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Our Text today is John 7:2-8

[2] However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near. [3] So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. [4] For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” [5] For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.
[6] Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. [7] The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil. [8] Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.”

May God bless the reading of his text.

The interesting conclusion to this text is that Jesus went to Jerusalem, but only when he knew the time was right. Note especially verse 6. Jesus tells His disciples, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always at hand.” This verse beautifully illustrates the divine wisdom in God’s timing, contrasting it with our often impatient desires. It’s a reminder that while we may crave immediate answers or solutions, God’s timing is perfect, unfolding precisely when it will yield the greatest good in our lives and the lives of others.
This principle encourages us to trust in God’s schedule over our own, understanding that our eagerness must be tempered with patience. Reflect on this: the blessings you’re waiting for are being prepared in the perfect time frame—God’s. Embrace the wait, for in it lies growth, preparation, and the alignment of circumstances that only God can orchestrate.

One wise person wrote that God always answers prayer. Sometimes that answer is yes, and sometimes it is no, but both are answers. Here’s one more possibility. Sometimes the answer is “Yes, but not yet.”

No doubt, while living in the palace of Egypt, Moses prayed for the Hebrews to be freed from slavery. At 40, he tried to be that answer and killed an Egyptian. God looked at Moses and said, “Yes, but not yet.” Forty years later, God reached out to him and used him. He told Moses to tell the pharaoh, “Let my people go.” You know the rest of the story.

Great people learn to ask God, wait, and trust His timing.

Lonnie Davis,

Our Scripture reading for today is Matthew 17:24-27

[24] After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
[25] “Yes,” he answered.
When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”
[26] “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. [27] “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

In our text, people asked Peter whether Jesus paid the temple tax. The Temple Tax was an annual tax that Jews paid for the upkeep of the temple.
Obviously, Jesus had not been paying the tax. He explained why in verse 25 and 26, “What do you think, Peter?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”
“From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared.

In ancient times, it was customary for rulers to exempt their own family from taxes that were imposed on their subjects. Jesus uses this cultural norm to illustrate a heavenly principle: As the Son of God, He is the ultimate “son of the King” and thus technically exempt from the temple tax. However, to avoid being a stumbling block to others, Jesus tells Peter to pay the tax.

There is a great principle being taught here.

When my middle child was about three, her big sister wanted her to share some candy that she had. She took the problem to their mother. Her mother handled the problem by saying, “Jesus wants you to share.” Upon hearing this, the three-year-old left the room (hopefully to get that candy to share) and returned with her Bible. She laid the Bible before her mother and said, “Show me.”

We may smile when a 3-year-old does this but are sad when grown adults try the same thing.

Instead of such an attitude, here are three reasons why things are wrong.

Number 1. Some things are wrong because God said they are wrong. Adultery and murder are wrong. Period.
Number 2. Some things are wrong because others think they are wrong. (Romans 14:20 and 21).
Number 3. Some things are wrong because we think they are wrong. (Romans 14:23).

Don’t just say, “Show me,” but strive to do the right thing.
Lonnie Davis

Our scripture reading today is Mark 9:33-37.

Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”

May God bless the reading of his word.

Among the many wonderful lessons to be learned in these words, I call your attention to Jesus and the child.

Once, when my oldest girl was about ten and in the Girl Scouts, she wanted to sell cookies door-to-door. She walked around the neighborhood. Later, as we were driving around, I asked her if she had any luck. She said that only the kids were home. My response was, “The people weren’t home?” Out of the mouth of a child came words of wisdom: “Kids are people too,” she said.

In this text, Jesus is telling us the same thing. At that age, children were almost non-persons. Truly, they were to be seen and not heard. By taking a child into his arms, Jesus was saying that everyone is important in the kingdom. He is equating welcoming a child in His name to welcoming Him.

This teaches us the importance of embracing those who may seem unimportant by the world’s standards and recognizing the image of God in everyone. One area church around me is involved in trying to get its members into higher political positions. This is foolishness for a church mission. It’s fine to be a governor or a senator, but it should not matter to the church whether you are a governor or a bus driver.

In the kingdom, rich or poor, famous or obscure, are all the same. There is no earthly status that should matter to the Kingdom.

