not about who’s watching you. It’s about who finds God because they saw you.

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

Our Scripture is Matthew 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”

Jesus doesn’t suggest it. He commands it. Rejoice! Even when people insult you. Even when they persecute you. Even when lies fly like arrows aimed at your heart. Rejoice!

Impossible? Perhaps. Until you remember where to look.

Richie Parker was born without arms. He could have focused on the missing. Instead, he chose differently. “I don’t focus on the one thing I can’t do,” he said. “I focus on the thousands of things I can do.” He learned to drive. Earned an engineering degree. Worked for a championship NASCAR team. All of this with no arms!

You see, feelings follow focus. Change what you’re looking at, thinking about, and you’ll change how you’re feeling.

Jesus offers two lenses for hard times. 

First, look at what you have, not what you’ve lost. Your reward awaits in heaven.

Second, look ahead.  Ten thousand years from now, this brief season of suffering will be a distant memory. But you? You’ll still have a million years stretching before you.

So when rejoicing seems impossible, remember: it’s not about denying the pain. It’s about choosing your focus. Look at what remains. Look at what’s coming.

And watch joy find its way back to you.

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

Our text for today is Matthew 4:19

”Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

Listen to the rhythm of Jesus’ invitation. It’s simple. Sequential. Sacred.

First, Come. Not “Go and do great things first.” Not “Clean up your act, then we’ll talk.” Just come. Come as you are. Come with your doubts, your mess, your empty nets. The call begins with presence, not performance.

Second, Follow Me. Walk where I walk. Watch what I do. Let My ways become your ways. This is the transformation part—the slow, steady work of becoming. You don’t manufacture it. You don’t force it. You simply stay close, and somehow, mysteriously, you begin to reflect what you behold.

Finally, I will make you fishers of men. Notice who does the making? Not you. Him. Your job isn’t to conjure up evangelistic zeal or manufacture spiritual fruit. Your job is to stay near. To follow. The catching will follow as night follows day.

So many of us skip straight to the mission and wonder why we’re exhausted. We’re trying to catch fish without ever being with the Fisherman.

But Jesus never changes the order. First, come. Then, follow. Then—only then—does the fruit come.

Stay close to Him today. The rest will follow.

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

Jesus didn’t begin His ministry with a miracle or a parable. He began with a command: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17). 

Now go to the end of his ministry, Revelation 3:19. Jesus is still knocking. Still inviting. Still calling us to repent. The door isn’t locked. The handle is on our side. If we open it, He promises to come in—not with condemnation, but with communion.

That word, repent conjures up all kinds of judgment and condemnation. But it isn’t a scolding. It’s a summons. It is Jesus, the man of love and caring, using it to issue a divine invitation to turn around, to come home.

Repentance is about more than behavior. It’s about the heart. A thief may stop stealing, but if his heart still longs for what isn’t his, has he truly repented? Jesus calls us deeper. Repentance doesn’t just call for cleaner hands. It calls for a changed heart. 

So today, let’s not just study the words in red. Let’s begin where Jesus began, with repentance.

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