Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 21, 2023-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Now David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

(1 Samuel 30:6).

David faced one of the worst days of his life. While he and all his men were out of the city of Ziklag where they were living, the Amalekites raided the city and took all their wives and children captive. When David and his men returned, their loved ones were gone. David and all his men wept until they couldn’t cry anymore.

Soon the men’s sorrow gave way to anger. They blamed David and even spoke of stoning him. What did David do? Did blame someone else? Did he defend himself? No, to all. Instead of he strengthened himself in God. He knew that the only way was to seek the strength and guidance of the Lord. It is not if we are going to fall, but when we do, we must get up. The world calls it poise under pressure; God calls trust in Him. It takes more than positive thinking, it takes earnest, fervent prayer. When we are weak in ourselves, the Lord gives us His strength.

David also sought the Lord’s guidance on what to do. He asked whether they should pursue the Amalekites, and God directed him to pursue them. He promised that they would recover all. That is exactly what happened. Not only that but they recovered many spoils. God turned their sorrow into joy.

Let us not be distressed or discouraged. May we strengthen ourselves in God. Have a blessed day and weekend. Stay safe and healthy.

Strength from above helps us here below,

-April 20, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.”

(John 12:20-22).

There were many Greeks who worshipped the Lord. They were called proselytes, those who adopted the Jewish faith; They traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. The Greek word for proselyte, means “newcomer.” They had certain rights and privileges, as long as they adhered to certain religious practices. They were required to not blaspheme the name of Jehovah, not to indulge in idolatrous worship, not to commit acts of indecency, not to work on the Sabbath, not to eat leavened bread during the celebration of Passover, and not to eat blood or the flesh of animals that had died a natural death or had been torn by wild beasts.

These particular Greeks had undoubtedly heard of Jesus. His fame spread far and wide. They were anxious to see Jesus for themselves. It reminds us of earlier times in Jewish history when the Queen of Sheba came to see and hear Solomon. She remarked “the half has not been told me.” Jesus once told the people, “A greater than Solomon is here.”

Their desire to see Jesus was admirable. They said to Philip, one of the disciples, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip told Andrew and they told Jesus. The lesson is clear, it is vital to see Jesus by faith, repent of our sins, and receive Him as Lord and Savior. Our lives will never be the same again. As believers we want to see Him by faith every day and spend time with Him. When we get to heaven we will see Him face to face. Do you wish to see Jesus.

The Apostle John saw the Lord Jesus and described Him in Revelation 1:12-16. He was clothed with a garment to the feet, girded about His chest was a golden band, His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet like fine brass, His voice as the sound of many waters, and His countenance like the sun shining in its strength. Wow! The One who died for us and rose again now sits at the right hand of God. The Lamb of God is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

May we seek to see Jesus. We love Him because He first loved us. Let us draw closer to Him. As the hymn writer says, “Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus. To reach out and touch Him, and say that I love Him.” Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith,

Dean

-April 19, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

(Genesis 32:12).

Jacob was in severe trouble. The brother whose birthright he bought for a bowl of red lentil stew and whose blessing he took from him, was now coming to him with 400 armed men. He had no weapons to fight with and feared for his life and lives of his family. God had Jacob right where He wanted him to be: completely dependent on Him. Throughout his life he was a supplanter. He schemed and plotted trying to work things out his own way. Now he turned to the Lord in earnest prayer and claimed the promises of God.

It is only when we surrender to the Lord and rely on Him can we see God work in mighty power. He reminded God of His promises to treat him well and make his descendants like the sand of the sea. It isn’t enough to just know God’s promises, we must claim them by faith and rest on them. Later in Genesis chapter 32, when Jacob was alone, a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. This was no ordinary man, but the Angel of the Lord. It was Jesus in his pre incarnate form. He told Jacob, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” The name Israel means, “Prince with God.”

God loves us to remind Him of His promises, though He never forgets any of them. He wants us to remember and claim them, moving forward in faith. God protected Jacob and all his family from Esau and his armed men. Esau who once hated him and wanted kill greeted him warmly. How the Lord works in the hearts of men, even unsaved ones. When we claim God promises, we find that they never fail. Someone once said, “God said, and I believe it, and that settles it for me.”

Are you facing an overwhelming and impossible situation, with no way out? Are you fearful like Jacob was? Let go and let God. Wrestle in prayer, and yield fully to Him. Whether it is a bad habit, a financial crisis, or an unsolvable situation; be assured you can claim His promises. First, we must know His promises, then we must claim His promises by faith, and then we must rely fully on the Lord.

Have a blessed day trusting in the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Standing on the promises of God who cannot fail,

Dean

-April 18, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

(Luke 16:10).

The Lord tests His servants to see what we can handle. Good elders test us like this also. If someone is faithful in the little things, he or she will be faithful also in the bigger ones. Everything we do for the Lord is important in the body of Christ. We all have different spiritual gifts, talents, skills, and abilities. Who are we to say one gift is better than another, or one ministry is more valuable than other?

Pride is a sin, jealousy is a sin. It must be condemned and not condoned. Who are we to think that there are some things that are menial and beneath us? Cleaning bathrooms, putting away chairs, vacuuming, or washing dishes are just as important as preaching, teaching, singing solos, singing in the choir, or the Worship Team.

When we are faithful in little things, God will entrust us with bigger things. The important thing is to serve the Lord faithfully with all our hearts. The Lord knows our thoughts, motives, attitudes, desires, as well as our actions. Remember the little lad who donated his lunch: five barley loaves and two small fish. With those Jesus fed 5,000 men, women and children. Little is much when God is in it.

There is a beautiful hymn written by Kittie Louise Suffield that says, “In the harvest field now ripened, there’s a work for all to do; Hark the voice of God is calling, to the harvest calling you. Does the place you’re called to labor seem so small and little known? It is great if God is in it, and He’ll not forget His own. When the conflict here is ended and our race on earth is done; He will say if we are faithful, ‘Welcome home, My child, well done.” The chorus says, “Little is much when God is in it, labor not for wealth or fame; There’s a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus’ name.”

Let us remember the encouraging words of Hebrews 6:10, “God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” May we serve faithfully in the least and in the much. Stay safe and healthy.

Little is much when God is in it,

Dean

-April 17, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”

(1 Samuel 18:1).

There was a strong affection and bond between Jonathan and David. They cared about each other and supported one another. They were best friends, or as we may say today, they were “besties.” They were sidekicks and had a great friendship and relationship. They opened their hearts to one another.

Their friendship grew and flourished even though Jonathan’s father Saul hated David, was jealous of him, and sought to kill him numerous times. David did nothing to warrant Saul’s displeasure and only did him good and supported his reign. Jonathan did everything he could to protect David from his father. That meant having to send David away for his own safety. After this they never saw each other on earth again. Jonathan, his brothers, and his father all were killed in battle against the Philistines. It would have been good if Jonathan had left his father and joined David, but he didn’t.

We all need a best friend, a brother or sister in Christ we can share our hearts with. The phrase used here in our text is, “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” It can be translated as, “the life of Jonathan was bound up with the life of David.” They were soul brothers. It’s not a word, but they had souladarity not just solidarity. Women often have a closer personal relationships with each other more than men do. They share their experiences, problems, issues, and feelings much better than men.

A good, close friend that we can share with and be accountable to is of vital importance. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” It also says in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Close friendships involve giving and taking, helping and being helped. We need each other. May the Lord knit our souls together in true oneness and love in Christ. Have a blessed day in every way. Stay safe and healthy.

Fostering close friendships that will last for eternity,

Dean