Author: londavis@hotmail.com

Joseph & Mary’s flight to Egypt with Jesus

Matthew 2:13-15

Our text reads:

[13] When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” 

[14] So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, [15] where he stayed until the death of Herod.

OBSERVATIONS

Here are three observations:

1. Matthew 2:13 – God Watches Over His Own.

“When [the Magi] had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’”

When I read this verse, I understand that God’s people are never away from the protection of God. Trouble was on the horizon, but Joseph did not even know about it. Joseph slept, but God was awake and sent his angel to speak to him in a dream and warn him to run. Psalms 121:3-4 promises, “He who watches over you will not slumber indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” This is God’s protective attitude over his children.

2. Matthew 2:14 – Obey God Immediately.

After the angel told Joseph what to do, the very next verse says, “So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.”

There was no, we will go tomorrow or we will go next weekend. He got up that night and did what God said. Here is the great truth for all of us. When you know what God wants you to do, do it immediately.

3. Matthew 2:14 – Loved One Struggle Together.

Notice that Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus, but Joseph, Mary and Jesus had to take flight in the night. When one hurts, then the whole family hurts. It is only arrogance and ignorance that causes a person to say, “It is my life and I can do as I please.” No! When a child hurts the family hurts. When a father is lazy the whole family suffers. When a mother is irresponsible, she troubles everyone in the family and all who love her.

When one family member hurts, we all hurt.

Lonnie Davis

Summary – Matthew 2:1-12

The wise men from the east locate Jesus in Bethlehem and offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They are warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they depart by another route.

There are two things we see in this story:

First: What we think we know that we don’t know.

When I was a child, I never understood why the wisemen had to go to Herod to ask where Jesus is. I had seen the Christmas cards and could see that the star was shining down on the spot where Jesus was. At least, that is why I believed.

Other things believed but not in the Bible.

1. There were three Magi.
2. That the Magi were kings.
3. That the Magi found Jesus in the manger.
4. That the Magi were there while the shepherds were still there.

Here is the truth.

We don’t know how many Magi came. We often refer to the Magi as the wise men. They were probably astrologers, scholars who studied the stars and sacred prophecies. 

What does the Bible say about their journey?

The Bible describes them as “from the East.” 

It is probable that they came from either Persia (Modern-day Iran) or Arabia. 

If they came from Persia then their journey would be 1,000 to 1,200 miles. 

If they came from Arabia it would be 700-1,000 miles. 

Either way, traveling on foot, (or even camels), would have taken several weeks. By the time they arrived, Jesus was probably a toddler and not a new born baby in a manger. 

Remember that Herod decreed that all boys under two were to be killed. At that time, Jesus would have been under two years of age. Other than that, we don’t know.

What we do know about the three gifts.

It is not correct to say there were three gifts. There were three types of gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

In fact, one can easily imagine that there were several objects made of gold that were offered to Jesus. However, all gifts were of one of these three types – gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Each type held a special significance.

1. Gold: was a symbol of kingship

Because of the high cost of gold,  it is often associated with royalty and wealth. With this gift they were acknowledging his status as a king. 

2. Frankincense: was a symbol of divinity.

Frankincense was obtained from the resin of a special tree, which grows in the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula. Frankincense was used in religious rituals and temple sacrifices. Its inclusion as a gift to Jesus is a symbol of his divinity and his role as a priest. 

3. Myrrh: Was a Symbol of Suffering and Mortality

   Myrrh was obtained from the resin of a tree that was native to parts of Africa and the Middle East. It was used in ancient times for embalming and as an anointing oil. Its inclusion is prophetic of Jesus’ eventual suffering and death.

Nothing about the Magi coming to see Jesus, from the star, to the journey, to the gifts was by chance. 

God hand was in it. God’s hand is also in your life.

Lonnie Davis

Event 7: Jesus is Presented at the Temple

Our story today took place 40 days after Jesus was born. It was a part of the Law that each Hebrew baby boy had to be presented at the temple. Luke 2:22-38 tells us the story of the presentation of baby Jesus at the temple.

Let’s begin by summarizing them.

