Our text today is Matthew 22: verses 17 and 21:  

“So tell us what you think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus replied, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 

If you had the chance to pose a question to Jesus, would taxes be at the top of your list? It seems that disdain for taxes has been a timeless sentiment, echoing through the ages and still resonating strongly in America today. We’re faced with a dizzying array of taxes: income tax, sales tax, property tax, payroll tax, self-employment tax, capital gains tax, excise tax—and let’s not forget the estate tax that comes up after death.

While these taxes can feel overwhelming, there’s an even more insidious tax we pay—one that doesn’t come with a receipt. I call it the “Gotta Have It Now Tax.” This is perhaps the most foolish tax we incur. It’s an invisible fee we willingly pay when we prioritize instant gratification over thoughtful spending.

Think about it: whether it’s shelling out extra for expedited shipping, succumbing to impulse buys, or opting for convenience at the expense of cost, this tax quietly siphons away our hard-earned money every time we let impatience take the wheel.

The symptoms of this tax are glaringly obvious: empty bank accounts and mounting credit card debt. But fear not! There’s a remedy rooted in wisdom. Here it is: Save a little for a rainy day!

Proverbs 21:20 reminds us:  

“Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.”

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth pondering. 

Today’s scripture is Deuteronomy 6: verse 7. 

“And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

The them this verse is clear—God’s Word. This verse calls us to ensure that our children, and our families, know God’s Word and make it the foundation of their lives.

Teaching children can sometimes be a challenge, but it must be done. Dads, if you aren’t sure how to reach your child, ask their mom. Not all dads have to, but I surely did.

Our kids, Janet, Ginger and Jeremy, were so engaged with the Word that they would weaponize it for their arguments. Ginger, at 13, would lash out at her 8-year-old brother with Ephesians 6:1: “Children, obey your parents.” 

Jeremy would respond with Proverbs 6:16: “God hates a lying tongue.” Neither of them was especially disobedient or dishonest, they just used scripture as their defense!

Over time, I was able to teach them the deeper, true application of these verses. Now, years later, though they no longer live in my house, I’m still committed to guiding them in God’s Word. That is my calling from Deuteronomy 6. And it’s your calling too.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

It was Thursday night and Jesus knew that this time tomorrow he would be dead, at least, as we think of death. So, he told his disciples, “I am going away to prepare a better place for you.”

That Scripture is John 14:2-3.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

He went to prepare a place for you and me too, but do you really want to go? 

I’m reminded of the street preacher who always used the line, “Do you want to go to heaven?” Of course, people always said yes. One day he stopped a man and asked, “Do you want to go to heaven?” The man immediately said, “No!” 

He never heard that answer before so he responded, “you don’t want to go to heaven when you die?” The man said, “When I die? Yes. I thought you were getting up a load to go right now.”

I get it. We like where we are. 

The first lines of a poem say, 

“If God hath made this world so fair,
Where sin and death abound,
How beautiful, beyond compare,

Will Paradise be found!”

God made our world wonderful, but have you ever stopped to consider how much better paradise will be? Jesus went to prepare it as our eternal home. Where we’ll never grow old.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Psalm 32:8.  

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

This verse reminds us of the intimate care God offers as He guides us through life. His counsel is not distant or cold, but full of love and attention. He doesn’t just tell us what to do; He watches over us with tenderness, making sure we stay on the right path. This is the meaning of “I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” He doesn’t counsel us and then turn his back on us.

It’s easy to feel lost or uncertain, but this verse assures us that God is personally invested in our journey. His loving nature means that we are never forgotten or abandoned. God loves each of us as if we were the only one.  This is the heart of His guidance—it’s personal, kind, and constant.

When we trust in God’s counsel, we find peace, knowing that He sees more than we do. He knows what’s ahead, and His love ensures that He will lead us safely. The question we must ask ourselves is, are we willing to trust His love and follow where He leads?

Today, whatever happens, remember God is watching. Not to find your faults, but to see your needs.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Matthew 1:5-6:  

“Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.”

When reading the Bible, have you ever skimmed over genealogies, assuming they have little relevance? It’s easy to overlook their significance, but if you slow down, you’ll see powerful stories hidden in the names. Take this passage, for example. 

King David’s grandmother was Ruth, a Moabite, someone who wasn’t even Jewish. Her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi is one of the Bible’s most moving moments. Ruth told her, “Wherever you go, I will go; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”.

Even more astonishing is King David’s great-grandmother, Rahab. Once a prostitute in Jericho, she showed great faith by protecting Israel’s spies, securing her place in God’s unfolding story. 

Two women from different backgrounds, one who ate from charity and one a prostitute in Jericho, both considered outsiders, became the grandmother and great-grandmother of the great King. By the way, we don’t know the name of his mother, just his grandmother and great-grandmother. 

