Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-January 16, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“…My Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.”

(Genesis 18:3).

Abraham was a prophet, a godly man, and a servant of the Lord. He was humble and sought the Lord’s favor. He was a man of faith who was tested and pleased God. The Lord loved Abraham and promised him and Sarah a son in their old age. Three men came to visit Abraham at his tent: two angels and the Lord Himself in the form of the Angel of the Lord.

Abraham told Sarah to make cakes and prepare a calf, along with butter and milk. They accepted his hospitality. Once they finished eating, God announced that Sarah would give birth to a son. When God makes a promise, He keeps it.

What does it mean to find favor with the Lord? It means to accept Him as the only way of salvation and to please Him by the way we live for Him and serve Him. Gideon said to the Lord, “If now I have found favor on Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me” (Judges 6:17). The Lord God delights to talk with us on our journey in life.

God sent His angel to speak to Mary to prepare her for bearing Jesus the Son of God. Luke 1:30 says, “…Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” It is such a privilege to be called by God and to find favor with Him. He wants to use us in His service.

One commentator wrote, “The best definition of the word favor is, “demonstrated delight.” The favor of God can be described as, “tangible evidence that a person has the approval of the Lord.” We should ask ourselves daily, am I pleasing the Lord? Does He approve of what I am doing? Am I walking in the center of His will?

Have a blessed day in the sunshine of God’s presence, pleasing Him in every way. Stay safe and healthy.

Seeking God’s favor in all my behavior,

Dean

-January 15, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in your heart against his brother.”

(Zechariah 7:9).

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. Dr. King worked his whole life to promote justice and equality for black people and all people. He was a man of justice and action. As believers in Christ we should be people of justice. There is no room for injustice, unfairness, prejudice, oppression, or discrimination.

The definition of justice is, “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair; the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action; conformity to this principle or ideal: righteousness.” It is not enough just to talk of justice, we must practice it always.

Justice is one of God’s attributes. He demonstrates justice to all people and hates injustice in any form. God cares for the needy, especially widows, orphans, strangers, and poor people. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He showed mercy and compassion to the oppressed and afflicted. Job 34:4 says, “Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.”

We teach our children to be fair and to share; to be unselfish and help others. We need to be good examples ourselves at home, school, work, church, or wherever we go. We have been made righteous through the blood of Christ. Living righteous lives is where the rubber meets the road.

The pledge to our flag says, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Let our justice go beyond just an ideal to a reality in our lives.

Have a blessed day celebrating and practicing justice. Stay safe and healthy.

Living like Jesus in all that the we do,

Dean

-January 14, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.”

(Matthew 10:24-25).

We are disciples of Christ; He is our Master. Jesus died to purchase us with His own blood. We have changed masters. Once the devil had us under his sinister control, and he manipulated our lives. We are now under new management with Jesus in charge.

The word master is defined as, “a man who has people working for him, especially servants or slaves.” Jesus is the best Master, for He loves us, cares for us, and has our best interests at heart. Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).” Mammon refers to money.

The Greek word for master is kurios, meaning lord or master. It comes from the root word kuros, meaning authority. We were once slaves of sin, now we are slaves of righteousness. He leads us, guides us, and provides for us. When Jesus is in control, He gives us peace, joy, and hope. He is our authority, our Boss. We need to yield to Him, submit to Him, and surrender to Him daily.

Is Jesus your Master in everything? In every decision, every choice? As believers we must choose to let Him choose, decide to let Him decide. We will never go wrong. The hymn writer Judson W. Van de Venter wrote, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

Let us follow Jesus, live for Him, do His will, and serve Him faithfully, daily, and willingly. Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

Unless we submit to the Master, we will never be truly happy and free,

Dean

-January 13, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

(1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul deals with the subject of the Lord’s Supper and some of the abuses in Corinth surrounding it. Some were taking the bread and wine in an unworthy manner; others were eating and drinking, while others were hungry or drunk. Paul had to set them straight on the soberness and holiness of the Lord’s table.

In this context, Paul tells them if they would judge themselves they would not be judged. Self examination is very important in the Christian life. Jesus told His followers in Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” We are very good at judging others, but not too good at judging ourselves.

The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin, and when He does we should immediately confess it, repent, and ask for forgiveness. It is our introspection, which is defined as, “the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.” I would add thing to that: one’s spiritual processes as well. Sitting before the Lord with an open heart and an open Bible is just what the doctor ordered. As we pray and ask God to search us, He will.

David’s prayer was, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there be some wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). We can’t always see where we went wrong —we need the Lord to show us. Let us then rightly judge ourselves in the presence of the Lord. In so doing we will not be condemned with the world. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

Have a blessed day walking in God’s way. Stay safe and healthy.

The mirror of God’s Word reveals every detail to us,

Dean

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-January 12, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

(Genesis 22:5).

All the great men and women in the Bible loved the Lord, lived for the Lord, and served the Lord. None of them were perfect; they grew through testings. We learn so much from their struggles, weaknesses, and failures, as well as from their successes and victories. If interviewed each one, would tell you how the Lord strengthened them, provided for them, and helped them.

Abraham is known for his faith; in fact he is known as the father of faith. His faith was confirmed and proven when he offered up Isaac to the Lord. When God told him to offer him as a burnt offering, he did what God said without argument or complaint. He believed God and knew that God could raise Isaac from the dead. Hence, he told his young servants that they both would return. He also told Isaac, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together.

What we are known for speaks of our character, reputation, and testimony. It takes years to build, but can lost in a moment of time. Abraham was known for his faith; Job for his patience; and Solomon for his wisdom. David was a man after God’s own heart. Moses was the meekest man on face of the earth. Paul was sacrificed so much to preach the gospel and establish churches.

We may feel unworthy, inadequate, and unprepared, but God’s call is our enablement. He gives us the gifts, talents, skills, and abilities that we need. God looks more at our availability than our ability. It uses humble vessels to do great things, all for His glory. Paul wrote, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Normally when someone dies, others testify how their life affected them. Some even write an inscription on their tombstone or plaque. I would hope mine will say, “He served the Lord Jesus to the end.” It is so important to be a godly example to those we know and come in contact with. I want to be a man of prayer and the Word; trusting, obeying, and serving the Lord with all my heart and strength. Let us pray for each other to reach our full potential.

Have a blessed day living for the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Only one life to live, only one heart to give,

Dean