Lonnie Davis

Our devotion for today is from Matthew 17:14–18.
Let’s read it together.

When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you?
Bring the boy here to Me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

May God bless the reading of his word.

In the midst of this crowd, a desperate situation unfolds. The disciples are unable to heal a demon-possessed boy, leaving the scene fraught with tension. Jesus arrives, and his response is a piercing question: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long must I endure you?”

His words aren’t meant to criticize merely but to show us a deeper truth.

When we face trials and the limitations of our own abilities, do we turn to Jesus with unwavering trust?

Or do we harbor doubts, attempting to solve problems in our own strength? Perhaps prayers we do not offer or struggles we keep hidden are indicators of wavering faith.

Jesus’s presence here is an invitation to bring our burdens, big or small, to him. He longs for us to rely on his power, for in that reliance, our faith deepens and wonders unfold.

Lonnie Davis,

Our scripture today’s Devotional is Matthew 16:26-27.
Listen as we read it.

Matthew 16:26-27
[26] What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.”

There are four great subjects or points, addressed in these two verses:

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, they do matter, but 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

Our Scripture reading for today is Mark 8:31-33

Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Our reading provided three important lessons.

Lesson 1. The importance of divine perspective over human reasoning.
In life, we often interpret circumstances through a human lens, preferring comfort and immediate gratification. However, our text today serves as a powerful reminder that God’s perspective surpasses our limited understanding. Jesus, God’s Son, freely accepts pain, showing a way that appears illogical from a human perspective. However, this verse reminds us to find a higher perspective, trusting in God’s wisdom even when it opposes our desires.

Lesson 2. The risk of unintentionally obstructing God’s plan.
Our story describes a frightening moment when Peter, in his desire to defend Jesus, obstructs God’s work. This serves as a cautionary story for all. Our intentions, however excellent, may occasionally unknowingly obstruct God’s plans. We must strive for understanding, aligning our choices with God’s plan, and ensuring that we do not become obstructions to the path He has chosen for ourselves and others.

Lesson 3. The call to set our minds on divine, not earthly, things.
The powerful discussion between Jesus and Peter leads us to a deep realization that the core of discipleship is found in overcoming our earthly preoccupations and embracing divine pursuits.

Jesus’ rebuke to Peter is more than just a correction; it is a call for all believers to change their focus from the temporary to the eternal, from human concerns to God’s infinite plans.

This scripture invites us to go beyond the immediate and commonplace to connect our ideas, desires, and actions with the everlasting principles and values of the Kingdom. By doing this, we fill our lives with purpose and significance that goes beyond the temporal and brings us closer to God.

Lonnie Davis

Today for our Devotional I have written about the time that Jesus asks his disciples whether they knew who he really is. The Scripture is Matthew 16:13-20:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” Jesus asked.
“Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
[20] Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

This reading is filled with many great teachings, but for today I call to your attention only two.

1. The Great Question
   In verse 15, Jesus asks His disciples a critical question: “Who do you say I am?” This moment is more than just curiosity; it’s a test of conviction in the midst of misunderstanding. Recognizing Jesus’ true identity was not only advantageous to the disciples but also necessary. Their path would be filled with persecution, trials, and even execution. Only a strong, unchanging awareness of Jesus as the Son of God could anchor them and make every sacrifice worthwhile. This insight turns hardships into victories, proving that knowing Jesus is the foundation of strong faith.
2. The Promise of the Coming Church.
   In verse 18, Jesus declares, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
   To understand what Jesus is saying, we must know what the word Hades means. Hades is not what we think of as hell where wicked people go. It is a word that refers to death, the abode of the dead, or the grave. Here, Jesus assures his disciples that even though they will kill him, his kingdom, the church will come to fulfillment. It’s remarkable that the church which was so important to Jesus is not deemed to be irrelevant.

Lonnie Davis

Our Devotional today is about Jesus healing a blind man.
We begin today with a reading of Mark 8:22-26

[22] When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. [23] So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.
[24] The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”
[25] Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. [26] Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.”

