Author: londavis@hotmail.com

In John 13, we read the incredible account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. This act displayed His amazing love and humility towards the very men who would soon betray or abandon or deny him. 

Knowing full well that Judas would betray Him and Peter would deny Him and all the others would abandon Him, Jesus nevertheless stooped down to wash their feet – a task usually done by a servant. He knew their flaws, failures, and future sins, yet He loved them unconditionally. 

As a preacher, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and feeling like an imposter. But Jesus knows me fully, with all my shortcomings, and loves me anyway. His love is not conditional on me being perfect or having everything together. 

In our humanity, we may love imperfectly. But Christ demonstrates relentless love towards undeserving sinners. A mother loves her newborn baby with complete, unearned acceptance. This is the tiny image of the greater, deeper love that Jesus has for each of us. 

He loves us in spite of our sin and weaknesses. His love transforms our lives, compelling us to love others. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). 

Let Jesus’ unconditional love for you sink deep into your heart. Rest in the security that you are fully known and fully loved by Him. This love is the foundation we need to then love and serve others – even those might wrong us. Jesus loved perfectly and calls us to follow His example of sacrificial, humble service rooted in grace.

Lonnie Davis

Our Text for today is Matthew 5:44

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Jesus calls us to a special kind of love – one that blesses, serves, and prays for our enemies. This goes against our natural desire for payback when hurt. Loving enemies requires supernatural strength and grace.

The Bible story of Joseph powerfully illustrates loving one’s enemies. Joseph’s brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. Later when Joseph had power and authority in Egypt, during a famine, his brothers appeared before him in desperation. Joseph could have easily taken revenge, but instead he forgave them completely (Genesis 45:5). He even reassured his brothers, saying “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good” (Genesis 50:20). 

Joseph allowed God to heal his wounds and fill his heart with undeserved grace toward those who betrayed him. This broke the cycle of bitterness and violence. Reconciliation and restoration followed. Joseph’s choice to love his enemies brought tremendous fruit.

Like Joseph, God calls us to bless and serve those who have hurt us deeply. Doing good to enemies seems counterintuitive and goes against our human nature. But God can empower us to love as Jesus did, even from the cross. 

Who in your life feels like an “enemy”? Ask God to help you see them through His eyes of compassion. Look for ways – big or small – to convey undeserved mercy and grace. Your acts of honor and kindness can be part of God’s redemptive work, softening hard hearts. As Joseph shows, love for enemies is powerful. It brings healing and makes new life possible.

Lonnie Davis

Is God Listening?

Have you ever felt like nobody is listening to your prayers? Ocassionally, I guess most of us have. On those times when you feel that way, you may fail to pray. But, if you know He is listening, wow! Prayer comes more easily.

Our text today is Psalms 17:6

“I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.” (Psalm 17:6 NKJV)

Read that verse again and notice that David is saying, “Because I know God hears me, I have prayed.” I know I paraphrased the text, but that is the meaning.

As a dad, some of my favorite times are listening to my kids share about their day. Even when now, no matter what, I want to hear what they have to say.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father is always ready to hear us when we call on Him. Though God is infinite and mighty, He bends down to catch each word we utter, small or great. 

As the psalmist says, when he calls out, he knows God listens.That is God’s loving nature.

He wants us to cast every care on Him! He delights not in our strength but in our humility, knowing that in weakness His strength is made perfect. 

No matter the storms of life, God promises to hear us when we call to Him. 

Let’s approach His throne of grace with boldness to find mercy in our time of need. He is ready to listen and act on our behalf when we turn to Him in faith. What a comfort to know He inclines His ear to us!

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Galatians 6:9

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

It was a chilly Saturday morning and I bundled up to watch my daughter’s soccer game. Though only 9 years old, she was one of the best players out there. As she approached the goal ready to score, another girl came in with a forceful kick. The ball smashed into my daughter’s face, knocking her down. 

I rushed over, worried she might be seriously injured. Through muffled tears she kept repeating, “It hurts!” After a few minutes catching her breath, she looked up with determination and said, “I’m going back in. That can’t happen twice!” She returned to the game and played as fearlessly as ever.

In life we all experience hurts and setbacks that knock us down – a lost job, failed relationship, or shattered dream. It’s so easy to let pain and disappointment cause us to give up. We’re tempted to walk off the field and not risk further hurt. 