These two women teach us that God works through the unexpected to accomplish His purposes.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Turning Gifts into Blessings

Our Scripture today is First Peter 4: verse 10
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

“Whatever gift he has received,” is an interesting phrase. It means that we don’t all have the same gift. Peter says that plainly in the following verses.

“If anyone speaks, he should speak…
If anyone serves, he should serve…

If you have the gift of speaking, then be a speaker. If you are a gifted server, then serve. Use the gift God has given you. If you have a special talent for singing, then sing. If you are a great cook, then use that gift too. If you are whatever, then use that whatever you have been gifted.

Notice that he says of the gift you have, that you are a “steward.” That means that God has given you that gift to hold for him.

Use your talent because you were made for that purpose.
Use your talent because God is lending it to you to use.
Use your talent because you will not reach your full potential until you do.
Use your blessing to bless.

As a wise man said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Our gifts have greater value when we use them for the good of others.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.”

In Luke 15, we read the beautiful story of the Prodigal Son. This young man took his inheritance, journeyed to a distant land, and wasted it all. Broke, hungry, and living in a pig pen, he longed to return home but believed he had ruined his chance. His faith in himself was shattered. He had no hope for anything more than being accepted as a servant in his father’s household.

But something greater than faith or hope remained. As he approached, still a long way off, his father saw him, ran to him, and embraced him. Not as a servant, but as his son. What caused this amazing welcome? The answer is found in today’s verse. Love—the greatest of all.

When faith falters and hope seems lost, love stands strong. In this parable, we are the prodigal, and God is the father. No matter how far we wander, when we turn back to Him, He greets us with love beyond measure.

There is no mistake, no failure, and no pig-pen that can keep us from the Father’s love.

I’m Lonnie Davis and this is a thought worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Nehemiah 8:10.

“Then Nehemiah told them, ‘Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'”

I love the story of the little mouse that climbed up on the back of an elephant as they walked along a road. When they crossed a bridge, the entire structure shook under their weight. As they reached the other side, the mouse said to the elephant, “Boy, we really shook that bridge, didn’t we?”

Maybe you’re facing a tough day, or perhaps things are going well.

Regardless of what lies ahead, we’re all riding with God. Like the mouse on the elephant, we often feel small and overwhelmed by the challenges we face. Yet, it’s not our own strength that carries us through, but God’s. His joy is our strength, just as Nehemiah reminded the people of Israel.

In life, we may not be the ones shaking the bridges, but with God by our side, we have the strength to cross them. So, don’t be afraid—rejoice in the Lord’s strength today.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Ephesians 5:21.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

This verse lies at the core of Paul’s teachings on relationships, particularly emphasizing the bond between husbands and wives. This verse calls for mutual submission—a deep expression of respect that is crucial for any loving marriage. It advocates for a balance where each partner honors the other, not out of duty but driven by their reverence for Christ and each other.

John Gray’s insights resonate with this Scripture. He notes, “When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences, then love has a chance to blossom.” This statement highlights that genuine respect within a marriage stems from acknowledging and valuing each other’s unique contributions and perspectives. Such respect is not just an ideal but a practical pathway to deeper love and understanding.

In this light, Ephesians 5 is not merely instructive; it deepens marital bonds. Through practicing mutual submission, husbands and wives actively demonstrate their love and respect for one another, reflecting the selfless love Christ has for the church. This shared commitment fosters a partnership rooted in mutual respect, where both individuals support and uplift each other in their spiritual journey. Such a relationship not only fortifies the marital bond but also serves as a compelling testament to God’s design for marriage.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Proverbs 22:3:

“The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.”

As I read this verse, I’m reminded of a time when my son was in first grade. He got it into his head that he wanted to jump out of a plane with a parachute. Now, when you’re six, that’s not going to happen. So, being Jeremy, he grabbed the biggest trash bag he could find and climbed up onto the roof of the house. Holding the bag over his head, he jumped. You can guess how that turned out. Sitting on the ground afterward, he wondered why his makeshift parachute didn’t work.

The following week, his class played the parachute game at school—where the kids grab part of a large parachute and bounce a ball around. It was the first time he saw a real parachute up close, and he noticed that it had a hole in the middle. In his mind, the problem was solved. When he got home, he grabbed another trash bag, cut a hole in it, and jumped again. You can guess how that ended.

Now, back to today’s verse. “The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going.” I’ll give my son a pass—he was only six. But how many times have we adults been guilty of the same thing, ignoring the warning signs and charging ahead, thinking we know better? 

This verse reminds us of the importance of being alert and cautious. As George Santayana once said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” If we ignore the lessons around us or fail to recognize danger, we only bring trouble upon ourselves. 

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.