Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 8, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”

(1 Corinthians 15:49).

When we are born into this world, we are sinners and we bear the image of Adam our federal head. Once we are born again, we bear the image of Christ, called the last Adam. He is now our federal head.

Our growth in Christ is a process with the goal of being conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 says, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Just as earthly children bear the image of their parents, we bear the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We don’t look like him physically, but we do resemble spiritually. We often say, “Like father, like son; like mother like daughter.”

We live in this world, but we are not of this world. Our words and actions should always reflect Christ. When people see us do they see Christ in us? Can they tell we are Christians? Is there a difference in our lives?

Our worth is in Christ and has nothing to do with our IQ, our wealth, our job or career, or what type of car we drive or how big our house is. Jesus made us His adopted children. We are rich in Christ. All that is His ours. It doesn’t matter what we have in this world, but what we have in Christ is what counts.

If you look at a coin or a bill, you will see it is backed by the U.S. government. All you have to do is possess it and use it. Apart from Christ we are unworthy; in Christ we are worthy.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day considering the worth of Christ and what He did for us on the cross. Stay safe and healthy.

Belonging to Christ and representing Him is the highest privilege and responsibility.

Dean

-September 7, 2024-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

(Proverbs 9:9).

How does a wise man become wiser? By listening to and learning to God through others. If we want to be wise, we must ask the Lord for wisdom. James 1:3 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

There is wisdom in the Word of God. We should listen to every sermon, every Bible study. When we don’t care who the speaker is, but take it from God for our lives, we will become wiser. Conversely, if we listen to critique or criticize it, we won’t profit from it.

Wisdom comes from God. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” We should never stop learning and growing in Christ.

Are we wise, let’s be wiser. Wisdom is putting knowledge and understanding into action in a practical way. Christianity is not to be just theoretical, but practical. We need to be doers of the Word, not just hearers.

Have a blessed walking in wisdom. Stay safe and healthy.

Be wise and still wiser.

Dean

-September 6, 2024-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Let all things be done decently and in order.”

(1 Corinthians 14:40).

Paul had to address many issues in the church at Corinth. One issue in particular was how the meetings should take place. He wrote to encourage the men to prophesy so that the saints would be encouraged and built up. In those days, speaking in tongues (languages) was also good as long as someone interpreted.

The elders are responsible for making sure there is order in the meetings for sharing of the Word, singing, and prayer. The main focus is to glorify the Lord. Paul used two words: decently and order. Decently refers to holiness and righteousness; order speaks of structure without confusion.

In our society there should be order. The police maintain order; there is order in the courts, in government meetings, in corporations, in sports, and in everything. We must follow the laws and the rules; otherwise there would chaos.

These truths also apply to our personal lives. Our lives should be disciplined and faithful day by day. We as believers should set the example in they way we speak and act. People watch us, especially when they know that we are Christians.

When Moses led the people out of Egypt, they went in a very orderly way. Exodus 13:18 says, “So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.”

Have an orderly and blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Orderliness goes hand in hand with godliness.

Dean

-September 5, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

(1 Corinthians 13:13).

Of all the virtues and attributes of God, love is higher and greater than them all. And the greatest expression of God’s love was demonstrated at the cross of Calvary.

Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Nothing can compare to God’s love. John wrote, “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). O may we love others as He loves us!

Even faith and hope as great as they are cannot compare to love. Faith and hope will last just through this life, but love will last forever in heaven. In heaven there will be no need of faith and hope, we will see Jesus face to face, and experience true life in God’s presence.

Now, faith is needed to believe and trust; hope is needed to look forward to eternity and what God has in store for us; and love is needed every day in every way. May we love the Lord and one another with a sincere, sacrificial, and special love.

Have a blessed day in love. Stay safe and healthy.

Love is the greatest virtue known to man.

Dean

-September 4, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or left; remove your foot from evil.”

(Proverbs 4:26-27).

The book of Proverbs provides such outstanding guidance on how to walk in wisdom and please God. It is good for young people as well as older ones, in fact, it is good for everyone.

Today’s text gives us clear insight into how we should behave as believers: ponder the path of your feet, let your ways be established, do not turn to the right or left, and remove your foot from evil. It is a great challenge and responsibility to live for Christ in a corrupt, evil, broken, and sinful world.

• Ponder the path of your feet – It is always best to pray and think before we act. There are are many hidden pitfalls, traps that can ensnare us. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:15-16, “See that you walk circumspectly (or carefully), not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

• Let your ways be established – To walk rightly and uprightly we must walk according to God’s ways. We need to obey God’s will and apply His Word to our lives. Someone said, “God’s Word is not good because it works for us; it works for us because it is good.” When our ways are God’s ways, we will be established always.

• Do not turn to the right or left – God’s path is always straight ahead, following the straight and narrow path. It will not be easy, there will steep hills to climb and dark valleys to walk through. God told Joshua, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7).

• Remove your foot from evil – Solomon gave excellent counsel to avoid walking in the wrong paths, “My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path” (Proverbs 1:15). If you walk with the wise, you will be wise; if you walk with the fools of this world, you will be fooled by them.

May the Lord help us to walk straight ahead, in the center of God’s will and not turn to the right or left. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s Word is a lamp and a light to walk straight ahead by day and by night.

Dean