Our text for today is Matthew 5:21-22

21“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 

Some have interpreted this passage to mean that merely using the term ‘fool’ will condemn someone to hell, but a deeper understanding reveals that Jesus is cautioning against contemptuous attitudes. In fact, the Bible itself uses the term ‘fool’ in various contexts. One example is found in Psalm 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ “

Let me share what I call the “Three Degrees of A Fool.”

Degree One: Believing oneself to be wise. 

This isn’t about false humility, but the tendency for some to consider themselves wise. As Shakespeare aptly put it, “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

Degree Two: Boasting about one’s wisdom. 

Genuine wisdom is demonstrated through actions, not words. If you need to tell others about your wisdom, it may be a sign that true wisdom is lacking, as the wise let their actions speak for them.

Degree Three: Rejecting advice from others. 

Fools may not explicitly deny interest in other people’s advice, but they usually seek counsel only from those who they know will agree with them. The proverb says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

So there they are, The fool thinks himself to be wise. The fool talks about his wisdom. The fool rejects advice.

Not only does knowing those three steps help you guard against becoming a fool, but it also helps you spot a fool so you will not be hurt by one.

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Do you remember how in school you used to dread test taking, especially math tests? The anxiety stems not just from getting the right answer, but from the teacher telling you to “show your work.” Those three little words changed everything and made the test so much harder.

Without those three words, you might guess the right answer. While guessing may get you credit on a test, showing work demonstrates a real understanding that will help with future problems. Math is about developing transferable problem-solving skills, not just arriving at one-off answers. As we get older, we recognize the value in teachers pushing us to lay out our step-by-step reasoning.

Life constantly presents new problems to solve: finding a job, nurturing relationships, pursuing growth, completing daily tasks, and more. Those who thrive in life are those who are prepared with the skills to work through life’s constant challenges. Whether learning from parents, friends, teachers, or mentors, people want to see our work because the goal is learning a lifelong skill, not just a single correct response. 

Next time you face a test, remember it’s practice for the never-ending problems of life. 

This is why Jesus told us to, “Let your light so shine.” It is not about showing off, but about letting others see the process of solving problems in life, especially how to live a Christian life.

Lonnie Davis

It was a dark and stormy night when the skies decided to throw an epic tantrum, and the power grid surrendered with a flicker, leaving your home in darkness. It is so dark that you cannot find your way around your own home. Your first thought is “Where did I put my flashlight?” Finally, you find your flashlight, only to discover that your flashlight has dead batteries. Ugh!

With a sigh of resignation, you search for fresh batteries, a task made comically challenging by sharp corners to the furniture inside your dark house and the elements conspiring outside. Raindrops beat down upon the windows as you fumble through drawers, knocking over forgotten treasures.

This story is not just an imagined story to me. I’ve been there and I’m guessing you have too.

This story should remind us of the words,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

We live in a world of darkness. All around us are the storms of life that cause that darkness. What we need more than anything is a light to show the way. It is to that point that the psalmist tells us of our “flashlight,” our source of light.

 Like one who stumbles in a dark house, hunting for that light source, the psalmist prays, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law… Do not hide Your commandments from me.”(Psalms 119:18-19.). 

Through reading God’s Word daily, we have that light ready to guide us through the dark nights.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is Mark 8:16-18

The disciples followed Jesus onto a boat, but forgot to bring bread. They only had one loaf. Jesus warned them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees. They mistook his comments about yeast to be a reprimand to them for forgetting to bring bread. Mark 8 tells us, “they said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’”

Jesus responded to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?” (Mark 8:16-18)

Jesus’ concern for them was that they became so fixed on the bread of this life, that they failed to see that Jesus was sharing a bigger, spiritual thought.

As I read that story, I remembered another story that happened during the terrible bombing raids of World War II. Many children were left orphaned and starving as a result of the bombing strikes. Those who were lucky enough to be saved were put in refugee camps where they were fed and given proper care. Many of these young people who had suffered such great losses were unable to sleep at night. They feared that when they woke up, they would still be hungry and without a place to live. 

Nothing seemed to reassure the children. Someone finally had the bright idea of giving each child a slice of bread to hold while they slept. These kids could at last sleep peacefully while holding their bread. Bread continued to remind them throughout the night that “Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow.”