SUMMARY

When the time came for Mary and Joseph to complete the purification rites after Jesus’ birth, they brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. There they encountered Simeon and Anna, two devout older people who had been waiting to see the Messiah. Simeon praised God, prophesying that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to others who were awaiting Jerusalem’s redemption.

Our special observation for today revolves around the 84-year-old Anna. I call it:

Anna’s Life: Plan B.

Anna was once a young bride, married at a tender age. Her dreams were simple – to build a home and family with her beloved husband. But life had other plans. After just seven short years, Anna was made a widow, and her hopeful dreams suddenly shattered.  

Certainly, Anna struggled to imagine a new future. In those times, opportunities for women were scarce. But Anna found her calling in the temple, drawing daily comfort and purpose from her faith. As the decades passed, she became a fixture among the holy walls, revered for her devotion. 

On a fateful morning, more than 50 years later, Anna felt a long-awaited quickening in her spirit. A young couple, Mary and Joseph, had come to present their newborn son. One glimpse and Anna knew: this was the redemption her soul had thirsted for all these years. Overflowing with joy, she gave thanks to God and told all around that the Messiah had come at last. 

Anna never fulfilled her girlish dreams of family. But God had a greater plan, writing Anna into the sacred story of Jesus. Her long-nurtured hope was rewarded in ways she never could have dreamed of in her little village long ago. However life may redirect us, faith and purpose can blossom still.

We sometimes ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” What we’re really asking is, “What’s your first big plan for your life-your Plan A?” But, as many of us know, things don’t always go as planned. We might start with a ‘Plan A’, but often we end up following Plan B, Plan C, or Plan D.

The key to being happy in life is knowing when it’s time to switch to your next plan. This means being flexible and ready to change your plan when you need to.

Lonnie Davis

Tell me the story of Jesus

Here is a summary of what happened in Luke 2:8-20.

SUMMARY

Shepherds in Bethlehem’s fields are visited by an angel announcing Jesus’ birth as the Savior. Joined by a heavenly host praising God, the shepherds hurry to find Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger. Amazed, they spread the news, glorifying God for all they witnessed.

OBSERVATIONS

From this text, many things are evident. Here are four of my favorite observations.

1. How to turn fear into joy

The shepherds’ initial response was fear. In fact, the Bible uses a stronger verb. According to verse 9, they were “terrified.” However, by the time we get to verse 20, their fear turns into glory and praise. 

There were four steps that changed their fear into joy.

1. Listen to someone who knows—the angel from God

2. Surround yourself with the right people.

3. Look upon God’s work and son.

4. Trust the evidence.

2. Jesus’ Humble Beginnings

The Messiah’s birth is in a manger, an unconventional and humble setting. 

Not just an animal’s manger, but shepherds were called. The lowest of the lows. God did not call the kings and noblemen to go see and tell others, but the most unappreciated sheepherders. I know a man who owns a giant ranch in Africa. He hires guards for $100 a month. He hires “goat herders” for $30 a month. That is what they are called: goat herders. No one dreams of being a goatherder. It is essentially the goat herders that God sent His angel to tell about Jesus being born. He chose the lowest rungs of society to tell about the greatest event that had ever happened. Yes, it was humble beginnings for a great God.

3. The key to Personal Evangelism – learn from unlikely places

Luke 2:16-18 

[16] So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. [17] When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, [18] and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 

When you see Jesus for yourself, you will tell others. Others will be influenced for good.

4. Prompt Response

The shepherds’ immediate action to visit the baby Jesus highlights the importance of responding swiftly to God’s revelations.

We all need to learn the lesson that the best time to do what God wants is now. We are not guaranteed any other time.

Lonnie Davis

Event 5: The birth of Jesus – Matthew 1:25a, Luke 2:1-7
Because this text is short and beloved, rather than summarizing the text, let’s read Luke 2:1–7.

[1] Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. [2] This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] And everyone went to his own town to register.
[4] So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. [5] He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
[6] While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

From this well-known story, we can see many details, but for this lesson, I call your attention to four.

