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

Our Scripture for today is 2 Peter 3:9.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God wants everyone to come to repentance. Yes! But what is repentance? If you ask the people who sit in church pews, most will say that repentance means to stop doing wrong. That is only partially true. There are many murderers and thieves in prisons who have stopped killing and stealing. Did they repent? No. They are locked up, so they cannot murder or steal anymore. Repentance means more than just stopping the sin. Let’s look further into the meaning of sin.

In the Bible, the term “repentance” is derived from the Greek word “metanoia,” which means a change of mind or a change in the inner person. In a biblical context, repentance involves several key aspects. Chiefly among them:

1. Repentance Involves Recognition of Sin: 

It begins with an individual recognizing the sin. You will not change what you deny is real.

2. Repentance Involves Sorrow for Sin:

True repentance involves genuine sorrow or remorse for having committed sins and for the separation it has caused from God.

3. Repentance Involves Turning Away from Sin: 

It’s not just about feeling sorry; it involves a decisive turn away from sinful behaviors and attitudes. It means stopping the sin, even if you know that no one will ever know.

4. Repentance Involves Turning to God:

This aspect emphasizes turning towards God, seeking His forgiveness, and aligning oneself with His will and teachings.

5. Repentance Involves Transformation of Life:

Repentance in the Bible often leads to a transformation in a person’s life, evident in their actions, thoughts, and overall character. A person who repents is a changed person. They are no longer the old people they were.

Repentance is the Prodigal Son coming to himself, hating the sin, deciding to go home, and going home to his father. Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change of action.

Lonnie Davis

Have you ever caught yourself pondering the nature of sin? What does the Bible mean when it uses the word sin.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word most commonly translated as “sin” is “חָטָא” (chata), which fundamentally means “to miss the mark” or “to go wrong.” In the New Testament, the Greek word translated as “sin” is “ἁμαρτία” (hamartia), which also carries the meaning of “missing the mark” or “erring.”

So, how would you define sin? In the biblical context, “sin” refers to any thought, word, deed, or omission that goes against God’s will and standards that misses the mark of God’s will. 

Saint Augustine, a heavyweight in the realm of theology, had an intriguing take on sin. He proposed that sin undergoes three stages in our lives. Initially, we find ourselves playfully bargaining with morality, echoing the sentiment, “Lord, make me good, but not yet.” It’s a phase of procrastination where the appeal of immediate pleasures overshadows our quest for righteousness. As we mature, our plea transforms subtly to, “Lord, make me good, but not entirely.” Here lies the human dilemma: craving sanctity but clinging to our earthly desires. Finally, we reach a point of earnest surrender, asking simply, “Lord, make me good.” This progression reflects a journey from self-centeredness to a sincere yearning to follow God.

In today’s world, especially in the realm of politics, the concept of sin is not politically correct. Our politicians, those guardians of public trust, seem to exist in a realm where ‘sin’ is substituted with ‘mistake.’ They ‘misstep’ or ‘miscalculate.’ When caught, the cure is not Jesus, but usually rehab.

The most powerful lesson comes from Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t shun sinners; he dined with them. He exemplified the challenging art of hating the sin but loving the sinner. In a world quick to cast stones, learning to separate the deed from the doer can pave the way for forgiveness and reconciliation, qualities ever-needed in our times.

As we see these different views of sin, it becomes clear that this concept is far more than a religious or moral construct. It’s a mirror reflecting our struggles, growth, and the ever-present battle between our spiritual aspirations and our baser instincts. 

Yes, we all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but we can get forgiveness for our sins. However, we must remember that our forgiveness comes as we forgive others. (Matthew 6:14-15).

Lonnie Davis

Our Bible word for today is found in Psalm 42:11.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Imagine going to the doctor with an illness. The doctor runs all the tests and then tells you the result. What you want to hear are words of hope. The saddest words you could hear are “no hope.” 

Those who have hope have a reason for joy. Hope is the anchor that holds us steady in life’s tumultuous seas. Hope is an unyielding belief in a future that can be better, brighter, and more fulfilling than the present.

In a world that often seems shrouded in uncertainty and despair, hope is the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering, “Tomorrow will be better.” Hope is not just wishful thinking.