But God urges us to get back in the game. As our text tells us, “we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” With His strength, we can bounce back from hard hits. It may not feel like it in the moment, but the enemy can’t block us forever. We are made to press onward.

What if leaders like David had resigned after their failures? What if Peter had left the disciples after denying Christ? God uses our mistakes and wounds to build character, deepen faith, and equip us for greater impact. But we must choose to try, try again. 

Ask God for renewed courage to get back in the game after life knocks us down. With Him, we are never out of the fight! Our breakthrough is coming if we do not lose heart.

Lonnie Davis

Our text today is Proverbs 4:20-22

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”

I still shake my head thinking back to that evening when my daughter tried repeatedly to talk to me while I stared obliviously at the television screen (it was a football game). “Earth to Daddy!” she finally said. Thankfully I heard that line and listened.

It hits me that I often treat God this same way – fixating on distractions while tuning out His voice. He is constantly speaking through His Word, nudging my spirit, even sending people to share wisdom. But often I ignore His loving attempts to guide me, missing out on life-giving truth.

Today’s text urges us to lean in and actively listen when God speaks. Be fully present and engaged, not allowing His words to go “into one ear and out the other.” For in His words are the pathway to abundant life! Just as a seed needs planting in rich soil, God’s truth can take root deep within us.

Today, let us fix our ears to tune into God’s words. Give Him our undivided attention. Let’s be ready to receive the treasures He wants to impart. 

We need to ask God’s forgiveness for the times we have tuned Him out or brushed aside His wisdom and become a devoted listener who cherishes every word He says. We must be attentive to capture each whisper from Him. His word brings guidance, joy and purpose. 

May we, with the boy Samuel, say, “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening!”

Lonnie Davis

In Matthew 7:12, Jesus gives a profound yet simple ethic. We call it the Golden Rule: 

The full text is “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

But we focus on the phrase, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” 

This timeless moral teaching calls us to look beyond ourselves and actively care for others through empathy and compassion. Rather than just avoiding harm, the Golden Rule encourages us to take the initiative in acting for the good and wellbeing of others, even strangers and enemies. 

To really follow the Golden Rule requires imagining ourselves in another person’s situation. We must consider their perspective, their needs and their desires. Then, ask this question: “How would I want to be treated if I were them?” This principle of radical love and kindness counters the human tendency of selfishness and indifference.

Living by the Golden Rule is deeply challenging in practice. It demands intentionality, imagination, sacrifice and inconveniencing ourselves. However, if Jesus’ followers took this teaching to heart, acting out of empathy, compassion and goodness, they could bring reconciliation and healing to broken relationships, and families.

What would our world be like if we all embraced and applied the Golden Rule? There would be more harmony, connection and goodwill between people of different backgrounds. As Christians, may we lead the way in showing this kind of life-giving love and compassion to all people. It starts with each of us, one relationship at a time.

Lonnie Davis

Tucked away in the pages of Scripture is a powerful quote from Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). This simple statement contains profound truth for all of us. 

In a world consumed with acquiring more, these words cut against the grain. Our human nature is wired for self-interest—we want to accumulate possessions, wealth, influence, and recognition. But Jesus reveals a counterintuitive path to joy and satisfaction. He says that giving freely to others is the surer way to blessing. 

When we humbly serve those in need, we unlock unexpected fulfillment. Making sacrifices to meet another person’s wants awakens our souls. In generosity, we live out Christ’s teaching to love our neighbor. We become conduits of His care and mercy in a hurting world. The act of giving becomes its own reward.

Giving also enables us to honor God. As His followers, we are called to reflect His extravagant grace. He has lavished love upon us; now we get to channel that love to others. Our generosity makes His goodness visible. It becomes an act of heartfelt worship. 

In a culture obsessed with getting more, Christ points us to a better way. His wisdom calls us to reorient our lives around selfless service and radical generosity. When we heed His words, we discover the paradoxical joy found in giving ourselves away.

Lonnie Davis

Few individuals in history can match the significance of Moses. Raised in a palace, he fearlessly confronted the mightiest army on Earth and led over two million people out of a land. He even had the rare privilege of speaking directly with God and receiving divine answers in return.

With that in mind, we read today’s verse:

Exodus 34:8

“Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.”

