Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 3, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

(Philippians 1:6).

God works in our lives. from the moment we get saved until we enter His presence in glory. His goal is to present us complete in Christ and conformed to His image. Thus we are a work in progress. He isn’t finished with us yet.

We may feel our progress is slow, but God knows what He is doing. He teaches us, tests us, and trains us by His love, mercy, and grace. He never gives up on us no matter how many times we fail. He wants the very best for us.

When God created the world and all living things, He saw that it was good. Four times in Genesis chapter 1 we read, “And God saw it was good” (Genesis 1:10, 18, 21, 25). When He created man, the crowing jewel of His creation, “He saw that it was very good.” He did all this in six days.

It took one day to make a person in His image, but it takes a lifetime to make him or her like His Son. He is the Master Sculptor who makes the masterpieces of His grace. It is a good work in us that enables us to do a good work for Him. Just as when an artist finishes his beautiful product for others to see, so too, God will display us for all eternity. Now, He visualizes us not as we are now, but what we will be. He is so patient with us in all with our frailties, foibles, and failures.

Have a blessed day learning in God’s school. We may have a long ways to go, but it seems with signs of the times as they are, graduation day is approaching fast. Stay safe and healthy.

If God doesn’t give up on us, we shouldn’t give up on each other,

Dean

-October 2, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”

(Ephesians 3:12).

Through the pandemic we lost access to many things. We felt isolated, separated, lonely, and disconnected. There was a general feeling of sadness and depression that swept across the world. What a joyful day it was when we could gather publicly once again as assemblies of God’s people, go back to work, to school, and other important places.

We often take access for granted and if we lose it, even for a short time, we are disappointed, frustrated, and impatient. Computers go down, cell phones lose charge or go out of range, stores close down, people move away, electric power goes out, and the list goes on. I made a list and came up with 27 things that I have access to.

One thing we never lose is our access by faith to God. Paul wrote, “In whom [Christ] we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Our access by faith is immediate, reliable, effective, and eternal. Paul wrote in Romans 5:2, “through whom [Christ] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope in the glory of God.”

The word access is defined as, “A means of approaching or entering a place.” The word access is only found 4 times in the Bible, but the principle is referred to many, many times. In the OT, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he offered a sacrifice for his sins and the sins of the people. Now through faith in Christ we have access to the presence of God 24-7. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the through of grace, that we obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” It is always open; no appointment is necessary!

Let us rejoice and take advantage of our access to God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. May we spend time in His presence in prayer, worship, praise, and thanksgiving both individually and collectively. Before we face anyone we should seek God’s face. Then we can have peace, confidence, and grace to face anything or anyone.

Have blessed day taking advantage of our access to the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Only His own can access His throne,

Dean

-October 1, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

(Hebrews 13:8).

Jesus asked His disciples two very good questions : first, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” And second, “But who do you say that I am.” Peter spoke up and exclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (See Matthew 16:13-16). Martha made a similar statement in John 11:27, “…I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” And the Ethiopian eunuch answered Phillip, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:38b).

Every person must answer the question, who is Jesus to me?” We must fill in the blanks: Jesus Christ is… As for me Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord, my Master, my God, my Advocate, my Great High Priest, my Shepherd, my King, my Great Physician, my Healer, and my Friend. And He is a whole lot more. Can you say amen to that?

Everyday we discover more and precious truths about Jesus. “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Though He never changes, for He is eternal, we change. Our love for Him grows, our appreciation of Him increases, and our walk with Him sweetens and deepens. He is our everything, He is our all.

The hymn writer Eliza E. Hewitt wrote, “More about Jesus would I know, more of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, more of His love who died for me. More about Jesus let me learn, more of His holy will discern; Spirit of God my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me. More about Jesus in His word, holding communion with my Lord; Hearing His voice in every line, making each faithful saying mine. More about Jesus on His throne, riches in glory all His own; More of His kingdom’s sure increase, more of His coming, Prince of Peace.” The chorus says, “More, more about Jesus, more, more about Jesus; More of His saving fullness see, more of His love who died for me.”

May we make it our highest ambition, goal, and desire to know Jesus more and more; to walk with Him more and more; and to serve Him more and more. Have a blessed Lord’s Day with the Lord and His people. Stay safe and healthy.

