Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-November 27, 2022-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

(2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

The greatest problem in the world is not global warning, economic turmoil, inflation, hunger, war or any earthly things; the greatest problem is spiritual blindness. The gospel is the good news of how people can be saved from their sins and have eternal life.

The devil is the god of this age, the god of this world. He knows his fate is sealed and he is a defeated foe. He and his demons continually do all in their power to blind the minds of unbelievers to keep them from being saved. We share the gospel with people, but they do not believe. They are spiritually blind, walking in darkness. Paul realized that there was a spiritual battle going on between devil and his demons on the one side and the angels on the other. From the Word we know the end of the story, that the devil and all his demons will one day be cast into the lake of fire.

In Jesus’ day, He directed His anger to the Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, and the other Jewish leaders. Jesus called them blind leaders of the blind. Jesus said, “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:4). They knew the Scriptures of the coming Messiah but they refused to believe in Jesus. Though He fulfilled all the Scriptures, they rejected Him and pressed the Romans to crucify Him.

We need to pray for souls to be saved. If a person is softened and convicted of their sins and see their need of salvation, the Holy Spirit will ring them to Christ. The devil also works against Christians to discourage us, harass us, and oppose us. He cannot defeat us, he can only bother us. Sometimes we can be blinded to our own weaknesses and sins. It is easy to spot a speck in our brother’s eye but much more difficult to notice the log that is in our own eyes as Jesus said.

May the Lord help us to proclaim the gospel and pray for souls to be saved. We are children of light who follow Jesus, the Light of the world. We must bear the light in a world of darkness.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

Walking in the light,

Dean

-November 26, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

(Colossians 3:17).

The best way to live is to live for the Lord Jesus and with an attitude of thanksgiving. Everything we have is from Him and we should do all in His name and for His sake. It makes life have meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. It turns our words into messages of love and deeds into opportunities to share His love with others.

The “whatever” encompasses everything we say and do. It is quite a challenge and responsibility especially when we realize that people hear our words and see our actions. We aren’t perfect and there will be times when we mess up, but our personal testimony is so important, especially when others know we are Christians. Whether at work, at school, running errands, playing sports, going to church, or whatever we do becomes a spiritual work and a blessing. We aren’t just speaking, we are speaking for Jesus, and we aren’t just doing things, but we are doing them for Him. It certainly makes life more exciting.

We are all ambassadors for Christ who represent Him and His kingdom. It is an awesome privilege and responsibility. There is nothing too big or too small to be a blessing. Sometimes we think what we do is so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but that’s not true. Our lives impact others in so many ways. As long as we give thanks to God the Father. We won’t know until we get to heaven how we touched someone by our words or actions. Just the simple act of giving thanks at a restaurant or speaking to someone by phone, email, text or letter.

The hymn writer Kittie Louise Suffield wrote, “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 run; 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.”

Have a blessed day speaking and doing everything in Jesus’ name and giving thanks. Stay safe and healthy.

Seeking to be a blessing,

Dean

-November 25, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“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.”

(John 12:26).

The relationship we have with the Father is through the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. When we serve and follow our Savior, the Father will honor us. God honors those who honor Him. In 1 Samuel 2:30, God spoke to Eli the priest and told him, “…I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”

Eli honored God in his life but he did not restrain his sons Hophni and Phinehas who sinned against God and abused their position as priests. They were corrupt, immoral, and greedy. They took advantage of the Lord’s people. 1 Samuel 2:12 says, “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.” Eli’s sons were wicked before the Lord. It says of them, “Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:17). Eli’s sons were out of control and he did nothing to stop them. Both Hophni and Phinehas died when the Israelites went to battle against the Philistines for God’s hand was against them.

Job, on the other hand, not only honored God in his own life, but he also prayed for his sons and offered sacrifices for them just in case they may have sinned. Job 1:4-5 says, “And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the feasting had run its course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did regularly.”

While each person is responsible and accountable to God, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide for their children’s spiritual development, especially while they are living at home. There should always be a family altar with prayer and the Word of God. Parents also must discipline and control their kids. This requires the parents to be godly role models for their children.

For us as believers, we honor God when we serve and follow our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father promises to honor those to honor His Son. We cannot honor the Father unless we honor the Son. Serving the Lord and following Him go together hand in hand. God is pleased when we both serve and follow Jesus. Is it your heart’s desire to serve and follow the Lord? In the Academy Award winning film, “Chariots of Fire,” Eric Liddell honored God by not running on Sunday in the 1924 Olympics. One of his British teammates offered his spot in the 400 meter race and Eric won that longer race, for he was a 100 meter runner, and set a new Olympic record in the process. Before the race one of the American runners passed him a note saying, “God honors those who honor Him.”

Let us then honor the Lord in serving and following Him daily. When we do, we are assured that God will honor us and be pleased with us. Stay safe and healthy.

Serving and following the greatest Master,

Dean

-November 24, 2022 — Thanksgiving Day —

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“In everything give thanks, for this God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (Thessalonians 5:18).

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Today is Thanksgiving Day in America. It is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. While it is a great blessing and one of my favorite days, every day should be a day to give thanks to the Lord. For the children of God, our thanksgiving should be daily; in fact we should live thankful lives. God has richly and abundantly blessed us with so many blessings and benefits.

Psalm 103:1-2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” It is good to meditate on our blessings and then thank the Lord for them. We will find we run out of time before we run out of things to be thankful for. We are encouraged to be thankful in all things and for all things.

To be thankful in all things encompasses many things, including things that are good and bad, positive and negative. God always has a purpose and works things together for our good. To be thankful for all things focuses mainly on the good, beneficial things. There really isn’t anything we can’t find a reason to thank God.

Today on this national Thanksgiving Day, we pause our busy, stressful lives to thank God for all His many blessings on us, our church, our families, our friends, and our country. Life doesn’t have to be perfect for us to be thankful. I am so happy and thankful to be home from the hospital after my two procedures, just in time for Thanksgiving Day.

Let us then live thankful lives abounding in gratitude to God in all things and for all things. Stay safe and healthy.

In joyful thanksgiving,

Dean

-November 23, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

(1 Peter 5:7).

Peter experienced the Lord’s care and desired that all His saints be similarly blessed. From the moment we get saved until we enter through the pearly gates of heaven, the Lord cares for us in so many ways all of our days. From hearing and answering our prayers, to delivering and helping us, to meeting our needs and solving our problems. I know that He has always taken great care of me.

All we must do is cast our care upon Him. He never intends for us to carry our burdens on our own, but to bring them to Him and leave them there. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus all experienced Jesus’ care. Jesus visited them often in their home in Bethany. Mary anointed Him and sat at His feet; Martha served Him tirelessly with all her strength; and Lazarus sat at the table in sweet communion with Him. Jesus did a great miracle in raising him from the dead. Mary represents our worship; Martha, our service, and Lazarus our fellowship.

We are His children and He cares for us and loves us so much; He always provides for us in countless ways. He is near us, with us, and for us. The hymn writer wrote, God will take of you, through every day, o’er all the way. He will take of you, God will take of you.” He never leaves us nor forsakes us, nor does He fail us. When rejoice, He rejoices with us; when we weep, He weeps with us; and when we hurt, He hurts with us.

May we always cast our all care upon Him, for He cares for us. Let us praise Him today. Have a blessed and joyful day. Stay safe and healthy.

In His tender care,

Dean