Wow! When this great man saw God his response was to bow his head toward the earth, and worship. As I read this amazing text and see how this great man responded to seeing God, 

I learn about:
1. Reverence and Humility:
The story of Moses’s humbling himself before God serves as a reminder of the gravity of the situation in which we find ourselves. It teaches us to be humble and to recognize that there are powers higher than ourselves.

I learn about:
2. Acknowledging God’s Authority: Moses recognized God as the ultimate authority, and his act of devotion reflected his willingness to submit to that power. In the same way, acknowledging and submitting to a greater authority in our life may provide us with focus, direction, and meaning.

I learn about:
3. Gratitude and Awe: Moses worshipped God with deep reverence and awe. This reminds us of the significance of cultivating gratitude and appreciating the wonders of life. Acknowledging and worshipping the divine can lead to greater fulfillment and joy.

I learn about:
4. Prioritizing Spirituality: Moses’ act of worship was not just a ritual; it represented his spiritual connection. It reminds us to prioritize our spiritual well-being amidst our daily responsibilities. Nurturing our relationship with the divine can bring peace, strength, and a deeper sense of purpose.

In conclusion, Moses’ act of worship in Exodus 34:8 encourages us to cultivate reverence, acknowledge higher authority, practice gratitude, and prioritize spirituality. 

Lonnie Davis

Solomon, hailed as the wisest man ever, possessed a peculiar trait that has always troubled me. Namely, he failed to follow his own wise counsel. The age-old saying, “Knowledge is powerless without action,” rings true.

Let’s look at one example. Despite having 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3), he adhered to the marriage principles outlined in Proverbs 5:18:

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth”.

He had to have married once every two weeks on average for four decades (1 Kings 11:42). Regrettably, it was his wives who eventually led him astray from the divine path, as God foretold.

In 1 Kings 11:9–11, God says “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God…”,

It is a tragedy that despite being so wise, Solomon failed to act on his own words of wisdom. He should have known better than to marry so many women, knowing full well the dangers that come with it. I can only imagine how much more successful he would have been had he followed his own counsel and avoided the temptation of marrying so many wives.

His story serves as a reminder to us all: no matter how wise we are, we must always take action in order to ensure that our knowledge is put into practice. We must learn from Solomon’s mistakes and strive to make sure that our actions always align with our words.

Otherwise, even the wisest among us may fall prey to temptation and regret it later on.

By Lonnie Davis

I call this article, “The Need for The Irreplaceable Family.” As you get into the details, I think you will understand why.

For several years, I have thought about this subject because of Larry. Larry who? Larry was my half-brother that I did not meet or know about until I was in my late fifties. We only talked a few times, and we saw each other four times. I learned about the need for family because of how Larry died. Larry had no family but me. Well, he had a few distant cousins but had no contact with them.

He died alone in his home, sitting in his chair. With no family or close friends, Larry sat lifeless in his chair for three days. Finally, the teenage boy next door wondered about him and went to check on him. He found him dead. That story has haunted me ever since. We all need family to check on us.

The Family is the cornerstone of humanity, the anchor that keeps us grounded amidst the chaos of life.

Our family is our source of love, our source of support, and our source of belonging that shapes our identity and provides a safety net in times of need. The importance of family cannot be overstated.

Our families are there for us through thick and thin, offering emotional support when we feel overwhelmed, helping us navigate the complexities of life, and providing a sense of belonging and purpose.

When God said, “It is not good for man to be alone,” (Gen 2:18) He wasn’t just talking about Adam needing a wife. He was foreshadowing the need for family—the irreplaceable family.

Lonnie Davis

In the story of the Prodigal Son, the Bible says, he gathered all his possessions together and “took a journey into a far country.” In other words, he wanted to get away from his father’s watching eyes. Many people try to do the same thing with God. If only they can get out of his watching eyes, then they will be free to do what they really want. Alas, we learn that God is everywhere. There is no escape from his eyes. That attribute of God is called “God’s Omniscience.”

