Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-January 21, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me” (2 Peter 1:13-14).

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

The term earthly tent refers to the body. Both Peter and Paul both use this phrase. It is a very appropriate term for our earthly pilgrimage. Tents are temporary dwellings and we should never drive in our tent pegs too deeply in this world. We are just passing through this earth on our way to our home in heaven.

Peter sensed his time on earth was winding down. He remembered the words of the Lord Jesus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (John 21:18-19).

Our brief stay on earth is a preparation for our future glory in heaven forever: we put off this mortal for immortality; exchange the physical body for a brand new spiritual one; and leave behind the temporal for the eternal. The analogy of our two homes is a stark contrast between a tent and a mansion. Jesus said in John 14:2-3, “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.”

None of us knows the duration of our stay on earth. Our tent is wearing out, it is tattered, weather beaten, and torn. Our mansion in heaven is prepared, furnished, and turn-key ready to move into. It’s ready for me, and I’m so ready for it. I can’t wait for my new body that will have no more pain, disease, or weakness. Hallelujah! The song writer James B. Coates wrote, “Living below, in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can afford. Striving alone, to face temptation’s sword; where could I go but to the Lord?

Have a blessed day with the Lord on the journey to glory. Stay safe and healthy.

Being content in the tent,

Dean

-January 20, 2023-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ “

(Matthew 14:16).

Jesus and the disciples were exhausted and hungry. So much so that Jesus tried to get away to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes found out, they followed Him on foot. Instead of turning them away, He felt compassion on them and healed their sick. A longer day just got longer. We have all been there. Our busy, hectic day is nearly over and all we want to do is rest. Instead a friend calls, a need arises, what will we do? Will we say no? No way!

In the Parable of the Friend Coming To His Friend At Midnight, Jesus illustrated persistence in prayer. A friend comes to the door of his friend and neighbor after he is already in bed for the night. He knocks at the door asking to borrow some bread to serve it to an out of town guest who popped in unexpectedly. At first our warm, cozy friend makes an excuse why he can’t help him, then after his friend keeps knocking, he gets up and gives all him that he needs because of his persistence.

The disciples were like this, they wanted to send the multitudes away to buy food for themselves. Jesus told them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Was Jesus serious? Where would they get enough food to feed such crowd of 5,000 men, not including the women and children? They were about to learn a valuable lesson on meeting the needs of others, no matter how hard, no matter how inconvenient. After they stated their meager resources of five loaves and two fish, Jesus replied, “Bring them here to Me.” None of us, like the disciples have the resources to help others especially spiritually without the Lord’s help. But when we pray, make ourselves available, and use what He has given us, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Jesus took what they had, blessed it, and gave it to the disciples to give to all the people. It not only feed the multitudes, there were twelve baskets of leftovers. Each person didn’t get such a small bite or two but were fully satisfied. Jesus says this to us today, “You give them something to eat.” We are merely His vessels, His channels of blessing. The hymn writer Mary E. Maxwell said it best, “Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me, a clean vessel in Thy hand; with no pow’r but as Thou givest graciously with each command.”

May Lord help us to be always available for the Lord to use to help others. He will fill us, equip us, and work through us in magnificent and marvelous ways. We will be amazed and others will be richly blessed. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Being ready at all times, day or night,

Dean

-January 19, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

(Matthew 6:33).

Matthew, the writer of this gospel, presents Christ as the King; and he focuses so heavily on the kingdom of God. The wisemen come to see and worship the King of the Jews; the Beatitudes speak of the charter of the kingdom; and the Parables in Matthew 13 mention the word kingdom twelve times.

As believers in Christ we are members of the kingdom and must seek to live for our King and serve Him. When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a King, Jesus did not deny it. But He told him in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” And when Pilate asked, “Are you a king then?” Our Savior replied, “You say rightly that I am a King. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into this world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).

It is thus imperative that we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in the way we live, speak, and conduct ourselves at home, at church, at work, at school, or in retirement. We represent our King as ambassadors for Christ. One day Christ will reign over this earth for a thousand years and we will reign with Him. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Now we have chosen to receive Him as our King. We must make the kingdom of God and His righteousness our priority all our days. Satan is the god of this world and has everyone who doesn’t know Christ is under his control and the power of darkness. We stand out as we stand up for Jesus and His kingdom.

Jesus taught us that we need not and should not worry about what we eat, drink, or clothe ourselves. When we Him first, He will provide. Paul wrote in Romans 14:17-18, “For the kingdom of God is not in eating and drinking, but in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves God in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.”

Let us then seek His kingdom and His righteousness as our highest priority. Everything else is subservient to this calling. Have a blessed day living for our King and Kingdom, serving Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Joyfully serving the King in everything,

Dean

-January 18, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’”

(John 2:5).