From today’s reading there are three great lessons:

1. Jesus can help us in ways we do not expect.
   He placed his hands on the blind man’s eyes and asked, “Can you see anything?” When the man said that he could not see clearly, Jesus touched him a second time.
   Seeing this I wondered why Jesus needed to touch him twice. Did he fail with his first touch? The answer is no, he didn’t fail. Jesus chose a different way to heal that we might not have expected. Jesus The second touching was a part of the process he chose. With the second touch Jesus was demonstrating that He could heal any way he wanted. We should never box God in. Ask what we want and leave it to God to decide how.
2. Jesus meets us where we are.
   In verses 22 and 23, the blind man came to Jesus, not Jesus going to him. Jesus led the blind man out of the village, showing that He is willing to meet us in our unique circumstances and walk with us through the healing process.
3. Healing can be a gradual process.
   Sometimes we expect God to work according to our schedule and in the ways we expect. The blind man’s sight was not restored instantly; similarly, our spiritual growth and healing may occur in stages as we continue to seek Jesus.

This story is more than just about a blind man who was made to see; it is the story of how Jesus can help us in ways we might never expect.
Lonnie Davis

Our Devotional today is about Jesus healing a blind man.
We begin today with a reading of Mark 8:22-26

[22] When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. [23] So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.
[24] The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”
[25] Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. [26] Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.”

From today’s reading there are three great lessons:

1. Jesus can help us in ways we do not expect.

He placed his hands on the blind man’s eyes and asked, “Can you see anything?” When the man said that he could not see clearly, Jesus touched him a second time.
Seeing this I wondered why Jesus needed to touch him twice. Did he fail with his first touch? The answer is no, he didn’t fail. Jesus chose a different way to heal that we might not have expected. Jesus The second touching was a part of the process he chose. With the second touch Jesus was demonstrating that He could heal any way he wanted. We should never box God in. Ask what we want and leave it to God to decide the how.

2. Jesus meets us where we are.

In verses 22 and 23, the blind man came to Jesus, not Jesus going to him. Jesus led the blind man out of the village, showing that He is willing to meet us in our unique circumstances and walk with us through the healing process.

3. Healing can be a gradual process.

Sometimes, we expect God to work on our time schedule and in the ways we expect. The blind man’s sight was not restored instantly; similarly, our spiritual growth and healing may occur in stages as we continue to seek Jesus.

This story is more than just about a blind man who was made to see; it is the story of how Jesus can help us in ways we might never expect.
Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture reading for today is from the time when Jesus told his disciples to beware of leaven.

We will read, Matthew 16:5-6.
[5] When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread. [6] “Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

You may think that you struggle with understanding God’s word, but even the apostles sometimes had this problem. When they heard these words, they completely missed the point. They thought he was warning them about forgetting to bring bread to eat. After some discussion, Jesus said,

[11] How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
[12] Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:11-12).

In this teaching:
Jesus is warning us to be careful who our teachers are and what they teach us.
Jesus is warning us to be careful about the people we put around us.
Jesus is warning us that we will be influenced by those around us.

One great Bible command that directly illustrates the teaching is 1 Corinthians 15:33. It says, “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good character.”

Why is this so? Because choosing the wrong people to let into your life does three things:

1. It changes who you let influence you. Your close friends’ habits, attitudes, and behaviors will rub off on you, shaping your own habits and mindset.
2. It changes who you go to for support and encouragement. If you are trying to give up smoking, don’t take a road trip with three friends who constantly smoke in the car with you around. You need folks around who will help you.
3. It changes your accountably friends. The point of AA meeting or group counseling is to be accountable to others. We may not realize it but we all do group counseling.

So, beware of the leaven of your closest friends. Bad company corrupts us. Maybe not today, but eventually.

Lonnie Davis

Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11, 12

Our Scripture reading today is Matthew 16:1-4:

[1] Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
[2] But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ [3] and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. [4] A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

Let’s call today’s devotional:
Just One More Sign

“Show us a sign,” they were saying. Jesus had already shown himself to be God’s Son. He had healed the sick, caused the blind to see, and even raised the dead. But they weren’t really looking for a sign or a reason to believe. The verses say they “tested Jesus.” In other words, they were trying to trip him up, trying to catch him in something whereby they could accuse him.

There is an old movie in which the character, after the death of his wife, considers marrying an evil woman. He walks over to the picture of his wife hanging on a wall and asks the picture for a sign. The picture smokes and spins. Finally, the wall behind the picture cracks. He stares at the picture and says, “Just any sign. I’ll be watching,” and walks away. He wasn’t looking for a sign, and neither were these Jewish leaders.