When you did deeper into this you will see that God’s omniscience is a good thing for Christians for several reasons:

1. It means there are no surprises. God knows everything about us and understands us completely – our thoughts, feelings, struggles etc. We don’t have to try to explain ourselves to God or wonder if He gets us. He already understands. Years ago, Hollywood made a movie called “Defending your Life.” In it the characters had to stand before God and explain why they acted like they did. They had to defend their lives. That is very simplistic. We don’t stand before God so he can find out what we did and why. We don’t have to explain anything. He knows all about us and loves us anyway.
2. It means we can’t hide any sin or mistake from God. This should motivate us to live openly and honestly before God since He sees all anyway.
3. It allows God to guide us perfectly because He knows our future and can see the consequences of our actions. His infinite wisdom and knowledge means His guidance for our lives is trustworthy.
4. It provides assurance that God knows our needs before we even ask and nothing escapes His attentive care for His children. Our loving Father is intimately acquainted with all our ways.
5. It inspires awe and worship of God. The depth of His knowledge is unimaginable for us as humans. Realizing this should humble us and draw us to reverence.

Further reading on the Omniscience of God:

“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5 NKJV).

Our God is all-knowing. He possesses infinite understanding and awareness. As Psalm 139:4 declares, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” There is nothing that escapes His notice.

I remember playing “hide and seek” as a child. I would find clever hiding spots, stay extremely quiet, and wait eagerly to see how long it would take my friends to find me. Sometimes I would even sneak across the yard to a new location while they searched the old one! Of course, I could never fully escape their pursuit.

In the same way, we can never hide anything from our omniscient God. He knows our actions, thoughts, and motives more intimately than we know ourselves. Jesus said in Matthew 10:30 that “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

God’s infinite knowledge can be frightening at first. We are exposed and known thoroughly. But it also offers great comfort. No struggle or pain escapes His notice. No tear goes unwitnessed. He understands and cares for us better than any earthly parent ever could.

So take heart today. Bring your full self to God – joys, pains, questions and all. Rest in the security that you are fully seen and known by your loving Father. His perfect knowledge leads to perfect love and care. You never walk alone.

Lonnie Davis

1 John 4:19 is a beautiful verse about the root of our ability to love others – “We love him because he first loved us.” Especially notice the word “Him.” It was added in some older Bible versions, but the most reliable early manuscripts do not include it. This change the meaning significantly.

This verse is not just saying we love Jesus because He first loved us. Rather, it means we are able to love others because God first loved us. This is a profound truth that has changed how I see love. 

You see, my capacity to love was based on how lovable the other person was. I showed love to people who were kind, godly, and had it all together. But that’s not how God’s love works!

God poured out His love on us even when we were trapped in sin, unlovable, and His enemies (Romans 5:8). His love is not conditional on us being good enough. He loves simply because He is love (1 John 4:8).

When we fully receive this undeserved, lavish love of God, it should soften our heart and start to change how we view difficult people. We realize our one qualification for God’s love was our desperate need for grace.

This transforms our ability to love others – even unlovable people – through His power. With God’s love flowing through us, we can forgive those who hurt us, serve the needy, and embrace outcasts with compassion. 

That this is the meaning is obvious in the verses that follow (1 John 4:20-21). They explain that hating people shows we do not truly love God. Loving the invisible God requires tangibly loving the visible humans created in His image. His love in us overflows.

God would fill us with His unconditional love for others. As recipients of His endless grace, may we extend that same grace and love to a people who are broken.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is taken from Matthew 25:34-40: 

 “‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

In this passage, Jesus teaches us that serving others in need is like serving Him directly. He notices when we turn away from those who need help, but He also sees when we lend a hand to those who need help. 

Once Liz and I were waiting in a lab for me to have blood drawn for my doctor. While sitting there, an older lady rose from her chair and walked haltingly toward the lab. Liz told me, “Go help the lady.” I questioned whether she wanted help so Liz did a typical Liz thing. She got up and helped the lady herself. When she came back to me, she said, “She has cancer of the spine.” 

There was nothing I could say because I knew I had blown the opportunity to do good.

How often do we avoid helping someone because we judge their situation? Yet we never know the full extent of people’s needs. Like Liz, we must open our eyes to see the needs around us. Then we can serve Jesus by serving others. 

To help others, the first thing to do is to open our eyes. There are many who need our help. A simple act of kindness done in His name can make a world of difference to someone going through a hard time. 

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Revelation 22:5. It tells us about heaven and says,

“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun. For the Lord God will give them light.”