It is not mere optimism. While optimism is the general expectation that good things will happen, hope is more specific. It’s the belief that even in our worst moments, there’s the possibility for change and growth. Hope requires an object or a goal for which we are reaching, whether it’s fighting a sickness or overcoming a challenging life obstacle.

In difficult times, hope can be scarce. Yet, it’s precisely in these difficult moments that hope’s power is most needed. Hope provides the courage to face challenges, the strength to continue when we feel like giving up, and the vision to see beyond the immediate obstacle. It’s a reminder that circumstances can change, that endings can be new beginnings, and that no matter how tough things get, there’s always the potential for good change.

Hope is Israel coming out of 400 years of slavery.
Hope is Noah building a boat for 600 years, waiting for a flood.
Hope is Abraham going to the mountain with his son, saying God will provide the lamb.
Hope is Joseph in prison believing that things will get better.
Hope is baby Jesus in the manger.

To have hope is to hold onto the promise of a better tomorrow and to trust that even in our darkest hours, things will get better.

Lonnie Davis

“Have you ever received a gift so profound and unexpected that it left you in awe? This is the essence of divine grace. Our journey into understanding this begins with a powerful scripture from Ephesians 2:8-9, which reveals the heart of grace: a gift from God, unearned and undeserved. It reads:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

The Definition of Grace:

In the New Testament, the concept of “grace” originates from the Greek word “χάρις” (charis). This term is rich with meanings, often found in biblical verses to signify unmerited favor, blessing, or thankfulness and gratitude.

Digging Deeper

Ephesians 2:8-9 is a cornerstone for many Bible students, illustrating that salvation comes through faith. However, it’s crucial not to overlook the opening phrase: “For by grace are you saved.” Our salvation stems not only from faith but firstly from grace. Elements like faith, confession, repentance, baptism, and the blood of Christ are integral to our salvation, but salvation all begins with God’s grace. Understanding the word “Grace” is therefore essential.

At its core, grace means receiving something we haven’t earned and don’t deserve. This concept is familiar in the business world too. For instance, when we need to renew our car registration, we often get a “grace period” – extra time to complete the task. Similarly, loan payments might have a grace period before extra charges apply. This principle extends to other legal areas as well.

When we stand before God, it’s His grace, not justice, that we’ll yearn for. In Genesis 15:6, the Bible tells us that Abraham “believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Abraham wasn’t completely righteous; through God’s grace, he was deemed as such. Our God is a God of grace. It is not by our good deeds, but by God’s grace, that we will be saved.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is Mark 4:40.

“He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'”

The disciples were trapped on a boat in a storm, the winds were blowing hard, and the waves were tossing them mercilessly. They were on a huge lake that was responsible for many deaths by storm. They tried to row hard against the wind to save themselves, but nothing helped. Jesus was with them, but he was sleeping while they were rowing and fretting. Eventually they woke Jesus with, “Don’t you care that we are about to die?” Jesus got up and spoke to the winds and the winds calmed. He then turned to them and asked two questions:

Number 1. “Why are you so afraid?”

Number 2. “Do you still have no faith?”

By putting these two questions together, Jesus is telling the disciples that faith is what you do in the storm. Anyone can have faith in fair weather, but real faith shows up when you need it. To help you know more about faith, there are three Bible passages that you ought to keep in mind.

Number 1 –  Hebrews 11:6. “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

This passage tells us that faith is necessary to please God. It also tells us that faith is believing that God acts in your life.

Number 2 – Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Here, we learn what faith is. Faith in trusting God even when you see him. 

Number 3 – Romans 10:17. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

This text teaches us how to build up our faith. We build our faith by spending time in the Word of God. If your faith is to grow, then your time in the Bible needs to grow.

To get a better understanding of faith, spent time in those three passages. Hebrew 11:6, 11:1, and Romans 10:17. And, of course, read the great honor roll of faith, which is the entire chapter of Hebrews 11.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is Acts 8:30 (NIV)

“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.”

That is a great question. “Do you understand what you are reading?” The first step in understanding what you read is to know the meaning of the words you are reading. 

