Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-June 5, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:11).

There are many believers in Christ who are down, discouraged, and depressed. We have all been there at one time or another. Some have health issues, such as pain, injury, or sickness; others have lost jobs, become disabled, or recently retired; and some have elderly parents whom they care for, or have lost loved ones; some couples can’t have children or have special needs kids. There are needs everywhere, the list is a mile long.

It is so important to pray for one another, and to keep our eyes and ears open to the needs of others, especially those in the body of Christ. Paul mentions two ways we can help: comfort and edification. It is something we all can do. We don’t need a theological degree or other special training; we just need a heart of love. Paul tells the Thessalonians to comfort and edify one another just as they were already doing. One can always do more.

1. Comfort – The word comfort can be translated as encourage. We can use words but sometimes just being there shows we much we care. It may be a pat on the shoulder, a hand shake, a fist bump, a hug, a kiss, or a smile. Being a comforter or encourager is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things we can do. In encouraging others we get encouraged ourselves.

There are saints in the hospital or care facility who would really appreciate a visit, a call, a text, or an email. A small gesture makes a big difference. Those who are elderly and shut in really need our help and encouragement. It is such a blessing to be a blessing.

2. Edification – The word edify means to build up. We can either build someone up with genuine praise, appreciation, and willingness to help or tear them down by harsh criticism or a lack of care and sensitivity. We should always choose the former not the latter. Our words and actions have a great impact.

Just as a builder carries his tools and skillfully uses them, we should also be ready to build up those around us. We should never be too busy to strengthen others who are weak or are in need. Paul wrote, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). It also says in Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

Let us choose to comfort, encourage, strengthen, and build up others. Have a blessed day being a Good Samaritan to someone today. Stay safe and healthy.

Looking out for others in need to help in word and in deed,

Dean

-June 4, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Then He said, ‘To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.’”

(Mark 4:30-32).

The term mustard seed is found seven times in the gospels. Each time, Jesus uses it to illustrate faith. Jesus told us that it is a picture of the kingdom of God. Parables are earthly stories that have heavenly meanings. Before there can be a mustard tree there must be a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, but grows into a large tree with branches shooting out. The birds of the air can nest in its branches.

To fulfill its purpose, the tiny mustard be sown before it can be grown. The mustard seed is a picture of both saving faith and daily faith in the Lord. Just a small amount of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross brings eternal salvation. Therefore, the seed of the gospel is sown in our hearts and germinates into a saved soul.

Jesus also used the mustard seed as a picture of the daily faith we need to be victorious and joyous. When the disciples asked Jesus to “increase their faith,” He replied, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you” (Luke 17:6). We must walk by faith, exercise our faith, and grow in our faith. We just need to believe without doubting and trust without wavering.

Do you have faith like a mustard seed? The key to our faith is in the object of our faith. I may have faith in a pilot and in the aircraft he is flying, but if there is a mechanical breakdown it will crash. Jesus never fails, we can trust Him completely. Charles Spurgeon once said, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”

Have a blessed Lord’s Day walking by faith in Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Growing in faith day by day to walk with our Savior in His blessed way,

Dean

-June 3, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold he whom You love is sick.’ When He heard that, He said. ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (John 11:3-5).

“Now when he had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth (John 11:43)!’”

Jesus loved His friends at Bethany: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus was very sick, near death. Mary and Martha sent word of his sickness to Jesus the Great Physician. They had no doubt that He would come immediately and heal him; but God had another plan, a better plan. He waited four days before heading back to Bethany. By the time He and disciples arrived, it was too late, Lazarus had died and been in the tomb for four days. In reality the Lord is never too late.

Jesus had told the disciples, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God.” Healing Lazarus would have been a great miracle, but raising him from the dead was a much greater miracle. That is exactly what Jesus did, He followed the Father’s plan. He called Lazarus by name to come forth and he came out from the tomb to the astonishment of every one.

The next time we see Lazarus is John 12:2, which says, “There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one who sat at the table with Him.” I am sure He was so thankful that Jesus raised him from the dead. He enjoyed the fellowship with Jesus so much. He was privileged to sit at the table with his Lord, Savior, and Deliverer. As believers and friends of Jesus, we have the privilege of fellowshipping with the Lord daily, and one day to sit at the table in heaven with Him and all the saints at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Do you long to spend more time in fellowship with the Lord on this journey to heaven? We speak to Him in prayer and He speaks to us through the Word. The hymn writer, C. Austin Miles wrote, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses; and the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

Let us fellowship with the Lord as Lazarus did. We can never have enough time with Him until we get to heaven. We must treasure and protect every moment. Have a blessed day with Jesus our Lord and Friend all the way to the end. Stay safe and healthy.

In blessed fellowship in His presence,

Dean

-June 2, 2023-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“There they made him a supper; and Martha served…” (John 12:2a).

“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me’” (Luke 10:40).

Martha was a good friend and a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus. Her problem was not in serving but her attitude in serving. She got distracted and solicited Jesus’ help in getting Mary to help her. I really believe she learned her lesson that Jesus taught her how Mary chose the good part and that spending time with Him was the most important thing. Has this ever happened to you, that you got so busy in service you almost forgot whom you were serving?

There is nothing wrong with service as long as our motives and attitudes are right. Service out of love for our Savior is wonderful, but service out of mere duty, doesn’t work. We may easily lose our rewards in such cases. Martha had a good heart and she loved the Lord. In fact, she proclaimed in John 11:27, “…Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” She along with Peter declared Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. See Matthew 16:15-19 for Peter’s similar words.

Being a servant of Christ is a high and blessed calling, though not as great as being a worshipper. In fact, worship and service blend exquisitely together, like butter and honey on a hot biscuit. Jesus said in John 12:26, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” Jesus was a servant and went about doing the Father’s will. Let us be loyal, faithful, hardworking servants of the Lord. May we not be distracted in our service but undistracted in our love and devotion to or Savior.

Have a blessed day of service for our Lord and Savior, the greatest servant. Stay safe and healthy.

Serving out of love for the glory of our Lord above,

Dean

-June 1, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:3).

“And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” (Luke 10:39).

Mary was the quiet, thoughtful, worshipful sister. She loved the Lord Jesus and showed it. In Luke 10:38-42 we find her sitting at Jesus’ feet and hearing His word. She hung on His every word and coveted every moment in His presence. As we mentioned yesterday in Part I, she represents worship. She was no part-time worshipper, no half-hearted disciple. She gave her heart and all that she had to Christ.

I am sure she went to her room, to her secret hiding place, and fetched a pound of very costly oil of spikenard that she was keeping for her wedding day. She decided to bring it out and anoint the feet of Jesus and wipe His feet with her hair. It was a selfless, sensitive, and sacrificial act of devotion. Judas complained that the oil could have been sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor. Three hundred denarii was equivalent to a worker’s yearly wages. Jesus did not rebuke her, instead He commended her; He did however rebuke Judas.

Jesus made the statement, “Let her alone; she has kept this for my burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always” (John 7-8). Our Savior said, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Mark 14:9).

There is a beautiful hymn, “Lead Me to Calvary,” which says, “Let me like Mary through the gloom, come with a gift to Thee; Show to me now the empty tomb — Lead me to Calvary.” May we as the friends of Jesus bring our worship, praise, and thanks to Him daily. He is so worthy.

Have a blessed day at Jesus’ feet. Stay safe and healthy.

Seeking His face in worship,

Dean