1. In the birth of Jesus, God used a political decree to orchestrate events to fulfill prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (See Micah 5:2).
   Without a decree by Caesar, Joseph likely would not have subjected pregnant Mary to the nearly 100-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary may or may not have ridden on a donkey, the Bible does not say, but the common mode of transportation for such a trip was walking.
2. Mary made the difficult journey to Bethlehem while heavily pregnant. We are not told how long after Mary arrived that Jesus was born. It may have been a few weeks. Certainly it would not have been a frantic race to find a place for birth just as they got to town.
3. Despite His royal lineage, Jesus’ birth circumstances were extremely humble; he was born in a stable with a feeding trough as a crib.

Due to our culture being so different from those in the ancient Middle East, the idea of a stable is often misunderstood. If you have seen a “nativity scene,” Jesus is always depicted as being born in an animal shelter. The truth was likely different.

In ancient Middle Eastern homes, especially those in smaller towns like Bethlehem, it was common for families to have a space within their house where important animals were kept, particularly during cold weather. It is plausible that the “stable” where Jesus was born could have been a part of the house where Joseph’s family lived. It might have been a lower level or a back room of the house, but maybe not a separate building as often depicted.

4. The Creator of the universe entered the world as a helpless infant, demonstrating His humility. All we can say is wow. If it were my son, I would have made him born as a prince and given him special privileges. I would have been wrong. Our Father knew best and knew that if Jesus were to be tested in all points like we are, he needed to experience life even as we do.

Lonnie Davis

Event 4 – Joseph’s Dream and Obedience Matthew 1:18-25

After Mary spent three months with her cousin, Elizabeth, she returned home. There is one more story in the Bible that we will not cover because it is about the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57–80). After Mary returned home to Nazareth, the next story is about Joseph’s response to this shocking circumstance. Here is a summary of today’s text.

SUMMARY:
Mary, betrothed to Joseph, is found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a righteous man, intends to secretly break off their engagement but has a dream visit from an angel. The angel explains that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and will save people from their sins. Joseph obeys and takes Mary as his wife, naming the child Jesus.

Three Insights

1. Joseph’s Righteousness: (Matthew 1:18-19)
   When Mary showed up pregnant, Joseph had two choices. (1) Divorce her privately or (2) charge her publicly.
   For Joseph to divorce Mary privately demonstrates his compassion and justice while shielding her from shame in public. The whole village knew she was betrothed to Joseph, so if he hadn’t accused her of being unfaithful, many would have concluded the child was his and thought Joseph had abandoned his future bride.
   If he charges her publicly, he appears righteous, but Mary is made to look like an immoral woman.
   With the choice he finally makes, Joseph is more concerned about Mary than he is about his own reputation.
2. Role of Faith and Obedience: (Matthew 1:24) Joseph’s acceptance of the angel’s message and his decision to marry Mary anyway, despite societal norms, highlights the importance of faith and obedience to God’s guidance. Joseph didn’t just believe Mary and the angel. He acted on that belief. He did the right thing. We can measure a person’s faith by what they do and not by what they say.
3. The Humble Beginnings of Jesus: Jesus was born to a common workman and a teenage girl. They are not rich or famous, yet God picked them. Certainly, this ought to remind us that God cares more about character than he does about wealth.

Lonnie Davis

In yesterday’s devotional, Mary made her choice. Yes, Lord, I will have the baby and name him Jesus. Today describes what Mary did next. What would you do when facing such a circumstance? Would her family believe her when she tells them why she is expecting? Every day they would see her get bigger and wonder who the man is. And where he is?
Our text today tells us about it. You should read the verses to get the full story, but for now, here is a summary.

SUMMARY: Luke 1:39–56
Our verses today describe Mary’s visit to her relative Elizabeth, who is also pregnant. Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizing Mary as the mother of the Lord. Mary then expresses her joy and faith in God through a hymn of praise, praising God for His blessings and His mercy towards those who fear Him.
From this story there are three insights that you do not want to miss.
Three Insights