One of my college professors told about attending a discussion on the necessity of baptism. The fellow who was taking the position that baptism was necessary used as his proof text Matthew 7:14

In the KJV, it reads, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.” He read that and said, “I looked in the dictionary and it defined strait as ‘a small body of water.’ “ Then he continued, “The only small body of water in the Church is the baptistry.” 

When the other guy stood up to answer this argument, he said, “Well, that is a new argument. I don’t know how to answer it, so we’ll just move on to the next point.” Ugh!

They didn’t know the meaning of a Bible word and so they got everything wrong. Of course, they could have just read the passage in a different version and found it reads, “Narrow is the gate that leads to life.” “Strait,” the word in the KJV means “narrow” and not “water.”

Words matter. Knowing what a word means makes the difference between understanding God’s words and misusing God’s word. Beginning tomorrow we are going to look at six common Bible words. You hear them all the time, but may not know exactly what they mean. We will be better Bible readers by knowing these six words.

Here are the six words that we will define:

1. Faith, 2. Grace, 3. Hope, 4. Sin, 5. Repentance, 6. Forgiveness

You use these words and hear them all the time. I trust that by digging deeper into the meaning of these words as used in the Bible, you will be a better Bible student.

Tomorrow we will begin with the word “Faith.”

Lonnie Davis

As Christmas time approaches, let me share a story a friend told me. There was a mother and grandmother of 14 who annually bought Christmas presents for all her children. As she aged and found this task increasingly challenging, she decided to send checks instead, thus allowing them to choose their own gifts. About a week before Christmas, she addressed all the Christmas cards, wrote “This year, I’m going to let you buy your own gifts,” and mailed them. When she returned home from the postoffice and looked at the table, she realized she had forgotten to include the checks with the cards.

This incident is a reminder that sometimes, we need someone else in control.

Our scripture for today is Romans 12:18:

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

I’ve always found this verse remarkable. It acknowledges that there are people who do not wish to live at peace with you. When you encounter them, what should you do? God’s word instructs us to live at peace with them, if it is at all up to us. Sometimes, it’s not in our hands.

This principle isn’t just about dealing with people who are hard to get along with; it’s about how to conduct oneself in all aspects of life. In Proverbs, we are exhorted to the following:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (3:5-6)

With these words, God offers us the promise of guiding our paths. We don’t need to control everything. We have someone wiser, smarter, and more powerful to guide us.

Lonnie Davis

Our scripture is Proverbs 22:18
“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.”

In days gone by, land was not surveyed. It was established by boundary stones. These were large rocks set at the corners of land. In our time, we don’t usually measure land by boundary stones. However, we do set boundaries all the time.

The one set of boundaries that everyone knows about are the 10 Commandments. They started with the “Thou Shalt Not” or “Thou Shall.” With those words from Exodus 20, God set clear boundaries for his people. “Thou shall have no other gods before me.” Actually, there are many other boundaries throughout the Bible. It is urgent that we know that boundaries were not made to make life hard, but to make life possible. You know that is true, because each of us has been tormented by an acquaintance, friend, or loved one who did not know how to respect a boundary.

Each family and each person has boundaries. My family certainly did. In my family, and I am sure in yours, we didn’t steal from one another. We didn’t lie to one another. When I first married Liz, she told me up front that I was not allowed to tease her or pull a prank on her. I’m not saying we were always perfect, but those were rules.
Of course, there were other rules or boundaries that were not so serious: don’t sing at the table, don’t get up from the table until you are excused, clean your plate, etc.

Unfortunately, in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, the concept of setting boundaries often takes a backseat. However, establishing clear and healthy boundaries is crucial for maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life.

All of us have boundaries.
There are emotional boundaries that control who or what we allow to influence our feelings and thoughts. When this boundary is crossed, we suffer emotionally.
There are physical boundaries: Everyone needs their own space, even if it’s just a chair.
We all have to set time boundaries. That one is about allocating time for work, play, and relaxation. This helps us maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you don’t build boundaries around your time, then the urgent things will smother the important things.

Make boundaries. Make boundaries on purpose. Make your boundaries known. They are essential for good relationships.

Lonnie Davis