For 40 years I have rarely preached a funeral when I did not relate the following story.  I want you to have it because if you don’t need it now, you will one day. As the church song says, this earth is not my home, I’m just pass through. Along this line, one man said,

As a boy I used to think that heaven was a place with streets of gold and gates of pearl and with angels everywhere. But there was nobody there that I knew and wasn’t sure I wanted to go there.

By and by my little brother died, and I thought of heaven as a place with streets of gold, gates of pearl, with angels everywhere, but with one inhabitant that I knew. 

Then my mother and father died, and heaven was a place with streets of gold, gates of pearl, angels everywhere and one little boy that I knew and my mother and my father.

Then other of my acquaintances died and so in time I began to think of heaven as containing several people that I knew. 

But it was not until one of my own little children died that I began to think I had treasure in heaven myself. 

Afterward another loved one went, and then another. By that time I had so many acquaintances and loved ones in heaven that I no longer thought of it as a city merely with streets of gold but as a place full of people I love. Now there are so many loved ones there I sometimes think I know more people in heaven than I do on earth.”

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Ephesians 4:31-32

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another.”

Here is the lesson from this short verse.

Some years ago, I exchanged Christmas gifts with an old friend. I bought him a nice $30 gift. What he gave me was a piece of software. It looked like it came out of one of those discount bins at Wal-Mart. He accidently left the price tag on it and I noticed that the price was 499, which I read as four dollars and ninety-nine cents. I was a little surprised that he thought so little of me. Several months later I found out that part of the number was missing and the price was $49.99.

I am grateful for three things: 

First, that my friend loved me more than $5.

Second, that I learned that one should not judge a gift or a friend by how much they spend.

Third, that I had not said anything about my “cheap” friend to anyone.

The real point of this story is the third one. You will never be sorry for the unkind remarks that you do not make. As our text says, Paul wrote, “Be kind and compassionate to one another.”

Once, after I had moved away from one church, a member of the church had been wounded by unkind remarks from one of its members. I called the friend on the phone to comfort him. He thanked me for my concern and said, “They did the best they could.” Wow! His response to someone’s unkindness to him, was to frame the remark as “They did the best they could.”

I admit that I did not write those words down. I did not need to because they were burned into my heart.

The way the man who was the target of the unkindness handled unkindness has become a life lesson for me. They remind me that I should never make unkind remarks. Never! It is an unchristian thing to do. I hope I don’t fail in this lesson. It is hard to keep so if I do, I hope I will repent and make things as right as I can.

Lonnie Davis

Today we turn our attention to Habakkuk 3:17-18

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, thought there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Wow! That is a promise of faith. However, Habakkuk what promised, other Godly men like lPaul and Silas lived.

For doing good, they were dragged before the judges. They were falsely accused. Without a conviction, they were stripped of their clothes and beaten with rods. The Bible says they were hit “with many blows.” After the beating they were thrown into jail. Paul and Silas were not only jailed, but were thrown into the most secure part of the jail. That was not enough so they fastened their feet in the chains.
 
With no human hope of escape, Paul and Silas did the only thing they could. Acts 16:25 tells us,
 
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
 
Stripped and beaten, cast into jail and chained to the wall, how does one sing a song of praise? The Bible does not tell us what song Paul and Silas were singing, but it is almost certain that they were singing one of the songs found in the Book of Psalms.
 
Maybe it was Psalm 11:1, “In the LORD I take refuge.”
 
We do not know what they sang, but we do know they sang. This means that even when times were hard and life was tumbling in, these Christian men had the faith it took to trust in God.
 
Anyone can trust God when the sea is calm, but only a man or woman of faith can trust God when the sea is stormy.

No matter our circumstances, we must praise God anyway!
 
Lonnie Davis
 
 

Do you keep on doing that thing you wish you could change. Don’t feel alone in this. Even the Apostle Paul lamented over this. In Romans 7:18-19 he said,

“I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

There have been times when I feel like I could have written that. Well, the Bible tells us how to overcome this. Let’s follow the steps to discover the secret of overcoming bad behavior.

Step 1: What you think is what you say.

Luke 6:45: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

In plain words, “What you think is what you say.” 

Step 2: What you say is what you do.

James 3:2 – “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”

This verse teaches that if we say a thing, we are more likely to do that thing. 

Step 3: What you do is what you are.