1. Honor to whom honor is due.
   Elizabeth saluted Mary as “the mother of my Lord.” There was not a trace of jealousy in her heart, only joy and delight that the unborn baby would be her Lord.
2. Why Mary Left Home for a While.
   We are not told why Mary went to visit Elizabeth at this time. It may have been to avoid the scandal that would inevitably arise in Nazareth when her condition became known. If this is so, then the welcome given by Elizabeth and the kindness shown would have been doubly sweet.
3. Going Back Home
   After staying with Elizabeth for about three months, Mary returned to her own home in Nazareth. She was not yet married. No doubt, she became the object of suspicion and slander in the neighborhood as she got back home. Aunts, cousins, neighbors, and friends would not be as accepting as was Elizabeth. Mary went home to face all this. Mary, the teenage girl, did all this for the sake of the story of Jesus.
   Don’t ever wonder why God chose Mary. When you know her story, you know why.
   Lonnie Davis

In a tiny village called Nazareth, a young girl, maybe 13–15 years old, was busily going about her life. Like other young girls her age, she would start her day at sunrise, do household chores, learn from her mother, and dream about her own home someday. One day, like a bolt of lightning on a clear day, her life changed. Her name was Mary.
The angel Gabriel told her about the impending birth of Jesus, the Christ. Luke tells us about that event.

In case you don’t get to read that story today, let me summarize Luke 1:26-38 for you.

SUMMARY: Luke 1:26-38
In these verses, the angel Gabriel visits Mary, announcing that she will conceive a baby. She will call him Jesus. He will be the Son of God, through the Holy Spirit. Mary is puzzled as to how this could happen; after all, she is a virgin. Despite her initial surprise and uncertainty, Mary accepts this divine calling with humility.

FOCUS VERSE: Luke 1:38

For this devotional thought, we will focus on verse 38.
After the angel tells Mary that God has chosen her to have the Christ child. Her response was:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

From this great story, there are three pictures you must see:

1. A Picture of a True Submission.
   Mary’s response exemplifies complete submission to God’s will, despite the potential personal challenges and social stigma she might face with an out-of-marriage pregnancy. This is a lot to put on a young teenager, but she is ready for whatever God wills. She has a submissive heart.
2. A Picture of Real Faith
   Her acceptance shows a profound faith, trusting in God’s plan even though she does not fully understand the implications.
   Today, one of our favorite words is why. We want to know why we should do anything we are told to do. Mary knew nothing about what was about to happen, yet she didn’t say “why.” She says, “Yes.”
3. A Picture of Young Humility.
   Mary refers to herself as the servant or handmaid of the Lord. She was on a path to do something that would be greater than any woman or man who had ever lived, yet to her, she was just a servant. People often see a young person and say, he or she is mature “for their age.” Mary was humble, mature, and a great servant for any age.

Lonnie Davis

P.S.
Tomorrow, Mary goes to live with her cousin, Elizabeth.
Event 2: Mary visits cousin Elizabeth – Luke 1:39-56

I was planning to start with the announcement of the birth of Jesus, but the story of John the Baptist is so amazing that I couldn’t skip it.

First Event 0: John the Baptist’s birth foretold – Luke 1:5–25)

Let’s start by summarizing the 20 verses for today.

During Herod’s reign, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, a righteous priest. Gabriel announces that Zechariah’s elderly wife, Elizabeth will bear a son named John, who will be great and filled with the Holy Spirit, preparing people for the Lord. Skeptical, Zechariah is struck mute until the prophecy’s fulfillment, demonstrating God’s power and faithfulness.

There are three thoughts in this passage that truly amaze me.

1. Man’s “things just worked out” is often God working things out.

Look at verse 9. It says that Zachariah “was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.” In that temple, Zachariah met the angel. Surely all believers understand that he was not merely “chosen by lot,” it just looked that way to man. God was working behind the scenes to make things happen. We need to remember that God works behind the scenes for us as well.

2. God remembers our prayers long after we stop praying them.

I love verse 13. As he is in the temple, “The angel said to him, ’Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.’” As our story continues, Zachariah challenges the angel that he and his wife are both too old to have children. The angel said, “your prayer has been heard.” I wonder how many years since he had prayed that prayer. Zachariah and Elizabeth had probably stopped praying for a son as they got too old. God took his old prayer and answered it.

