How a Man Ruined His Family

In today’s text, Lot and his family are fleeing away from the wicked city of Sodom. Our text reads:

Genesis 19:24-26

The Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Reading this story, the event of Lot’s wife looking back at the burning cities and herself turning into a pillar of salt catches the eye. However, Lot’s wife turning into pillar of salt is a side story in the more tragic tale. The real story is about Lot. I call him, the man who ruined his family.

It all started when Uncle Abraham, gave lot the pick of the land. Abraham said he would take whatever was left over. Lot looked on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He saw they were rich and well-watered and picked those for himself and his family. Uncle Abraham could take for himself the leftover land.

With that choice, Lot ruined his family. The cities were so wicked that God drove Lot and his family to leave. They found it hard. Eventually, Lot started his exit with his wife and two married daughters. His sons-in-law would not leave Sodom. In fact when it was time to leave the wicked land, Lot, his wife and daughters hand to be taken by the hand of the angels to get them to leave. Though told not to look back at the cities, Lot’s wife turned back and turned into a pillar of salt. His two daughters had so much of the wickedness of the city in them, that when they were alone with their father, they justified to themselves getting their father to get them pregnant. In an effort to make Lot look a little more innocent, some have pointed out that his daughters got him drunk so that he would do this evil thing. Of course we might ask, why would a righteous Lot get drunk? 

Lot’s whole family left Sodom, but still had too much of Sodom still in them. If you’ve ever heard the old saying, “You can the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy,’ then you can relate that saying to Lot’s family. They left Sodom, but after years living in such a wicked place, Sodom was still in them.

Lot’s ruining of his family started when he chose to pitch his and his families tent toward Sodom. (Genesis 13:13).

Never pitch your tent toward wickedness. That is how Lot ruined his family.

Lonnie Davis

 Our text today is  Matthew 26:27-29

“Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’”

When my son was a high school senior and played on the golf team, his team was fortunate enough to go to the state championship tournament. I called and asks the legendary golfer Byron Nelson, if he would say a few things to them. Byron being Byron, topped that thought. He and his wife, Peggy, hosted the entire team to a dinner at his house.

As we were sitting around the table and he was giving them wise advice, we asked one of the young golfers what he thought. The young boy’s words were unforgettable. He said, “I think I am going to throw up.” Obviously, we all laughed. Being around someone famous can make one feel nervous. 

What if you have dinner with someone even more famous? A President? A billionaire? No. Even more famous than those. Yet this is exactly what Jesus promised you in verse 29 of today’s reading. “I will drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” The Father’s kingdom is not heaven, but the Church.

When we gather to worship on the Lord’s Day, He is there eating and drinking with us.

That shouldn’t make us nervous. It should make us grateful. 

Lonnie Davis.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis

Our Text for today is Matthew 5:44

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis

Is God Listening?

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

Our text today is Psalms 17:6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis

Our text is Galatians 6:9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis

Our text today is Proverbs 4:20-22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis

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

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

Exodus 34:8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lonnie Davis