James 2:18 – But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 

As loudly as someone may protest “That’s not me,” people can see who someone is by watching what they do.

The final step, is you are what you think.

Proverbs 23:7: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Our more common way of saying this is “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

If you want to change what you do, if you want to change what you say, if you want to change what you are, change what you think about.

That is why Paul called on us to think about whatever is lovely, honest, true. (Philippians 4:8)

Lonnie Davis

Our Text for today is James 4:13-15

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

This passage reminds me of a story I heard decades ago. There was this young man who graduated from high school. After his ceremony, all his family was celebrating and congratulating him. His grandfather had a different approach. 

His grandfather said, “You graduated high school, so what’s next?” 

The young man said, “I’m going to college.”

 Grandfather asked, “What’s next?” 

“Well, he said, “I will get a degree in law.” 

Again the grandfather said, “What’s next? 

The boy replied, “Then I will be a lawyer.” 

Grandad said, “What’s next?” 

“Then I will set up a law practice.” 

“What’s next?” 

“Then I will become a judge?” 

“What’s next?” 

“Someday I hope to be appointed to the Supreme Court.” 

“What’s next?”

Exasperated, the young man said, “Why do you ask ‘What’s next?” He said, “Grandad that is a life time appointment?”

The grandfather paused then asked, “What’s next?”

I love this old story because it remind us that we need to think about the day when all of this will end and then we have to ask “What’s next?”

It has been my solemn experience to be at the bedside of those I love and say good by to them. It has been my honor to say that all of them prepared their life for “What’s next?”

In all of our life plans we must keep that short question in our plans.

Lonnie Davis

Our Text today is – 2 Chronicles 7:14

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

In talking about this verse, I want to tell you about a man named George Wilson.

George Wilson is a real person who in the early part of the 1800’s and was sentenced to death for robbing the mail and killing a government employee. While on death row President Andrew Jackson sent him a pardon. 

He did not commute his sentence to life, he pardoned him. He was free to go. In response to this George Wilson did a strange thing. He refused the pardon. His case was taken to the Supreme Court. 

This was the only time in American history when the Supreme Court was asked to decide if a man could force the government to execute him. Chief Justice Marshal wrote the court’s opinion. He wrote, “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is not a pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.” Following this verdict, George Wilson was hanged.

In our nation’s law books this case is strange and rare, if not unique. In religious matters, this case is rather common. Every soul is under the condemnation of death. Paul told the Romans, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23). Later he said, “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23). After telling us of our sentence of death, Paul said, “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (6:23). 

We have all been issued a pardon. Sadly, many do not accept the pardon. We rejoice in the 3,000 souls who were saved on Pentecost (Acts 2), but thousands more left that day without accepting the pardon extended to them.

God has issued a pardon to you. Whatever sins you may have committed, whatever wrong you have done, whatever burden you are carrying, He pardons them all. All you have to do is accept the pardon.

Lonnie Davis

Old Words for Success

Ours is the day of many, many business consultants, CEO’s, and business leaders. Well, today’s words from 3,000 years ago could easily have come from a Warren Buffet or Elon Musk type of business man. They are words of how to build a successful business, bu more than that, they tell you how to build a successful life.

Let’s read Proverbs 21:5

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

These 14 words cover the question of how to build a successful business. Of course it means whether that business is running a commercial enterprise or a private home. These words tell you three vital truths.

First, Make a Plan. 

Don’t just jump into a project and figure it out later. You can do that, but you will make things a lot harder, slower, and more apt to fail. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit.”

Second, Be Diligent.

Every major translation use that same word, “Diligent.” To understand what is mean by this word, we need to look at the dictionary definition. To be diligent means to be “Marked by persevering, painstaking effort.” In other words, A diligent person sticks to the job, even when things are hard. So make your plans and be diligent to stick to the task. This leads to profit and success.

Third, Haste makes waste.

Don’t lose this old lesson – haste leads to poverty. It is advice against the get rich quick scheme. Just today I saw advertisements for how to become a millionaire in 5 short years. That assurance seems quick. There are too many of get rich quick schemes to warn us about all of them, so just take Solomon’s advice (the wisest man ever) and remember slow down, because haste makes waste.

This proverbs is 3,000 years old, yet completely modern.

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Lonnie Davis