3. I especially love verse 19. In verse 18, Zachariah tells the angel that it can’t happen because of their age. The angel responds, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

That is an amazing job description, “I stand in the presence of God.” I wish Zachariah had said, “Tell me about that.” The amazing thing is that we too will stand in his presence someday.

I share these things because I don’t want you to miss them.

Read today’s passage and you will see them.

Lonnie Davis

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Our scripture for today is Luke 2:10–11.
“The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!’”

My favorite title for any study of Jesus’ parables is “The Greatest Stories Ever Told.” Indeed, they are, but the best title for a study of the life of Jesus is “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

Over most of the next year, in chronological order, we will read the entire story of Jesus. We begin with the announcement of his birth to Mary and end with Jesus ascending to the Father. Along the way there are 229 different events in his life.

Obviously, we could spend years reading and studying his life. I hope you do, but for our daily devotion, we will read his story a little each day. This will only take about eight months and will be a wonderful use of our time.

In 2-3 minute bites, we cannot read every selection from the Bible. We will note where each event is in the Bible and then leave it up to each person to accept the challenge of a daily Bible reading for that day’s study. From that day’s reading, we will select one or two significant verses and dive deeper into his life.

Tomorrow, Event #1 – The Birth of Jesus foretold – Luke 1:26-38

I will leave you with an amazing poem about Jesus, written in 1926. After a century, it still remains a masterpiece.

One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village.
He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty.
He then became an itinerant preacher.
He never held office. He never had a family or owned a house.
He didn’t go to college. He had no credentials but himself.
He was only thirty-three when the public turned against him.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone,
and today he is the central figure of the human race.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed,
all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned
have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that
One Solitary Life.
– by James Allen Francis

Lonnie Davis

Jesus had been crucified and buried. On the third day, his tomb was empty. Word began circulating among the believers that Jesus got up from the grave. He even appeared to the Apostles, when he did, one of them was missing, Thomas. The believers told Thomas that Jesus was alive. Now we come to our reading for today, John 20:24-25

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’”

From this story, we have the phrase, “Doubting Thomas.” This is a terrible term to put on Thomas. Thomas was not doubting that Jesus could not get up from the grave; he just wanted to see the evidence. He questioned the words of Peter, who denied Jesus. He lacked faith in the words of James and John, who greedily tried to get the highest spots in a new kingdom. We don’t know the weaknesses of all the apostles, but it should be noted that it was mere men that Thomas doubted.
Finally, Jesus appeared to Thomas also. The minute he saw the evidence of the resurrection, he said to Jesus, “My Lord and My God.”

If you want to see the real Thomas, let me take you back a few weeks earlier. In John 11, Jesus told the apostles he was going to go back to Judea. The Apostles warned him that people there would try to kill him. The apostles were concerned, but not Thomas. In John 11, the Bible tells us,

“Then Thomas…said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’ (John 11:16)

To me he is not a doubting Thomas, but a courageous Thomas. The lesson from Thomas invites us to embrace our doubts and uncertainties as part of our spiritual journey. Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it’s often a stepping stone towards a deeper faith. Thomas’s story encourages us to seek the divine, to ask questions, and to yearn for understanding.

The story of “Doubting Thomas” is not just a tale of skepticism; it’s a reminder that our doubts and questions can lead us to a deeper, more meaningful understanding of our beliefs. It’s a call to embrace our spiritual journey in all its complexity, with its blend of doubt, inquiry, and revelation.
Lonnie Davis

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

From my back porch, I have an unobstructed view of the rainforest of Puerto Rico. It is amazing to watch the rain roll into the tops of the mountains and to hear the coqui frogs at night. I haven’t travelled much so I can only imagine all the glorious creations of God that many of you have seen.

If I could ask you, you might tell me of snow-capped mountains, clear blue oceans, waterfalls, lakes, streams, or beautiful meadows. Such beauty everywhere!

Every now and again, I come across a thought so well said, that I have to write it down. Some time ago I found one such thought.

“If God hath made this world so fair, Where sin and death abound, How beautiful, beyond compare, Will paradise be found!”

The poet is saying, if you think that things are beautiful down here, wait till you get to heaven. You will be amazed and speechless.