Holding on to the bread at night really didn’t change anything for the children, but it made them feel secure.

In contrast to clutching actual bread, we would all do well to go to bed while clinging to our spiritual bread, Jesus, the bread of Life. Our assurance for the following day will come from holding Him during the night.

Lonnie Davis

The setting for today’s reading is a Sunday morning, sometimes around 6 a.m. A group of women go to the tomb of Jesus. The real story begins when they get there and find Jesus gone. Now we read:

Matthew 28:5-6

The angel …said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

In the first hours of that day, everything changed – for everyone. Jesus had been crucified, but he got up from the dead. 

In serving that same Jesus, I’ve preached well over 4,000 sermons. Most preachers who have preached that often, eventually preach one called, “If I had only one sermon to preach.” I want to tell you what sermon I would preach. If I were asked to preach one last time, There would be many wonderful topics available.

I could preach on “Why I believe in God.” I could preach on love. 1 John says that without love we are nothing. But the one we all need to feel down in our souls is ‘The Resurrection of Jesus.”

Paul explained it this way I Corinthians 15:13-19

“…If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

As a preacher, I have stood by more graves than most people. As I’ve gotten older, I have had the duty of standing by the graves of my own family and friends. When I leave those piles of dirt, I find great comfort in knowing that it is only temporary. In the song titled, “Hurt,” the writer said, “Everyone goes away in the end.” To those who do not know that Jesus got up from the grave, it would seem that way. As a believer, I say, “No! They simply go to wait for us.” 

There is not a more needed sermon for Christians to Truly believe.

Lonnie Davis

Knowing God’s Love

Our text for today is Hebrews 4:15-16

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Reading this verse helps us know more about God. It helps us see why God sent his Son to die on the cross. 

Posted on the site of the Oklahoma City bombing are the following lines by K. C. and Myke Kuzmic.

I said, “God, I hurt.”
And God said, I know.”

I said, “God, I cry a lot.”
And God said, “That is why I gave you tears.”

I said, “God, I am so depressed.”
And God said, “That is why I gave you Sunshine.”

I said, “God, life is so hard.”
And God said, “That is why I gave you loved ones.”

I said, “God, my loved one died.”
And God said, “So did mine.”

I said, “God, it is such a loss.”
And God said, I saw mine nailed to a cross.”

I said, “God, but your loved one lives.”
And God said, “So does yours.”

I said, “God, where are they now?”
And God said, “Mine is on My right and yours is in the Light.”

I said, “God, it hurts.”
And God said, I know.”

Jesus died on the cross so we might know that he understands us. His life and death was hard so that we CAN know that he feels our pain. Then, as today’s reading says, we will be able to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Lonnie Davis

Are you familiar with, Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

We often misuse this text. If you read it closely, you will discover that it is a specific statement made to a specific man at a certain time. However, we have made this a universal principle. 

Yes, God does have a plan for us. We can work with God’s plan or we can try to thwart it.

I’d like to believe that I always understand and try to follow his plan, but I don’t always know exactly what he wants. Sometimes he gives us multiple doors, and sometimes closed doors. However, there are times when we make our own plans without considering God’s plan.

Sunday and Monday, September 18–19, 2022 was just such a time. While on the island of Puerto Rico, we knew there was a storm headed our way, but figured it would pass. But this one was worse than expected. A tropical storm turned into a hurricane.

We seemed to be doing okay; we had power. It was Sunday. Trapped in our house, my son and I were going to have a football day.  Unbeknownst to us, we had power but were running on a generator. No problem; we were doing fine. Suddenly, there was no wifi, and thus no football. Jeremy figured out that we could use our phone as a wifi router and we watched football. Yay!

At 10:30 p.m., all power was gone. No A/C, no nothing. Darkness. We fumbled our way to our beds and slept in the heat.

The next morning, we got our power back via generator, but for how long? We knew we needed to get off the island, but getting a flight off the island seemed impossible. Jeremy spent three hours finding us a flight. We got home about 8 p.m.

We just never know what the day may bring. We don’t know, but God knows. I know you have had days like these, and sometimes much worse. I have too.

When we have those days, we need to remember that though we cannot know what the day will bring, we do know the God who know.

When you can’t adjust the day, adjust your attitude. Trust him and let go. Let God.

