Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-November 2, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the eunuchs.”

(Daniel 1:8-9).

Daniel, his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, along with many other Jews were taken into captivity in Babylon. Those with potential of service to the king of Babylon were put through a rigorous, special training and preparation course. First, each of them were given new names after their Babylonian gods, then were taught the Babylonian language and culture, and finally they served in the government. The Babylonians wanted to wipe away all vestiges of their faith in the true God of Israel.

Daniel and three friends would have none of it. They would serve the king faithfully and well but not conform to the ways of their captors. It says, “Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself…” By honoring God, God honored all four of them. Daniel gained the favor of the chief of the eunuchs. Daniel requested that instead of eating the food and drinking the wine of Babylon, they be given a diet of only vegetables and water. Given that chance of a ten day trial, they fared much better than all the others who ate and drank as usual. Thus they were allowed to continue it. Not only that but as the book of Daniel unfolds, we see how they practiced their faith. They prayed and obeyed the Word of God even in a foreign land. As result Daniel’s three friends were cast into a fiery furnace for not bowing down to the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar made, but God protected them. Daniel was cast into the lion’s den for openly praying to his God, but God protected him also.

It would have been easy for them to succumb to the pressure to conform to this world, especially living in a foreign land. But they stood firm for the Lord. They didn’t ascribe to the old adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” The Bible clearly teaches separation from the world and sanctification to the Lord. Paul quoted the OT in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, “Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

God had given His people the Jews a strict code of what to eat and what not to. He had given them the law to obey and His principles to follow. They were committed to the Lord in all their ways without compromise. God richly blessed them. Daniel served three different kings in Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius. Daniel was the greatest and wisest man throughout the realm of Babylon during the entire time.

But what of us? Are we purposing in our hearts not to defile ourselves with the things of this world? Are willing to obey God and not men when the two are in conflict? The world wants to squeeze us into its mold, we must take a stand, no matter what people say about us. We too are living in a foreign land where the devil is the god of this world; it is our privilege and responsibility to live for the Lord as light and salt.

Have a blessed day living as Christians in a non-Christian world who is against Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Standing for the Lord,

Dean

-November 1, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”

(Ephesians 2:19-20).

Today is “All Saints Day.” It always falls on the day after Halloween and the day before “All Souls Day.” So many in the world and in the Roman Catholic Church consider saints as those who have been beatified by the church and by the Pope. There are only a select number that measure up. This is not Scriptural at all. All believers are saints, from the least to the greatest.

The best definition of a saint is found in 1 Corinthians 1:2, where Paul wrote, “To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of the Lord, both their’s and our’s.” The Greek word for saint is the same as holy, sanctified, set apart, and separated. In this world there are but two types of people: believers and unbelievers, those who are saved and those who are lost. Within the church universal, there are many different dominations, but all those who know the Lord are part of Christ’s church, over which He is the Head.

The word saints is found some 95 times in the Bible, 35 times in the OT and 64 in the NT. When we get to heaven there will two groups: saints and angels. We are privileged and blessed to be called saints. We are sinners, but sinners saved by grace. We are so unworthy but not worthless. Jesus died for us on the cross to save us from our sins. Positionally, we are declared righteousness and as saints we are perfect in Christ without spot or wrinkle. We have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Practically, we may not always be saintly, though we should strive to live up to our high position in Christ. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, and help us to live holy lives. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as He has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” Peter would not have told to be holy if it were not possible by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us then live holy lives in our character, conduct, and conversation. We are so different than the people of the world with different values, morals, and lifestyles. It doesn’t mean we are better than anyone else, but that we are washed in the blood of Christ and represent Him in this world as ambassadors for Christ.

Have a blessed and holy day living for Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In being set apart for Christ and separated from this world,

Dean

-October 31, 2022-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a ordinance for them, and there He tested them.”

(Exodus 15:23-25).

Israel had just experienced a tremendous victory over Pharaoh and the Egyptians at the Red Sea. It was one of the greatest examples of God’s power and deliverance. For years afterward they celebrated this victory that God had wrought for them. With all of the that, the people were prone to complaining. Before we judge them too harshly, we must ask ourselves, “How much do I complain?”