The Apostle John saw heaven and In Revelation 22:1–5, wrote that he saw, 

“A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

Imagine seeing that stream flowing from the throne of God. Imagine seeing the throne of God. We will get to see the tree of life. We will see countless angels all around. 

The sun will never set in heaven because no sun is needed. God is the light of heaven. One thing that will be absent from heaven is a cemetery. There will not be a single grave in heaven, for there is no death there.

I want to go there. I have people waiting for me. I’ll bet you do too.

Lonnie Davis

Don’t Set a New Year’s Resolution

In today’s thought, I will tell you a far better thing to do.

Did you know there is a service that comes at a cheap price because people buy it but don’t use it? This allows the people offering the service to pass the cheap price on to the next person. The fitness industry or the local gym provides that service. It makes sense to sign up, but then it is hard to keep up. Soon, we just quit going, but we must keep paying because of the contract we signed in the resolution stage of life.

I signed up a time or two in my life. The last time I did it was when I was preparing for a New Year’s resolution. The girl who helped me sign my contract told me there is always a crowd the first couple of weeks in a new year, but by 30 days, things return to normal. 

This truth demonstrates the problem with New Year’s resolutions. We always plan to do great things, and then it gets hard. Instead of a resolution, this year set a new goal. Our scripture for today is a great goal. 

It is Lamentations 3:22-23: 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

I know this doesn’t seem like a goal, but just a statement of God’s unfailing love for us. Even so, the goal is to wake up every day this year and believe this verse. It will change your life.

God is on your side. He loved you and loves you. He always loves you. He never quits on you. Trust him. He will help you work things out.

As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

Don’t live your life waiting for the next shoe to drop. That is a spirit of fear. Live your life like you believe, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.”

Lonnie Davis

We will be a minute longer because we will be looking at a verse that contains a mini-course in theology.

Our scripture today is Matthew 16:27.

“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”

There are only 29 words here, but considered deeply, they are a mini-course in theology. Let’s take a quick look at four points of theology taught in this short verse.

Point 1: Glory to God is Paramount.
The verse says, “The Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory.”

One day, people will say of you, “Gone but not forgotten.” The Father never forgets us, no matter how many centuries pass. But if we do not live lives that give glory to God, then we miss the point of our existence. Jesus said to let our lights shine so others may glorify the Father. Even at the birth of Jesus, the angels in heaven said, “Glory to God in the highest.” {Luke 2:14). That is why we are here.

Point 2: Jesus claimed to be divine. 

It is amazing that some theologians now claim that Jesus never said he was divine. They are ignorant of the Bible’s teachings. In this verse and others, Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of Man.” That is not a reference to his humanity but rather a reference to the divine prophecy about him. Daniel 7:13–14 says, “The Son of Man is going to come.” Daniel teaches that the Son of Man is divine. Jesus is the Son of Man spoken of in prophecy.

Point 3: There will be a judgment day.
The text says, “He will reward each person according to what they have done.” Accountability is not a popular thought, but the passage clearly states that a time of judgment is coming. 

Point 4: “He will reward each person according to what they have done.”
In a world where feelings seem to be all that matter, Bible believers need to remember that our actions also matter. Even some believers now echo the sentiment of feelings when they say, “What’s in your heart matters most,” but this is not true. Jesus said that we will be rewarded according to our deeds. While God’s grace and mercy are vital, we mustn’t disregard the importance of what we do. Jesus emphasized this by saying, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). So, guard your heart and think righteously, but also make sure you do what is right. In our verse today, Jesus reminds us that deeds have consequences. 

If you know Matthew 16:27, then you too are a theologian.

Lonnie Davis

Do you know how to pray when you don’t know what to ask for? I guess the first thing we should note is that prayer is not always asking, but for now, let’s go with asking. If you struggle with that, take a closer look at a prayer by King Asa.

In 900 BC, an army of Ethiopians marched against King Asa. It was the original Million Man March. The Ethiopian army consisted of 1,000,000 soldiers and 300 chariots. Outnumbered by 400,000 soldiers, King Asa did the only thing he could do. He prayed!

“Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.’” (2 Chronicles 14:11).

Here are Asa’s three essential parts of his prayer.

