Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-August 9, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.”

(Psalm 11:7).

The subject of righteousness is found throughout the Word of God. God is perfectly righteous in His character and in all His ways. We are declared righteous through Christ positionally, and we must practice righteousness in our daily lives. Righteousness is very simply is doing what is right before God and men.

A number of years ago, someone coined the acronym “WWJD, standing for “What Would Jesus Do?” We make choices and decisions everyday that reflect upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Some things are definitely right, others are questionable, and still others are definitely wrong. If it is wrong, doubtful or questionable, we shouldn’t do it. Many Christians ask the question: “Is it wrong?” The real question is: “Is it right and does it bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

My teacher Bill MacDonald once wrote, “The Lord Himself is righteous and loves to see His people acting in a righteous manner. He is pleased when believers instinctively make choices that are consistent with divine and moral law. But it is not always easy in a world such as ours. We are constantly tempted to compromise in the areas of morals and ethics. Some of the temptations are blatant; others are insidious. It takes both discernment and backbone to walk a straight line.”

The straight line in the Bible is called the narrow road, the highway of holiness, and the way of truth. The Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to instruct us, convict us, and show what is right and wrong in God’s eyes. Here are few examples of what to guard against: cheating in any form, such as falsifying resumes, job applications, tax returns, or insurance claims; giving or receiving bribes or kickbacks; lying, exaggerating, or hiding the truth; supporting those who are wrong or not supporting those who are right; spending time on the internet while at work on personal matters; taking things from work for personal use. There are many others we can come up with as well.

Do you love righteousness? It will show in our personal, private, and ways of life. The Lord sees and hears everything we think, say, and do. Not only that, but others around us are watching us at home, school, work, in our neighborhood, or wherever we go. Let’s make the right choices and decisions to live lives pleasing to God, putting Him first, and doing what is right.

Have a blessed day practicing righteousness. Stay safe and healthy.

Doing right in God’s sight, every day and every night,

Dean

-August 8, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and time again—but Satan hindered us.”

From the moment we get saved until the moment the Lord calls us home to glory, the devil is out to get us. We are his target. The closer we are to the Lord and the more we serve Him, the more intensely he launches his assaults against us. Paul was hindered many times over. He wanted to come to the saints at Thessalonica, but Satan prevented it time and time again.

The word hinder is defined as, “create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction.” The devil is our adversary. He is dangerous as a roaring lion, but even more dangerous as an angel of light. We must constantly be on guard against him by putting on the whole armor of God.

Satan hinders us in our walk and service for the Lord. He hinders our prayers, our times in the Word, our witness to the lost, our family and personal devotions, and our peace. We are told in James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” When we claim the name and the blood of Jesus Christ, the devil must run away. When we resist, he will desist!

Satan is the author of temptation, discouragement, anxiety, worry, and fear. The Bible has an answer to each. One day, God will crush Satan under our feet. Paul wrote in Romans 16:20, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Oh, what a great day that will be!

May nothing and no one hinder us from our life in Christ. We need God’s wisdom to be unhindered from Satan. Proverbs 4:12 encourages us, “When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.” Let us cling to the Lord and trust in Him. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.

Have a blessed and unhindered day in every way. Stay safe and healthy.

Keeping our eyes open for hindrances and obstacles in our path so we can overcome them,

Dean

-August 7, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The coming of the Lord is one of the most exciting things we have to look forward to. It is commonly called, “The Rapture.” The Lord Jesus promised to come again, and He keeps His promises. John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

When you prepare for a move, there are many preparations that must be made. Though we are taking nothing with us to heaven, there are ways that we prepare for the day: by living for the Lord, serving Him, sharing the gospel with the lost, praying, reading the Word, and encouraging one another in love. We do all things and more as we await our departure from this world. When the Lord takes us up it represents a permanent change of address.

Those who have died will be reunited with their bodies and those who are alive will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Three things will happen simultaneously, in a split second: the Lord will shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God. Only believers will see, hear, and experience these glorious things. What a reunion! What a homecoming for us!

This is why clouds are such great reminders of the Lord’s coming. The hymn writer wrote, “Oh what a meeting, there in the skies, no tears nor crying shall dim our eyes; loved ones united eternally, Oh, what a daybreak that morn will be.” No one knows the day nor the hour of the Savior’s coming; we must be ready, for His coming is imminent. John wrote, “And now little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28).

Let us look for, long for, and live for that golden day. Stay safe and healthy.

Waiting for our blissful transition,

Dean

-August 6, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“And when He had spoken these things, as they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

(Acts 1:9).

This scene as recorded by Luke, would make a great movie. Jesus died on the cross and rose again the third day. Our Savior spent 40 days with the disciples and other believers before ascending to heaven. The Lord commissioned them to be His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

When the time came for Jesus’ departure back to heaven, a cloud received Him out of their sight. It was a bittersweet moment: they were sad to see Him go, but knowing He would come again in a like manner in which He went up. In a little while they would see Him again and be with Him forever.

We saw from lesson one that God rides on the clouds, and this is a great example of this. A very special cloud took Him up. It was better than a spaceship 🚀. Jesus was the original Rocket Man. Gravity stood no chance! Nothing could slow Him down or stop Him. Someone said, “When Jesus came to earth there was a sign, “No Entrance.” And when He left, there was a sign, “No Exit.” Nothing could stop Him either way, coming or going.”

It reminds us that we will one day ride on the clouds. I can’t wait! Do you have your reservation to heaven? Some clouds bring us rain, others bring to glory. The Lord promised to be with us to the end of the age. Have a blessed day with Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Watching and waiting and looking above, for our Savior is coming from heaven with love,

Dean

-August 5, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“While He was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.”

(Matthew 17:5).

Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain, commonly called the Mount of Transfiguration. His face because as the sun and His clothing as white as the light. They were joined by Moses and Elijah. The former who had died and the latter who was taken directly to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Peter spoke up suggesting that they build three tabernacles or tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He didn’t realize what he was asking for. If they did that it would put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. They were mere mortals, Jesus is God. Just then, a bright cloud appeared and the voice of the Father was heard saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” God intervened in this matter.

God’s voice was audible and powerful. It came from not only from a cloud, but a bright cloud. It was the brightest cloud ever. It reminds me of the bright star of Bethlehem and the light that shone from heaven when the Lord Jesus spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus. Light is a symbol of God’s righteousness and holiness.

God uses clouds in amazing ways. God glorified His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Some clouds are special, unique clouds. Job 22:14 says, “Thick clouds cover Him so that He cannot see, and He walks above the circle of heaven.” The Lord uses a thick cloud to symbolize how He blots out our sins. Isaiah 44:22 tells us, “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

Let us thank the Lord for His clouds, for they belong to Him. He moves them like a current to fulfill His orders. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Seeing the clouds from God’s perspective.

Dean