Our verse for today is Matthew 7:1-2.

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

The one Bible verse that every old heathen knows is that first verse, “Judge not that you be not judged.” Well, they usually just know the first two words, “Judge not.” If you do not approve of their being drunk or stealing and they know you are a Christian, the scripture they say is, “Judge not.” 

But does the Bible really teach us not to judge? Of course not, but a person with only a shallow understanding of the Bible does what everyone is prone to do: latch on to a little learning and make something out of it that was never intended. 

Of course, we should not judge, but you must understand the teaching. If you see a person drunk, it is not judgmental to call them drunk. If you see them drunk every day for a month, you are not judging them by saying they have a drinking problem. 

The same Jesus who said, “Judge not,” said, “You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16). It is not judging to inspect the fruit and determine that it is rotten. It is judging to see how the leaves are blowing and say the fruit is rotten.  It is not judging to see all the fruit ruined and say that the fruit is bad. It is judging to see one rotten apple and say that all the fruit is bad.

So, “Judge not!” But do inspect the fruit and make a good decision. If you don’t, then life will be filled with very hard spots.

Lonnie Davis.

Our Scripture for today is Hebrews 13:16

“Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

In my life there is one story that teaches me about this verse. It was not about me, it was about my wife, Liz.

Liz was a teacher and at Christmas each year children would often bring a gift to their teacher. The week before Christmas, one of her students, (We’ll call her Becky) brought a four-inch, stuffed moose to school. Every day for a week, she would put the little moose on her desk. She told Liz that it was her favorite toy. On the last day before Christmas break, the class had a gift exchange. Liz gave all the children a gift. In turn, many of them came to Liz’s desk and brought her a little something. Becky was from a poor family and didn’t have anything to give. At last, she picked up her little moose and brought it to Liz. Liz thanked her and said, “I’ll keep it for you today.” Becky smiled and said, “No, I want you to have it.” Liz told her how sweet she was, but insisted that Becky keep her favorite toy. Little Becky would hear none of it.” Liz could see how important this was to the sweet little girl, so she reluctantly took the gift. It touched Liz’s heart.

Most of the kid’s gifts that came home were lost over the years. The one gift that outlasted all the others with us was the little Christmas moose. We even kept the little brown sack Becky put it in. That little moose served to remind Liz and me that we too need to be generous. God doesn’t ask us to give up necessary food or medicine. He only asks that we give as He has given to us.

We all need a little of Becky’s spirit. When we love God as she loved her teacher, we will have her spirit of sharing. Truly, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).

Lonnie Davis

I love reading great quotes from famous people. For example, the quote about failure from Thomas Edison, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  I have one that I attribute to myself, “No failure is wasted as long as we learn from it.”

There have been many times in my life when I have fallen flat on my face, taken a breath, and then asked myself what lessons I might learn. I’ve tried to pass this thinking on to my kids. It is the best way to turn failure into a victory.

There were many Bible heroes who turned failure into victory.

Joseph was sold as a slave and then cast into prison, but ultimately turned it all into a victory for his family and all of God’s people. He explained it in Genesis 50:20,  “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Moses lived in the luxury of a palace but messed up and found himself running from Egypt. He spent 40 years working as a shepherd on the backside of nowhere. It turns out that Moses did not fail. He merely stumbled. We know him today as the prophet who led Israel out of slavery.

Then of course there are men like, the Apostle Peter, King David, Gideon, and many more who fell down in a mess but got up to success. Why did these great people turn failure into victory? Proverbs 24:16 explains it, “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” The response of righteous people is to get up from failure and try again. Wicked people just wallow in the failure.

     When Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts,” he was just paraphrasing the Bible teaching on the subject. Most of the time when people have a great quote, it is just something God already said in his book.

Lonnie Davis

Mary awoke at 7. She lay in bed considering her day. In the 10 minutes it took her to get going a man put a gun to his head and took his life. Mary went to the kitchen to get coffee. In that 10 minutes, a woman living alone took all the pills she had and ended her life. During that hour six people took their own life. Every day, all day, every 10 minutes, someone in America ends their life by their own hand.

Why? The answer is that they feel hopeless, unloved, and alone. With no reason to live, they decide to end their own life. This is not fiction. It is the story of 132 people in America who end their struggle every day.

