Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 15, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

God gave the standard for the Israelites to live by: be holy. Just as the people of Israel were to be holy, we as believers in Christ must be holy as well. In the NT, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” God hasn’t changed His standards; He has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell us and empower us to live holy lives.

What does it mean to be holy in all our conduct? It means to be separated from the world and be set apart for the Lord. There are two aspects in Christian life: our position, what we are in Christ, and our practice, how we show it in our lives. Our practice won’t fully match our position until we get home to heaven. To be holy is a command. Many godly traits we are to grow in, such as faith, love, and grace. This not so with holiness or righteousness. Holiness is befitting of the people of God. The word befitting is defined as, “appropriate to the occasion or purpose; suitable. Think of dressing for the occasion, behaving well in front of a dignitary, and speaking respectfully to older people.

One day we will be clothed in white robes of righteousness. White is a symbol of holiness, righteousness, and purity. Are we living holy lives? It is a great challenge to be holy in a evil, sinful world. When we are holy we stand out from this dark world. A wonderful analogy of holiness is found in the butterfly. It begins as a caterpillar crawling slowly along, having no attractiveness. Then by the process of metamorphosis, it becomes a butterfly, beautiful, colorful, and able to fly. We as believers were born sinners but were made saints; now we must live like saints. Personal holiness is vital to pointing others to Christ in word and deed.

The wonderful truth is: We are holy people, living holy lives, according to the Holy Scriptures, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us then be holy in our all our conduct as our Lord Jesus is holy. Stay safe and healthy.

Being holy, living out the life of Christ in our lives,

Dean

-February 14, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday, happy Valentine’s Day,

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth — For your love is better than wine” (Song of Solomon 1:2).

“You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace” (Song of Solomon 4:9).

Today is a day of romantic love; the love of a man for his wife, and a wife for her husband. The world knows very little of the true love that originates from God. True love comes from the heart to the ones we love. We never never forget that love is more than an emotion, it is an action. Love is about sharing, caring, bearing, and giving. Physical attraction may bring two people together, but commitment and sacrifice deepen the relationship and keep it healthy and special.

In today’s verses we see what romantic love is all about. The world has spoiled physical love and turned it into something God never intended. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Two people joined as one. Sadly, marriage between a man and woman is under attack today. There are so many divorces, broken homes, and devastated lives.

Today is a day to think of others. When you love someone you show it. God created man then woman, putting them together. Though they were naked in the garden, they were not ashamed. God created sex and physical love is vital for the man and the woman. The imagery in Song of Solomon shows the innocence and beauty of love. Unfortunately, in the world true love gets overshadowed by adultery, fornication, and extramarital affairs. Sin has taken something very intimate and sacred and ruined it.

Whether we are married or single, today we celebrate love and share in the beauty of loving relationships. Love is an act of the will combined with making someone else happy. It is about giving more than receiving; and the other person more than about ourselves. Saying, “I love you” is important, but showing it is even more important. We can show our love with flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and other gifts; and we should; but let’s remember too that love in the heart goes far beyond these things.

Let us love the way God loves us, unselfishly, sacrificially, and tenderly. Have a Happy Valentine’s Day. Make someone else’s day special and yours will be even more special. Stay safe and healthy.

Showing and giving love to those we care about,

Dean

-February 13, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.”

(Mark 15:21).

We often hear the expression, “He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” This means that somehow fate, or bad luck, or misfortune resulted. Sometimes we also hear the expression, “He was in the right place, at the right time.” This indicates good fortune. For Simon what seemed like a major hardship, not to mention a disruption in his departure from Jerusalem back to his home country. He was caught right in the middle of the Via de la Rosa, the way to Calvary. There just happened to be a crucifixion that day.

The timing of this incident was God’s perfect timing. All three Synoptic Gospels record it (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; and Luke 23:26). Matthew, Mark, and Luke are synoptic, meaning they write of the same events in the life of Jesus. Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience, Mark to a Roman audience, and Luke to a broader Gentile audience. In the case of Mark, a close associate of Peter, he gives more details about Simon. We notice two important things: he was the father of Alexander and Rufus, and he was coming out of the country and passing by.

God used Simon to tell his family of what he experienced and witnessed at the cross. According to noted Bible teacher and commentator, H.A. Ironside, “The early Christians said that this Cyrenian and his sons all became loyal followers of Jesus in after days. Some identify one of the sons with Rufus mentioned in Romans 16:13.” If is true, which I believe it is, it should bring us to the realization that God has a purpose in everything and uses people and circumstances to bring about His will in our lives.