It seems that humans always want one more sign. Even on the cross, those who were there wanted one more sign.
Matthew 27:39 tells us, “Those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!’”

God answers prayers. God has given us signs that he is there (See Romans 1:10–20). But, when we keep looking for a sign, we always wind up looking for “just one more sign.”

He has already given us the sign. He got up from the grave (Matthew 12:38–45). That is enough.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture reading today is a part of the story of Jesus feeding 4,000 men, women, and children. He did this with only 7 loaves and a few small fish. It is found in Matthew 15. We will read verses 32–34.

[32] Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”
[33] The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?”
[34] “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.

I want to share one great thought from this reading: God has given us what we need if we have faith to see it:

In the story of the feeding of the 4,000, we witness a profound demonstration of faith and provision. With just seven loaves and few small fish, Jesus fed a multitude, the story speaks volumes about the God’s abundance.

This isn’t just about the physical multiplication of food; it’s a deeper lesson on recognizing and being thankful for what we have, no matter how little it may seem. It teaches us that when we offer up our small offerings with faith, God can turn them into an abundance beyond our imagination. This act of divine multiplication reminds us to appreciate our blessings, encouraging us to trust in God’s provision. In everyday life, this translates to seeing beyond our perceived scarcity, understanding that with faith, what we have is enough to fulfill not just our needs but also to overflow into the lives of others.

May this story inspire us to live with gratitude and faith, acknowledging that God’s provision is indeed abundant.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture reading today is Matthew 15:22, 25-28
[22] A Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”
[25] The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
[26] But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
[27] “Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
[28] “O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

This story contains a truth about mothers: To help the child is to help the mother. The mother was referred to as “a dog,” but it didn’t matter. She was focused on helping her child, and she would not turn her attention to her own insult. She might have stormed off, but she did not.

The need of her child was her need too. She cried out “Have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.” The mother was not possessed, but her child’s need was also her need. In this verse we see a clear picture of a mother’s heart.
A child may think that her friends care more about her than her mother, but that is immature thinking. If a surgeon told a mother that the only way a sick child could live was a heart transplant and then told her that the only heart that was possible was the mother’s heart, the mother wouldn’t even have to think about it. “Take mine,” the mother would say. A child may not believe this, but a mother knows this is true.
There is a great lesson in the words, “My daughter is miserably possessed.” And then adds the words, “Lord, help me!”
To help the child is to help the parent.
One final thought: God feels that way about you. He let Jesus suffer and die for you. He watches over you.
Lonnie Davis.

Our Scripture reading for today is Matthew 15:1-2.
[1] Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, [2] “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”
[3] Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

In the New Testament days, the Jewish people had become so mired in tradition that their traditions were considered necessary for righteousness. Some of the traditions were:

1. Fasting
   The Law required fasting annually on the Day of Atonement (Yum Kippur). This is outlined in Leviticus 16:29-31 and 23:27-32. By New Testament days, many Jews required fasting twice a week and made a show of it so that others would notice (See Matthew 6:16).
2. Washing of Hands
   Of course, it is always good to wash your hands before you eat, but in today’s reading, hand washing was a ceremony that specified exactly how the washing was to be done and far exceeded a need for cleanliness.
3. Working on the Sabbath.
   Of course, the Law taught the Jews not to work on the Sabbath, but they had become so ritualistic and picky about this that it reached the point of making a new law. For example, they taught that on the Sabbath, one could spit on certain surfaces but could not spit on the ground. They reasoned that if you spit on the ground, you might inadvertently step on it and twist your foot and that would be plowing on the Sabbath.
   
   There are many other examples of traditions becoming a “thus saith the Lord” to the Jews. The point is not to make light of their legalizing traditions but to warn that we do not do the same thing.
   
   Years ago, a friend of mine was sitting behind two older ladies in church. The church had just hired a new preacher, and as he moved in, word got around that he owned a pool table. The two ladies’ comment was, “I don’t care if he is a preacher or not, sin is still sin.”
   
