Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 5, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“For the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much.”

(Exodus 36:7).

God commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to provide for the tabernacle. Exodus 35:5-9 says, “Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goat’s hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and the breastplate.”

Those who were willing were to give willingly from their hearts. This is the only time I know of in the Bible where the people gave to much. Oh, that we would have such problems today! Normally it is the other way around. We need more not less. Giving anything, whether time, money, or effort must come from the heart.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “So let each one give as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” When an offering is taken it is our responsibility to give as an act of worship. When volunteers are needed, let us step up to help meet needs.

There are times we can have too much in life, such as too much rain, snow, wind, sun, heat, cold, or any of a number of other things. We say enough already. Hence we have the idiom, “too much of a good thing.” Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. Too much sleep, too much work, too much food, too much water, too much exercise. God wants us to be wise and balanced Christians.

May the Lord help us to not neglect our responsibilities and to give 100% all the time. If we have much, let us share it with those in need. How we spend our resources is of vital importance. Let us fill the bucket until it is full.

Have a blessed day with all God has given us, giving to help to meet the needs around us. Stay safe and healthy.

Giving all to the Lord and not holding back, to meet the needs of others so there’ll be no lack,

-February 4, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“See, I have called by name Bezalel the Son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”

(Exodus 31:2-3).

God chose Bezalel from the tribe of Judah and Aholiab of the tribe of Dan to design and make all the parts of the tabernacle. They were both skilled in that they did.

These two men were more than just very skilled master craftsmen, they were godly men. They are described as: “filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge.” Everything they had, they received from the Lord, to be used by the Lord, for the Lord, and for the glory of the Lord. They played a vital role in constructing the tabernacle.

These men were also leaders and oversaw the other workers. In many ways they remind me of the deacons in the NT. Deacons are the servants in the church who do many physical duties to serve the saints. The original seven deacons waited on tables, serving food to the widows in the church in Jerusalem. They were godly men. We know that two of them, Stephen and Philip, were both powerful, effective preachers as well.

Whether deacons or elders, the qualifications are almost identical. All of us should be servants of the Lord and have ministries we are involved in. Someone said, “God doesn’t call the equipped, but equips the called.” We often speak of God-given talents, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. All the glory goes to the Lord.

God uses our natural talents, our developed skills, and our abilities in His service. Once we know our spiritual gifts, we can hone and polish our skills. It is such a blessing to serve the Lord’s people and to reach the unsaved. We may feel inadequate, or unqualified, but God equips us and uses godly men and women to teach and train us.

Have a wonderful and blessed Lord’s Day in worship, fellowship, hearing the Word, and serving our Lord Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

As my mentor used to say, “Lifetime is training time for reigning time.”

Dean

-February 3, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“For this reason I also suffer the loss of all these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

(2 Timothy 1:12).

In life there are things we know; things we’d like to know; and things we need to know. In the Christian life, there are things we to know and cling to with steadfastness. Paul knew what he believed without any doubt. This is why he fervently preached the gospel, planted churches, and taught the Word of God.

It reminds me of a story of a preacher and a farmer. The preacher asked the farmer, “What do you believe?” The farmer answered, I believe what my church believes.” The preacher then asked, “What does your church believe?” The farmer scratched his head and answered, “The same as I believe.” By this time the preacher was a little miffed. He implored the farmer, “Then what do you and your church believe?” The farmer responded, “We both believe the same thing.”

As believers, we must know what we believe not only for our personal faith, but also so we can share it with those who ask us. Peter was ready at all times to share the gospel. He wrote in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Meekness is deep humility and fear is reverence.

There are seven important things we should all know: that our sins are forgiven; that we are saved by grace through faith; that we have eternal life and security; that we are going to heaven; that Jesus Christ is Lord; that our Savior is coming back; and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. All these are essentials, nonnegotiable, infallible truths. There are quite few other things in the Scriptures we need to know as well.

There many things we don’t know, many things we don’t understand, and many things we won’t know or understand until we get to heaven. The hymn writer Daniel W. Whittle wrote the wonderful words based on this verse, “I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known, nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own. But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”

We need know, we need to believe, and we need to hold onto the Lord Jesus without wavering. Have a blessed, beautiful, and bountiful day knowing the Lord in and through His Word. Stay safe and healthy.

It’s not just what we know but who we know: the living Word and the written Word,

Dean

-February 2, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“If it possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men”

(Romans 12:19).

This world is not a peaceful world; there is conflict everywhere and it is all because of sin. The only reason we have peace is we have peace with God. When Jesus was born, the angel proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men” (Luke 2:14)!

Jesus is the Prince of Peace who gives us the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Because we have His peace in our hearts, we can show peace to others. Let us then live peaceably with all men. It is a tall order, an impossible task without the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Romans 12:17-20 Paul shares the recipe for peaceful living: repay no one evil for evil; have regard for all men; do not avenge yourselves, but give place to God’s wrath and vengeance; give food and drink to our enemies; and overcome evil with good. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

God pronounces a blessing on the peace makers: Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be the sons of God.” Are you a peacemaker? Do you promote and practice peace toward all? God gives us power to do it! The hymn writers Jill Jackson and Sy Miller wrote, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me; Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.”

Paul says if it is possible, meaning there are times when others won’t respond to our peaceful efforts. In addition, we can’t compromise the Word of God and God’s truth just to pacify this world. But when it depends on us, we must live peacefully in love.

Have a blessed, peaceful day. People are watching us and listening to us. Stay safe and healthy.

With God’s peace within, we can show His peace without,

Dean

-February 1, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

We are intelligent, educated, experienced, and knowledgeable people, yet we know nothing compared to God. His plan is better than ours and His will is superior to ours.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are ways My ways,’ says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

The Lord often changes our plans. He doesn’t do it to thwart us, but to direct us. When I was working, they asked us our five year plan: where we wanted to be in five years. I am not wired like that. I live one day at a time and serve the Lord. Only He holds the future.

Hudson Taylor had definite convictions about how God’s work should be done. We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength. Or we can make careful plans and ask them to bless them. “Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes.”

May the Lord help to live and act according to God’s plan from beginning to end. He will direct our steps. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

There is nothing wrong with planning as long as we seek the Lord’s guidance and help,

Dean