God blessed Simon for bearing the cross of Jesus. Jesus was severely beaten, bloodied, and burdened by the heavy cross. Tradition has it that He fell several times before the Roman soldiers compelled Simon to take over. I am sure that God will reward Simon for carrying the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ.

May we thank and trust God to directs our steps and our stops in life. We should see whatever happens in our lives as directed by God for our good. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” This includes detours, delays, interruptions, and cancellations. An elderly lady in our church, who has since passed away told of the amazing story how her parents were supposed to travel on the S.S Titanic but had to cancel at the last moment. Over 1500 people died after the ship hit a giant iceberg.

Have a blessed day being exactly where God wants you to be: in the center of His will. Stay safe and healthy.

Doing everything in the name and for the sake of the Lord Jesus,

Dean

-February 12, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

(Galatians 5:16).

The Christian has two natures: the old sinful nature that was passed down to us from Adam, and the new nature which was produced by the Holy Spirit the moment we received Christ. Our desire must always be to submit our lives, our will, and our plans to the Lord. It is the only way to experience a victorious and abundant life. In the NT much is taught about our walk, which is how we live on a daily basis. We should never live a double life: spiritual and carnal.

So often believers walk well on Sunday but not so well on Monday through Saturday. We should live for Christ every single day, whether at church, home, work, school, in retirement, or wherever we go. Paul wrote in Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” To walk in the Spirit means to be filled with the Spirit, that is, being controlled by the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit begins when we get up in the morning. It is vital to keep the lines of communication open with the Lord. We speak to Him in prayer, and He speaks to us through His Word. By spending time with our Savior, He gives us our marching orders for the day. Praying and thanking God through the day makes for a blessed day. When we are walking in the Spirit, He will produce the fruit of the Spirit in us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Notice Paul uses the word “fruit” not “fruits.” There are nine fruits but they are all one and come from one tree. The Spirit produces them all in us. He gives us the power to live holy, godly lives. When you have the right root, there will the right fruit. Isaiah 37:31 illustrates how God works in His people, “And the remnant of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.”

When we have sensitive hearts toward the Word of God we will recognize sin in our lives that must be confessed, repented of, and forsaken. May each of us yield ourselves fully to the Lord as we walk in the Spirit. We must abhor anything that is carnal and love righteousness and holiness.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy. For those who are watching the Super Bowl, enjoy it and we hope for a good, close game.

Waking in the Spirit,

Dean

-February 11, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Now John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.’”

(Luke 9:50).

Looking at yesterday’s verse which said in Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad,” and today’s verse in Luke 9:50, “…Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side,” there seems to be a contradiction. Upon studying both in context, there is no contradiction at all. In the first passage, Jesus is speaking to and about the Pharisees who were not saved but against Him and the disciples all the way; in today’s portion, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about fellow believers who from other groups.

The annual Army/Navy football game is spirited rivalry that has taken place since 1890. It considered the greatest rivalry in college sports. You are either for Army or Navy. The players, coaches, alumni, and fans are passionate for their school and their branch of the service. But once the cadets graduate and serve our county, they are on the same team, defending our freedom and protecting our nation. They must work together for the betterment of America. They must fight side by side. This same is true of our politicians and leaders. We are either Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, but we are all Americans.

Jesus warns us against sectarianism, which is defined as, “excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion.” There are so many denominations, with so many variations, that divide more than unify the church as a whole. St. Augustine of Hippo is attributed to having said, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” We don’t and can’t compromise on the essentials of the Christian faith: the virgin birth of Christ, His death and bodily resurrection, the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, that all are sinners and must be saved through Christ’s blood, that salvation is by grace through faith, the church with Christ as Head and all believers as the members, the second coming of Christ, that heaven awaits those who know Jesus, and there is the divine trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three persons.

In all other matters there is liberty. We should remember we are on the same side, preaching the gospel of Christ and serving Him. There is plenty of room for all evangelical churches, pastors, missionaries, various Bible translations, and the like. Those who are saved are our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is always a blessing to meet other Christians who love the Lord. We won’t agree on everything but we are one in Christ and should show love to one another.

Let’s remember, he who is not against us is for us. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:15-18, “Some preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

Have a blessed day in unity, liberty, and love. Stay safe and healthy.

Playing on the same team, fighting for the same cause,

Dean