God led them three days into the wilderness of Shur. They found no water. We all need water for our bodies to survive. They then came to a place where there was water, but they couldn’t drink it for it was bitter. They named it Marah, meaning bitter. The word bitter is defined as, “having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet.” Life is often full of bitter experiences. This was the case with Naomi in the book of Ruth. She and her husband Elimelech left the land of Israel and their home in Bethlehem due to a severe famine. Life there, which was outside God’s will, resulted in one tragedy after another. First her husband died, then her two sons.

When she and daughter-in-law Ruth returned to Bethlehem the people recognized her and were excited to see her. Her name meant pleasant but she told the people, “…Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me” (Ruth 1:21-22).

We see from her return and restoration to the Lord that God turned her bitter into sweet. Ruth married Boaz and Naomi became got to take care of Ruth’s son Obed, who became the grandfather of David. Only God can do this. God does not make us bitter but He makes us better.

Moses found a tree and cast it into the bitter water and it became sweet. This sinful, broken world is full of bitterness, but God turned our bitterness to sweetness at the cross of Calvary. Jesus died for our sins and bore them in His own body. We who were far from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Still today, God turns our bitter into sweet. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Just as God tested the Israelites through this experience, He does so with us. How do we respond when trials, hardships, difficulties, and sorrows come into our lives? Do we blame God or others, or do we accept them with thankfulness and contentment? God often disciplines His children for our good. He can cause us to find streams in the desert. Let us seek the Lord and His perfect will. He will turn our bitter into sweet, our bitterness into betterness.

Have a blessed day looking to the positive not the negative, the good not the bad. Our glass is not only half full, but it overflows with blessings. Stay safe and healthy.

Looking to the Lord in all things,

Dean

-October 30, 2022-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Life teaches us that we shouldn’t let anyone or anything control us. So many are controlled by alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, money, or material things. There is an exception: our minds should be controlled by the Holy Spirit. In fact, we belong to Jesus, spirit, soul, and body. When the Lord is in control, we will have peace and joy.

Someone said, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Everything starts with the mind. If we meditate on God’s Word we will be less likely to sin and get into trouble. This is why Paul told us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” On the crosswalk.com website they list five ways to keep our minds from being idle and led astray: Don’t let anger linger, watch your company, meditate on the good stuff, don’t trip someone else up, and make prayer part of your life.” This is great advice for all of us young or old.

May the Lord have control of all of us, especially our minds. Paul told us in Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” Have a blessed day under God’s control. Stay safe and healthy.

Thought for the day: Minds under the Spirit’s control will enhance the soul.

Dean

-October 29, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health and there was trouble!”

(Jeremiah 8:15).

Sometimes we bring trouble on ourselves by sinning and going outside of God’s will. Instead of confessing our sin, repenting, and getting right with the Lord, we continue in pride, stubbornness, and hard-hearted mess. Outside of God’s will is no place to be. It is a desert, dry, barren, and parched. It is a place in which we can make bad decisions that carry disastrous consequences.

We can’t expect God’s blessings in such a place nor the fellowship with Him we normally enjoy. There is no peace, no victory, no good thing. This was the problem with the people of Judah in Jeremiah’s day. They never thought God’s judgment would come up them, but it did! Their beloved temple was burned to the ground, everything of any value was taken, and those who didn’t die at the hands of the Babylonians were taken into captivity, which lasted seventy years.

God is so longsuffering and puts up with so much. They worshipped idols while going through the motions of honoring God. It was such a sham. They were hypocrites. Psalm 103:8-9 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.” You can’t play games with God.

We can’t expect God to remain silent and not chastise His children. He wants to restore us and bring us back to Himself. We shouldn’t take Him or His blessings lightly or for granted. Let us get right and stay right with the Lord. Then there will be joy, peace, and closeness to Him.

Have a blessed day in the center of God’s will. Stay safe and healthy.

Walking in the straight and narrow path,

Dean