Having a passion to know Jesus more,

Dean

-September 30, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and without remedy.”

(Proverbs 29:1).

We can learn so much from rebuke if we are willing to humble ourselves and accept it. Usually rebuke and correction go together. Sadly, even Solomon in his latter years wouldn’t listen to God, but followed the false gods of his many wives.

The key to our verse is “often rebuked” but hardening one’s heart. Hardening of the neck denotes stubbornness and resistance against God’s authority. Obstinacy is a bad and sad word. The word obstinate is defined as, ‘stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.” Normally it is negative but it can be positive if we are standing strongly for the Lord. Today, however we are thinking of the negative aspects of obstinacy.

Some of us by nature are stubborn and resistant. When we get saved the Lord changes us into surrendered, obedient, and willing servants of Christ. When the Holy Spirit convicts us, we need to listen and take action. God often uses people who are saved or even unsaved to rebuke us if we go off course. You who are parents know that children can be obstinate. They won’t listen to your advice, they want their own way.

We are God’s children and we can also be obstinate, but praise God when we repent, ask for forgiveness, and change our ways, we are restored. Someone once said, “obstinacy refers to the trait of being stubborn, unyielding, or resistant to change. It is characterized by a determination to stick to one’s opinions, beliefs, or actions despite any persuasion, evidence, or logical reasoning presented to the contrary.” The cults prey on people and they become obstinate in terrible ways. It is very hard for them to break free from the cult.

King Saul was an example of obstinacy on steroids. He wouldn’t give up his plan to kill David. The opposite of obstinacy is compliance. David wasn’t perfect, but he was yielded to the Lord. Let us not be obstinate but compliant; not stubborn, but yielded; not resistant, but obedient.

Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Yielding to God in every way, obeying Him every single day,

Dean

-September 29, 2023-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(Romans 12:21).

Today’s verse is the conclusion of the passage of Romans 12:17-21. Paul addresses the subject of how to treat our enemies and those who hurt us and wrong us. The world exacts revenge, retaliation, and vengeance; on the other hand we are taught from God’s Word the complete opposite: to love our enemies, pray for them, do good to them, and forgive them.

It is not an easy thing to do, in fact, it is impossible without the Lord Jesus. Jesus said in 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.” If it weren’t possible, our Savior would not have told us to do it. He set the example for us to follow.

Paul mentions four important ways to overcome evil with good: have regard for good things in the sight of all men (v. 17); live peaceably with all men (v. 18); do not avenge yourselves (v. 19); and give food and drink to enemies in need (v. 20). He then says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

We would all agree there is plenty of evil in the world. Our old nature wants to fight back, to hurt others as they hurt us or even more, and hold grudges. None of these responses are right in God’s sight and only make situations worse. Love, God’s love, must rule the day.

There are times when the Lord tests us to see how we react under stress and pressure. When Jesus hung on the cross, He said in Luke 23:49, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.” Stephen when they stoned him uttered a similar sentiment, “…Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60).

There is a story attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi that illustrates our message today. One day a little boy was playing in his neighborhood. He discovered that there was an echo when he shouted. It was his first experience with an echo, so he decided to experiment. He shouted, “I hate you,” and the words bounced back, “I hate you.” This he did three times, shouting ever louder and more vehemently. He ran back to his house, sobbing uncontrollably. His mother asked him, “What’s the matter, dear? He answered, “There’s a little boy who hates me.” She thought for a moment, then told him, “You go outside and tell the little boy that you love him.” So immediately he ran outside and called out, “I love you in a clear and gentle tone. Sure enough the words came back, “I love you. This he also did three times. People today are shouting, “I hate you to countries, individuals, political opponents, and others. We need to be those who counter this awful trend, by saying, “I love you,” and showing Christ’s love in action.

Let us love, not hate, pray not argue, do good not evil, and thus overcome evil with good. When we do this it is like pouring hot coals of conviction on those who wrong us and pointing them to Christ.

Have a blessed day of overcoming evil with good. Stay safe and healthy.

Let good overcome evil each day that we live, for in Jesus’ name we love and forgive,

Dean