Jesus, His disciples, and His mother were a invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus was thirty years old and was just at the beginning of His earthly ministry. He had not yet performed any miracles. Jewish weddings were very colorful and festive occasions. This one soon turned into a disaster: they ran out of wine. Now what could the hosts do to salvage the situation? There were no stores to run to, no delivery services to bring any to them.

Mary knew the solution to the problem, turn to Jesus. She simply presented the matter to Him, John 2:3 says, “And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’” His answer was a bit strange to us. He said in the next verse, “… Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” Jesus was just an invited Guest and He was on a mission from the Father to do His will and to go to the cross to die for sins of the world. His time not yet come and in very respectful way, He was not obey Mary but God the Father. The word, “woman” really means “lady,” and is a very respectful term.

Mary knew who He was, the Messiah, and that there was nothing He could not do. She does not directing ask for a miracle, but says to the servants at the reception, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” She had the faith and confidence to leave this manner in His hands. Wine is a symbol of joy and only Jesus can give us true joy. Jesus told the servants to fill the water pots with water. These pots were very large, containing some 20-30 gallons of water each and there were six of them. They were used by the Jews for the manner of purification.

Quietly and without fanfare, Jesus turned the water into wine. They served it to all the guests who were amazed at how good it was. Normally the good wine was served at the beginning of the wedding celebration then a lesser quality later after everyone drank quite a bit. This was Jesus’ first miracle, and like all His miracles was born out of need.

The lesson we learn is whatever He says to us we had better do it. When we ask anything in His name, the Father will answer according to His will. When we follow His commands we show our love to Him. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” The “whatever,” in Mary’s words is inclusive of everything Jesus tells us and everything in the Word of God. When Joseph the son of Jacob became prime minister of Egypt, Pharaoh said to his people who were in severe famine, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do it.” He had the solution, the grain to sustain them and all the people of the world who came to him for help. Joseph is a type of Christ in the OT. We notice that Pharaoh and Mary used very similar words.

Let us then listen to Jesus and obey. He alone can save us from our sins and give us eternal life. He has the power to meet our every need and turn our water into wine, our sorrow into joy, our problems into solutions. Have a joyful day. Stay safe and healthy.

Doing whatever He says to do,

Dean

-January 17, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”

(Genesis 40:23).

We are very forgetful creatures, especially in our older years. We need reminders of tasks to be done, places to go, things to be done, and especially with people’s names. People’s names are especially difficult. The older we get the harder it is. This is why we have diaries, day planners, and calendars both on paper and on our smartphones. The chief butler forgot Joseph. Did he do it on purpose? No, but he forgot him nonetheless.

While Joseph was in prison, he met two of Pharaoh’s staff, the chief butler and the chief baker. Pharaoh became angry with them and locked them both in the same prison that Joseph was in. The warden had seen that God was with him and was blessing him tremendously, so he put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. Genesis 39:21-23 says, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”

The Lord had done the same for him previously when he served Potiphar. Genesis 39:6 tells us, “Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.” God blessed him in whatever he did, and wherever he was. When the chief butler and chief baker told their dreams to Joseph he accurately gave them the interpretations from God. Pharaoh restored the chief butler to his former position but had the chief butler he hung.

The chief butler was so thrilled to be restored to his position and got so busy with his duties that he forgot Joseph. Later, after Pharaoh had dreams that no one could interpret, the butler remembered Joseph. Pharaoh called for him and the rest is history. He interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and he made him second in command in all Egypt. God was working behind the scenes for His perfect will and timing. Though the chief butler forgot him, God remembered him. Joseph was for years the forgotten man. Some speculate that Joseph was in prison for as many as thirteen years. He kept trusting the Lord in the darkest times. He never gave up or lost hope.

There are times when we think God has somehow forgotten us. We seem to be living and working in anonymity. We may think, does God care? Does he see or hear me? God never forgets us, nor does He fail to fulfill His promises. His timing is perfect. We should never lose sight of Him or stop communicating with Him in prayer daily. Job got very discouraged but never gave up. Job’s friends and family forgot him too. Job 11:14 says, “My relatives have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me.” It hurt, it hurt badly, it hurt worse than the physical pain of the boils on his body. Spiritual, mental, and emotional pain are far worse than physical pain.

Let us never forget each other, to pray for one another and know that God will never forget His man or His plan. He has promised to be with us and never leave us nor forsake us. He writes us on the palms of His hands. Others may forget us, but God never will. He loves us so much and wants the best for us. At times we may forget Him, but He is always caring and watching over us. Let us remember others and their needs. Praying for others is the best way to keep the saints in our hearts and in our thoughts.

Have a blessed day, not forgetting what the Lord has done for us and promised to us. Stay safe and healthy.

Never forgotten by our Lord and Savior,

Dean