Jesus once met a woman who struggled with life. She got married. It didn’t last. She married again and again the marriage ended. Five times she tried to find the man of her dreams, the one who would be her partner for life. Five times she failed. Finally, she just gave up and moved in with a man she didn’t even marry. 

In her little village, the women would go to the well to get the day’s water for the home. There was a well in town, but she decided to take the longer trip to go outside of town and to go at noon. It was hot, but there would be fewer people there. 

There were fewer people there, but there was one man there who would change her life. No, he was not a potential husband. He was Jesus.

The story of her encounter with Jesus is told in John 4. Her encounter with Jesus changed her life. To those who look for answers, it always does. To those who don’t, he is just another man at the well. 

Each of us must decide whether Jesus is the answer to how we can change our lives or whether he is just a man at the well.

Destiny is counting on our choice.

Lonnie Davis

As Israel entered the Promised Land, the first city, Jericho fell in spectacular fashion. The cities of Ai, Jerusalem, and Hebron were soon to follow. It was not easy but with God on their side, the Israelites conquered the enemy. 

Joshua noted, “One of you routs a thousand because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised.” (Joshua 23:10)

With God’s miracles and the leadership of Joshua, nothing could go wrong. At least that is how Israel felt, but Judges 1:18-19 tells us,

 “The men of Judah also took Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron–each city with its territory. The LORD was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots.”

 Notice the end of that verse, “They were unable to drive the people from the plains because they had iron chariots.” 

Think of “Iron Chariots” as tanks of that time. They were indeed formidable weapons, but it was not really the iron chariots that stopped Israel. The iron chariots made the task harder, but iron chariots or tanks could not thwart God. 

Years earlier these same Israelite soldiers had seen the mighty Egyptian army, along with her “iron chariots” perish in the Red Sea. Now Israel found it easier to leave the plains people alone than to battle against iron chariots. Israel opted for ease rather than obedience.

 There is a story about an old man who at a county fair was offered a chance to take his first airplane ride. After some persuading he agreed. When the flight was over the pilot asked the old man how he liked his first flight. He answered, “It was pretty good, but to tell you the truth I never did put my full weight on it.” 

Israel saw the iron chariots and decided not to put their full weight on God. Iron chariots cannot stop God or God’s people. Nothing can stop God’s people as long as they are doing God’s will. Only the desire for ease can do that.

 What does God want you to do? Do it. With God as your partner, neither iron chariots nor tanks can stop you.

 ~Lonnie Davis

Our text is Matthew 6:34

 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

 This exhortation is often hard for me. There are so many potential problems for tomorrow. However, Jesus emphasizes in this verse the value of being present and paying attention to each day rather than becoming paralyzed with worry and anxiety about what might or might not happen on another day. 

By telling us not to worry, God isn’t telling us to pretend that problems don’t exist or that we shouldn’t meet our daily obligations. Rather, God is encouraging us not to become so consumed with worry about tomorrow’s issues that we do not live fully today.

 Instead of wringing your hands over the issues tomorrow might bring, here are three reasons you shouldn’t worry about tomorrow.

1. God is in control.

Life situations can change in an instant, from your job status to your relationships to your health. However, God is unchangeable; He is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be tomorrow (Malachi 3:6). God knew how to help Moses and Elijah. That same God is our helper today. God promises to bring good out of every situation for those who put their trust in Him (Romans 8:28). 

2. God wants you to look to Him.

Like any loving parent, God wants to be the voice that tells you which path to take when you’re at a crossroads (Isaiah 30:21). Also, like any loving parent, He can’t help you if you don’t allow Him into your life first. By fretting about tomorrow, you’re averting your eyes from the God of hope.

3. God equips you with everything you need to face each day.

God gives you the daily bread you need. We are told to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” He is our helper, day by day.

By telling us not to worry about tomorrow, God is asking us to trust that He’ll give us enough strength to face each day as it comes and that He’ll do it all over again tomorrow!

Lonnie Davis

We live in a world that is filled with people who don’t believe in God. They don’t believe that Jesus ever got up out of the grave. The reason they can’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus is because they say they don’t believe in miracles.

Really? 