First, he praised God. 
“LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty.” Great prayers ought to start with praise to God. In the model prayer of Jesus, he begins with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” When you pray, the first thing you do is praise God.

Second, he asked for what he needed. 
“Help us, O Lord our God.” After you praise God, tell him what you need. Of course, God already knows, but He waits for us to ask.

Finally, he told God why he was praying. 
There were four reasons. (1) We rely on you. There is no one else who can really help us. (2) We are in this battle to honor your name. (3) You are our God. (4) This is really about you so please, “Do not let man prevail against you.”

There is one more secret to this prayer. Asa knew he needed help, but he left the details to God. He didn’t tell God how to be God; he just said, “Help us, O Lord our God.” Our thinking is so limited that we are better served to just ask God for help and leave the details to Him.

Asa’s prayer worked. “The Lord struck down the Cushites.” (v12) As James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Lonnie Davis

Covenant sounds like one of those big and boring words. Why would we ever want to study such a word? Because covenants touch everything in society. But mostly because the Bible talks about covenants.

The Bible’s idea of a covenant refers to a sacred agreement or contract between God and His people. Think about it: a covenant is a sacred agreement between God and man. Surely, we all want to know more about the sacred promises God has made to us.

Many Bible readers think of only two covenants: the old covenant and the new covenant. By this they often mean the Old Testament and the New Testament, but there are many covenants that are mentioned in the Bible.

Are we all under the same contract or covenant with God? Of course not.  

Here are just four of the many.

1. The Abrahamic Covenant. Though this is covered in many texts, it is extensively detailed in Genesis 15.

2. The Mosaic Covenant. Exodus 19–24
This covenant was established between God and the Israelites through Moses. Many refer to this as the Law of Moses. Of course, it is really God’s Law given through Moses.

3. The Davidic Covenant. 2 Samuel 7:8–17
This covenant was established between God and King David.

4. The New Covenant or New Testament. Hebrews 8:6–13

The core idea of a covenant emphasizes man’s role as a covenant partner with God. Just like in any agreement, we have responsibilities to uphold. This includes living in obedience to God’s Word, seeking His guidance, and fulfilling the purposes He has for us.

From the Abrahamic Covenant to the New Covenant of the New Testament, a covenant is the unfolding of God’s plan to reconcile humanity to Himself. This encourages believers to share the good news of Jesus Christ and participate in the expansion of God’s kingdom.

What a beautiful and important word covenant is! God has made a covenant with you! You can read about it in the New Testament.

Lonnie Davis

The Bible uses the term and concept of redemption, but what does redemption mean?

In the Bible, redemption refers to the act of saving or delivering. It is a central theme throughout the entire Bible, starting from the Old Testament and continuing all the way through the New Testament.

The book of Exodus tells how God redeemed his people from slavery through the leadership of Moses, the ten plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea.

However, this theme of redemption extends far beyond physical liberation. The ultimate act of redemption in the Bible comes through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. As Paul said, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13).

This emphasizes the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ death on the cross, where he paid the price for our sins and offered redemption to all who believe in him.

The concept of redemption is closely tied to the biblical understanding of salvation. God saves us from the power and consequences of sin through the work of Jesus Christ.

Redemption involves restoration and reconciliation. Through Christ, we are not only saved but also restored to a right relationship with God.

To illustrate this:

The story is told of a little boy who worked for months carving and building a little toy boat. When it was finally done, he took it to the nearby river.  He put it into the water, watched it float downstream, and then ran to retrieve it. He took it back to the starting place and did it all over again. After a few times, the boat got away from him. In sadness he watched the boat float away to be lost forever.

A few days later, he was walking past a resale store near him. He looked into the window and there was his boat. He went inside to tell the man that was his boat which he lost. The man told him that he would give it to him for a price. Hearing the price, the boy went home and got the money. He returned to the store and bought back the boat.  

Exiting the store, he said to the boat, “You are mine. First, because I made you. Second because when you were lost, I bought you back.”

That is the story of redemption. We are redeemed.

Lonnie Davis

This restoration enables us to experience the fullness of life and to fulfill our true purpose.

Lonnie Davis

  1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

1 Peter 1:15-16

Since we are all called to be holy, let’s dig deeper into the concept of holiness.