   It is wrong to ignore God’s commands and to make traditions a new “Law of God” when they are not. When the Bible speaks on a subject, we should listen. We can have other traditions, but we must not confuse them with the Bible.
   Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture reading today is Mark 6:53-56.
[53] When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat. [54] As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus [55] and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. [56] And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

In 1871, a forest fire in Wisconsin destroyed 1.2 million acres of timber. To give you an idea of how big this fire was, the entire state of Rhode Island is smaller. Imagine a whole state burning, even a small state. The fire killed around 2,000 people. When investigators traced the cause, they found that it was caused by a careless camper who failed to completely put out his campfire.

I thought of this because of something in today’s reading. Jesus and the disciples were doing exciting work, great work. They were healing people and preaching. Everywhere they went, people took their sick out to meet him so he could heal them. I’ve never done work that significant in my life. I’m sure you feel the same way. However, it was not the great work that reminded me of this terrible forest fire. It was the little thing that they did before they went on the healing tour.

Notice verse 52, “When they had crossed over, they landed and moored the boat.” Even though they had a great work to do, they first moored the boat, they tied off the boat to keep it from drifting away. They took care of the little details of daily living before they tackled the great job of the day.
This great forest fire that killed so many people was started because someone did not “moor their boat,” that is, take care of the small details.

This little detail touched me because I often forget the small details.

As the poet said,
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.

Greatness or failure seldom comes from the big moments in life but rather from the little things we do or don’t do: put out the fire, make your bed, say your prayers, read your Bible, and moor your boat.

Even Jesus and his companions moored their boat. Today, moor your boat, and tomorrow will be better.

You will be better.
Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is John 6:22-71.
It is a long narrative filled with lessons about faith, belief, and the essence of spiritual sustenance. The great teaching of this text is that Jesus satisfies our real needs. I encourage you to read this text from your Bible.

The 5,000 in this story were the 5,000 who ate the loaves and fish. After eating, they sought Jesus not for spiritual reasons but for physical bread. Jesus pointed them to the bread of life, Himself, indicating that the deepest hunger is spiritual, not physical.

As he said in John 6:26–27,
“Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life.”

Any unbeliever can work for food for the body, but our true calling in Jesus is to work for food for the soul. He promises this in verse 35, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Jesus is identifying Himself as the only source that can truly satisfy our deepest need. Physical bread sustains physical life…temporarily, but the “bread of life” Jesus offers to sustain spiritual life…eternally.

This insight is profound: while physical needs are real and pressing, they are not the deepest needs we have. Our greatest hunger goes beyond the material to the spiritual, pointing to a need for meaning, purpose, and connection with the divine. Jesus teaches that He Himself is the fulfillment of this need.

This lesson encourages us to reflect on what we are truly seeking in life and to recognize that only in Christ can our deepest hunger be fully and finally satisfied.

Before we end today’s devotional, it is important to note that many of the 5,000 struggled with Jesus’ teaching, and as the Bible tells us, “From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.” (John 6:66)

May our response be like that of the Apostle Peter: “Lord, You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God” (68–69).
Lonnie Davis

Eight Lessons on Water Walking

Our Scripture reading today is about the time that Jesus walked on water and Peter walked out to meet him. We will read a little of the story from Matthew 14:29-31:

[29] “Come,” said Jesus.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
[31] Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

Do you want to be a water walker? Let’s ask that another way, do you ever want to do amazing things? Doing something amazing is what little boys and girls dream about. After I read today’s story about Jesus walking on the water, I reflected on things I learned about walking on water. Here is a list of eight things.

1. You are never so far away from Jesus that he can’t find you. Even in a boat, in a windstorm, Jesus came to them.

2. Sometimes you have to walk on water at inconvenient times. This walk was during the fourth watch, which would have been after 3 AM.

3. You have to leave the boat before you can walk on water. The boat felt safe, but that is not where heroes are made.

4. Often, even good people won’t walk on water. Peter was in the boat with many good people, disciples of Jesus, but only he walked on water.

5. Take your eyes off Jesus and you will sink. Peter began to sink when he saw the wind instead of looking to Jesus.

6. Prayers don’t have to be long. Peter’s prayer was only three words long – “Lord, save me.”

7. God answers prayers. Peter didn’t debate the merits of prayer. He just prayed and left the answer to God. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand” and caught him.