Even so, they have to explain where the whole universe came from. Here is how many atheists describe the BIG BANG. I looked up a description of the Big Bang. Here is how one story went.

It said, Before there was a Big Bang, the universe was infinitely small. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe began as a very hot and dense point about 13.8 billion years ago. This tiny, tiny point then expanded rapidly, causing the universe to cool. It resulted in the formation of matter and energy.

The concept of a point with no size is difficult to comprehend, but it is necessary to understand the Big Bang theory. The universe was so small and dense that it was essentially a point. It had no length, width, or height. It was also infinitely hot and dense.

The writing continues, 

The exact nature of the universe before the Big Bang is a mystery that scientists are still trying to solve. However, the Big Bang theory is a well-supported and widely accepted model for the origin of the universe. It is based on a solid foundation of evidence and continues to be refined as new observations are made.

Now that, if true would be an amazing miracle! Think about it. 

It takes no faith to believe that, a tiny, tiny point was once was the whole universe, But that Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Is a step too far.

I believe in God and I believe God. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

To me that miracle requires less faith than believing that all of the stars and planets were once smaller than the size of a pinhead that just suddenly blew up into the whole universe.

Lonnie Davis

Our Bible verse today is Mark 12:28–29.

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.’”

It is easy to see the power of one when it is the power of one God. But this principle must not be overlooked in life with people. On one occasion, I was about to counsel a woman whose husband was determined to leave her. She was at her wit’s end. Since my wife, Liz, knew all about her, I asked her what I should tell the woman. I figured it would be good to look at things from a woman’s point of view. Her quick answer was profound.

She said, “Tell her about the awesome power of one!” I made a note of that on the pages of my heart. It would be something I would always remember. This is important because sometimes one is all you have. One can be enough.

What would our world look like without one Thomas Edison? Let’s also add one Alexander Graham Bell, one Leonardo da Vinci, one Louis Pasteur, one Marie Curie, and one Albert Einstein.

You might be tempted to say, “But I’m not important like them.” Maybe not, but there was one person who gave her life to raise each of them. There was one person who kept a family together. There is one teacher who educated a child. There is one person who preached to an Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8). 

You have to believe in the awesome power of one. No problem will ever be solved until one person tries and tries again.

We should add that, as Christians, we have the power of One plus God. That is a lot more than one.

Lonnie Davis

Our text for today is Matthew 6:9

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”

These words from Jesus instruct us about how to pray. Before you ask for anything, before you praise God, before you do anything else, we first acknowledge that God is our Father. 

Since he is our father, he deserves the respect a father is due. From the Mountain of God, He told us that we must  “Honor your father and your mother.” – Exodus 20:12

Some years ago, an older woman impressed me with a profound statement about honor. 

Here is her story. As a child, she grew up with two sisters and her mother. Her mother openly showed favoritism toward her sisters and abused her. When her mother was old and needed one of her children to provide for her, you can guess which daughter took her in and cared for her. The answer is that it was the sweet daughter who had been herself neglected.  

A friend who was familiar with her story asked her why, after the way her mother treated her, she took her mother in. Her answer was profound. She answered, “Because it is not about her. It is about me.”

We do not honor our parents because they deserve it. We do not neglect a mother or father because we were neglected. We honor because it is about us.

We are blessed to have a Heavenly Father who is worthy of our praise. But if we do not show honor toward Him, it is not because of anything God did, It is about us. It is about the kind of person we are.

Choosing whether to honor our Father in heaven shows what we are. It is about us.

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Psalm 34:8

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

It has almost become a fad for people to say, “God is Good.” More than a few will follow this with “God is always Good.”  The words have a pleasant sound to our ears because we know them to be true. Of course there are skeptics who love to point out the pain in life and say God is not good!

God could get rid of all pain. He promises to do that in heaven. But what if you could get rid of all pain now, would you? The seemingly easy response is yes! Even an emphatic yes. Wiser people would say no. Pain is necessary for the good life here.

Look, I get that there is some pain that is hard and we would do all we could to stop it, but sometimes pain serves a purpose.

First, pain is a warning sign against danger. Do you know the story of the death of Robert Wadlow? In 1940, at 22, he was just a little over 8’11” tall. He died of a blister on his foot. He was so tall that he could not feel the blister or any pain in his feet. The blister became infected, and he died. Pain can warn us of danger.