Consider three people: Moses, Abraham, and King David. What do all of these people have in common?  The answer is that all of these people are holy people. They are flawed; Moses murdered. Abraham lied, King David murdered and committed adultry. Holy people are human. 

Fiction shows holy people as wearing a shawl and living on top of a mountain, isolated from common people. That is wrong. Let me tell you some of the ways you can tell a holy person.

Holy people have a spiritual devotion to their lives. They read God’s word and pray to him. They care about what God says about how things should be. They prioritize God’s will in their decisions. They show a deep commitment to their faith or spiritual beliefs. This is evident in their dedication to prayer, meditation, worship, and other spiritual practices.

They live their lives with moral integrity. They aren’t perfect, but they repent when they are wrong. The Bible calls David “a man after God’s own heart.” With all of David’s flaws, how could this be? I believe it is because David repented and turned to God. (See Psalm 51).

They have compassion and love for others. Holiness manifests in genuine love, kindness, and compassion towards others. A holy person may be known for their selfless acts and their concern for the well-being of others.

This list of attributes of holy people is not complete. Not even close, but it is a starting point. 

I once asked a church-going, lover of people, whether he considered himself to be a holy man. His response was “no.”

If that is you, then get the heart of David and turn to God. You don’t have to perfect, but you have to work toward that goal. That is what holy people do.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is John 10:17-18.

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

With those words Jesus revealed his sacrifice. Nobody forced him; he did it on his own accord. Just a little later, when he was arrested and about to be crucified, Peter fought against those who would arrest him and Jesus told him, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). Jesus died willingly for us. This is what makes it a sacrifice.

As God’s children, we too are called to sacrifice.

Consider what it means to sacrifice.

To sacrifice means to pay the price for the good or honor of someone else.

If we sacrifice what we do not need, that is not a sacrifice. When we sacrifice we pay the cost. In 2 Samuel 24:24, we read the story of David going to make a sacrifice. When he arrives, the man offers to give him the things he needed to sacrifice. Look at what David told him. “Then the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.’”

David could have sacrificed for free. It would have cost him nothing, but he said “No.” If we are only willing when it is convenient or easy, not costly, then we have not learned to sacrifice.

We are called not to convenience but to service, to sacrifice, and to care.

Lonnie Davis

I’ve traveled Highway 45 between Houston and Dallas so many times that I know where things are by the mile markers along the way. Some years later, my son would make that journey and sometimes call me to tell me he was “going to Houston.” I would ask him what mile marker he just passed. Mile marker 178 is Buffalo, Texas, and marker 118 is Huntsville. For me, I was in Houston when I hit mile marker 64.

Highways are not the only mile markers. Our spiritual lives have markers along the way. The presence or absence of these markers tells us where we are on the journey. For example, if we do not see the marker of prayer in our lives, then we are not on the right spiritual track. 

Forgiveness also has mile markers along the way. Jesus said, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt 6:14-15). The presence or absence of my forgiveness of those who hurt me is a marker of God’s forgiveness of me.

Such a thought can be heavy on our hearts. In our desperation to have forgiveness, we may try to fake forgiveness for others. Fake forgiveness is saying we forgive, but not really forgiving. Listed below are four-mile markers for real forgiveness. These markers all involve our prayers for the offending person (we’ll call him Bill). Which of these prayers you pray for Bill is an indication of your forgiveness.

The first prayer of forgiveness:

“Lord, please be with Bill and help him see how much he has hurt and wronged me.”

The second prayer of forgiveness:

“Lord, forgive Bill of his sin.”

The third prayer of forgiveness:

“Lord, bless Bill that the rest of his life will be better.”

The fourth and real prayer of forgiveness: 

“Lord, I thank you for being with Bill. I am so happy that his life is blessed by you. Please continue to bless him.”

You know you have forgiven when you no longer pray for Bill to repent but instead thank God for the blessings He has bestowed on Bill.

If you want to be forgiven, forgive. If you want to know if you have forgiven, pray. The tone of your prayer and the emotion in your heart will tell you where you are in your process of forgiveness.

Lonnie Davis