8. Faith and doubt exist in the same good people. Peter had the faith to walk on water, but the doubts to sink. Faith involves growth over time.

Remember these lessons. You never know when you need to walk on water.

Lonnie Davis

For our Scripture reading today, I turn your attention to but a few verses out of a larger story.

Matthew 14:15-18
[15] When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
[16] “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
[17] “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
[18] “Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.

You likely remember that this is the story about feeding the 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and two fish. We might remember that it worked out just fine! Can you imagine having to put together a meal for 5,000 with only such a small amount of food?

From this reading, a beautiful lesson unfolds: “Little is much when God is in it.”

This event, recorded by all the gospel writers, invites us to see the potential in our small offerings. It teaches us that what seems insignificant, when surrendered to God, can become a source of abundant blessings.

In life’s vast canvas, small strokes can create a masterpiece when divinely guided.
A mustard seed of faith, insignificant in size, can move mountains.
The widow’s two mites, worth little, became much in the treasury of heaven.
David, with a sling and stone, defeated a giant named Goliath.

When infused with divine purpose, each act, no matter how small, holds immense potential. For in God’s economy, little is much; He multiplies our humble offerings, turning loaves and fishes into feasts and simple acts into eternal legacies.

I leave you today with this question: What ‘little’ do you have that God can use for ‘much’?

Lonnie Davis

Our Bible reading today is about the murder of John the Baptist.
Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell the story of John the Baptist’s death at the hands of King Herod.
A quick look at the story tells us that Herod, ruler of Galilee, is disturbed by rumors surrounding Jesus, some believing Jesus to be John risen from the dead. Herod, having imprisoned John for criticizing his marriage, wrestles with his conscience.
Herodias, Herod’s wife and John’s chief critic, manipulates her daughter to request John’s head on a platter as a birthday present. Herod, bound by oath to fulfill the request in front of his guests, reluctantly agrees. John is beheaded in prison, and his disciples retrieve his body for burial.

Looking closely at the words from the Gospel writers reminds me of three great truths.

1. Guilt will follow you. Matthew. – 14:1-2

[1] At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus [2] and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Herod’s guild caused him to see danger when it wasn’t even there. Proverbs 28:1 explains this: “The wicked flee when no one pursues.”

2. Hate is powerful and causes irrational behavior. – Mark 6:23

[23] And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
To understand what Herod promised, you have to understand that the expression was a way of saying “I give you a lot.” It was an expression that was known and did not mean he would divide his kingdom in half.
The pull of hatred in seen in verse 24, promised anything, the girl asked her mother. She could have asked for wealth an fame, but she answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

3. In life you have to do the best you can with the circumstances you have. – Mark 6:29, “When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.” This was not what they wanted, but this is what they had and they did what they could,

Lonnie Davis

Day 88
Matthew 10:1-42; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6

In our last reading, Jesus selected twelve men and named them as apostles, but what do you do once you have your new leaders. Today’s reading is what he did next.

Our reading today is Mark 6:7-13.
It is the story of Jesus giving a commission to the newly appointed apostles.

“7 Calling the Twelve to Him, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 wear sandals, but not a second tunic. 10 And He told them, ‘Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ 12 So they went out and preached that the people should repent. 13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick by anointing them with oil.”

One of my favorite things about reading the Bible is how it reveals things to me a little at a time. In this reading, there are three amazing life principles.

We will only mention them briefly, but if you think about each of them, they will be a guiding light for your life.

1. Training involves doing. Verse 7

The apostles were newly appointed. They had learned much from following, watching, and listening to Jesus, but there is more. Learning is incomplete until one learns by doing. In telling these apostles to go out and preach. He sent them out to preach and learn. To help them best he sent them out in pairs. As Solomon said, two are better than one.

2. Verse 8, “take nothing but a staff for the journey.”

We all love more and more things, but excessive things can weigh you down and hinder your journey. Jesus did let them take a staff to aid them, but that was all they really needed. In life, we must learn to distinguish between wishes, wants, and needs.

3. Verse 10, “’Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.”

Jesus is telling them to build relationship as you go along the way. As we said in another lesson, everybody needs somebody. You do too!

Following these three principles, you will build a better life.
Lonnie Davis