Second, pain helps us grow. I love the statement, “The bumps are what we climb on.” A steep, iced-over driveway is smooth. Yes, it is smooth, but you can’t use such a driveway. In life, there are painful rough spots that give us traction and help us grow.

Finally, pain here makes us long for eternity. There are some who are so in love with life here that they do not ever want to go to heaven there. We love mountains, sunsets, and winding rivers, but as we get older, we grow more and more ready to live in heaven with God.

Yes, God is Good. God is Good Always. It is not just a meme. It is a fact.

Lonnie Davis

People often wonder, “Why doesn’t God just come down and show himself? That way, people would believe.” To that, we can easily say, No, they would not. How do we know? Consider those around the cross.

Our text is Mark 15:29–32.

29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 “save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 “Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

Jesus had healed the sick, caused the blind to see, restored lepers, made the lame walk, and even raised the dead. Still they said, Do one more miracle, and we will believe.

Consider the story of “Malchus’ Ear.”

Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas brought Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus. In his anger, Peter lashed out with his own sword. John 18:10–11 tells the story.

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Peter cut off Malchus’ ear and Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. (Luke 22:51).

Next, John 18:12 tells us, “Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus.”

Look closely at that, the soldiers saw Jesus instantly heal an ear that had been cut off and their response was to go ahead and arrest Jesus. All I can say is “Wow! Their eyes saw a miracle, and still they arrested Jesus.” 

Luke 16:31 says it best. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

If anyone wants to doubt, a miracle will not change their mind. Faith comes from reading God’s Word. (Romans 10:17).

Lonnie Davis

God’s great compassion towards us is beautifully portrayed in Psalm 103:13 which says “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” This verse gives us a glimpse into God’s heart as a loving Father, tenderly caring for His children. 

The parable of the prodigal son provides a vivid picture of this compassion in action. When the wayward son returns home broken and repentant, the waiting father sees him from afar and is filled with so much compassion that he runs to embrace and celebrate his lost son (Luke 15:20). The father does not lecture his son or treat him as merely a servant. Though the son wasted his inheritance in rebellion, the father compassionately welcomes him back as his dear child without any reservations. 

This is a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father’s compassion compels Him to run towards us when we turn to Him with contrite hearts, no matter how badly we have failed. God knows all our weaknesses and flaws yet His compassion moves Him to fully restore all who come back to Him. As Psalm 103 assures, He removes our transgressions, heals our diseases, redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with love and mercy.

We do not have to earn God’s compassion. It flows freely from His loving and gracious nature as our perfect Father. Understanding the depths of His compassion gives us courage to return to Him again and again, knowing we will be met with His embrace, not condemnation. Though we cannot fathom the depths of God’s love, we see glimpses of its power in Christ’s compassion during His earthly ministry and His sacrifice at the cross for our salvation. As His beloved children, we can have confidence in God’s endless compassion and abiding mercy when we humbly seek Him.

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Psalm 90:2

“Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

Before the mountains were made, there was God. Before even the Earth was made, God existed. Before the Sun and the moon and the stars were created, God was there. God Is and Was, and Shall Be.

This means that God exists beyond the physical world’s limitations and the laws that govern it. Since time itself is a part of the created universe, it’s certain that God exists outside of time and is not subject to its constraints.

I admit that there are things that are too difficult for my little mind to grasp. For example, the idea of nothingness is unimaginable. I can imagine Earth without America or Russia or Alaska. I can imagine the universe without Earth. Take that away and we can still see it in our mind’s eye. But try to take away the universe. All the stars and planets are just gone. There is nothing but the blackness of space. I can even imagine that, but let’s take it one step further. Imagine that space itself is gone. That is nothingness and I cannot describe it or even imagine it. 

Timelessness is on the list of things beyond our ability to imagine. We can imagine time ending, but what if time never existed? We understand B.C. and A.D. but what about imagining BT, that is Before Time? Before there was time, there was God. God is eternal.

Many are familiar with 2 Peter 3:8

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

Many who read this verse see it as a symbolic way of God saying that he has a long view of things. I take a more literal view. God is really telling us that He is beyond time itself. A thousand years can be a day or a day a thousand years. He made time and time obeys him. 

In other words, God is eternal.

Lonnie Davis