Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 24, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer” (Proverbs 30:25).

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8).

Ants are fascinating creatures. It is estimated that there are over a quadrillion in the world. It works out to be 2.5 million for every human on earth. There are over 15,700 species of ants in the world. We consider them pests to be exterminated from our homes, businesses, schools, and churches. We recently had them in our church and to have a pest control company take care of the problem.

Ants are small and not strong to us, but they can actually lift up ten to fifty times their body weight, which if we humans could do that it would amount to 4,000 pounds. Solomon uses them to teach us about industriousness, diligence, and preparation for the future. They are definitely not lazy nor do they procrastinate. If we worked as they do, there would tremendous productivity in our workforce. And imagine what we as Christians could do for the Lord on a daily basis! In fact, there is one type of ant, called the harvester ant, that prepares its food in the summer.

We can all learn from the ants. They live in colonies and are constantly looking for water and food. They support and help each other. We need to do the same in our walk and service for the Lord. May the Lord help us to work and prepare for the Lord and His return. Let us avoid being lazy or procrastinating. Bees are often called busy, and they are; but ants are just as busy or even more so. They work hard yet they work smart as well. God has made them and they serve a valuable place in the ecosystem.

Have a blessed day diligently serving the Lord like the ant. Stay safe, healthy, and busy.

Learning lessons from the creatures God has made,

Dean

-September 23, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

God is the Creator of all living things. Each one is unique and shows the magnificent handiwork of the Lord. God had placed a specific innate quality in each one. The Bible mentions crawling creatures, flying creatures, birds, fish, and so many more. Just think, when God created Adam, the first man, He gave him the privilege of naming each one of them and having dominion over them.

We marvel at the variety of creatures, in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. More than that we can learn so much from them. There are so many illustrations and lessons we can learn from these beautiful, intricate creatures. In Proverbs 25:24-31, Solomon writes of four little creatures and three large, majestic, and majestic ones. Over the next seven days we will consider what we can learn from ants, rock badgers, locusts, spiders, lions, greyhounds, and male goats. In other Scriptures, there are many others such as sheep, eagles, and many others that we are compared to and can learn from.

Scientists have studied living creatures and what they can do, and we can sit back and marvel along with them. They did not evolve over time; God created them all. Mankind is the only created being that God made in His own image with a spirit, soul, and body. Paul says of the Lord Jesus Christ in Colossians 1:15-17, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” When God created all the multitude of his creation, He saw that it was good; when He created man, He saw that it was very good.

Tomorrow we will consider the ant and the lessons we can learn from these tiny creatures. These lessons will amaze us, instruct us, and cause us to praise and worship the Lord, our Creator and Maker. He is so wise and imaginative. Let us look forward to these lessons.

Have a blessed day considering God’s creation in its beauty, intricacy, and uniqueness. Stay safe and healthy.

In awe and wonder of our Lord,

Dean

-September 22, 2022-

Good morning happy Thursday,

“Therefore receive one another, just as also Christ has received us, to the glory of God.”

(Romans 15:7).

Whenever two things are compared to each other, as in our text today, we must understand the first thing in order to make sense of the second. It is always profitable to ask ourselves questions for better clarification and understanding. We are told to receive one another as Christ has received us to the glory of God. With that answer in mind, we will then know how to receive one another.

To receive one another as Christ has received us is so important in our Christian lives. Christ received us by faith, in love, and sincerity. Anyone who comes to Christ finds His arms and heart wide open. He never turns anyone away. The way we treat each other is based on His treatment of us. An example of this is found in Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Jesus taught us that however we treat each other is how we treat Him.

Our Savior told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). He showed us grace and mercy, love and forgiveness, patience and understanding. This is how we should receive one another to the glory of God. Jesus is our example and the standard by which we live and treat others. When we help our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are doing it unto the Lord Himself. Let us receive one another into our hearts and homes.

Have a blessed day receiving the saints as He received us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His love,

Dean

-September 21, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:2).

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).

This anonymous psalm is so encouraging. In just six verses, the psalmist uses the word praise thirteen times. God is so great and worthy of all the praise we can give Him. The psalmist wrote to praise God in His sanctuary, in His mighty firmament, according to His excellent greatness, with the sound of the trumpet, with lute and harp, timbrel and dance, with stringed instruments, and with loud and clashing cymbals.

You don’t have to be a musician or singer to lift up your praise to God; you just have to be saved and appreciate who He is and what He has done, is doing, and will do. Like the language of love, the language of praise is found on earth and in heaven. It is beautiful and brings great joy to the Lord.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, the people cried out, “Hosanna, to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9). The word hosanna means, “an expression of adoration, praise, or joy.” The Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ But He answered, ‘I tell you, that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out’” (Luke 19:39-40). No ordinary man deserves praise, only God, and Jesus is God. He entered into Jerusalem as the Messiah. He is worthy of our praise, all our days. The expression hallelujah is synonymous with praise. There are two different spellings in the NT: hallelujah and alleluia, both of which are the same.

We should thus praise God at all times and in all ways. It is a great privilege and responsibility to praise the Lord individually in our personal devotions and collectively when we gather together. In our church we break bread each Sunday and when we conclude the service, we sing, “Praise God, from all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” The title is: “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow.” But it is commonly called “The Doxology.”

The psalmist challenges us, “Let all that has breath praise the Lord.” That means everyone on earth, including us. May we always praise the Lord in word and song. God has given us life and breath, let us use every opportunity to praise the Lord and His holy name. Praise adds the element of joy to our thoughts of God!

Have a blessed day praising God. Stay safe and healthy.

Praising Him forever,

Dean

-September 20, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

(Psalm 139:23-24).

David, the author of this beautiful psalm, has just written of God’s knowledge of Him and how he cannot flee from His presence. The final two verses of the psalm, represent his brief but soul searching prayer to the Lord. The Scriptures are chock-full of personal prayers of men and women who communed with the Lord.

While it is true that that the majority of our prayers should be for others, we also need to pray for ourselves, our own needs and concerns daily. Most of the time our prayers for ourselves are foremost in our minds. We need balance in our prayers, which should always desire God’s will. When we are right with God, God will do amazing things in us and for us.

David wanted there to be obstructions, no hindrances, and no disturbances to his prayers. He prayed before going into battle and God answered his prayers and gave him victory every time. Our personal prayers are extremely important to our spiritual growth and walk with the Lord. His request centered on four things: search me, know me, try me, and lead me.

• Search me – It takes courage and a close relationship with the Lord to ask God to search us and know our hearts. He sees and hears everything; from our thoughts to our desires, and from our attitudes and motives. David was not perfect, but he was a man after God’s own heart. He wanted to be right with God and with people. When God searches us, He does so by the Holy Spirit using the Word of God. He convicts us to change us and make more like Christ. It may hurt at the time, but in the end is for our good.

• Know me – David desired not only to be searched but to be known. If we are serious about our walk with the Lord, we will want Him to have access to every aspect of our lives, every room in the home of our hearts. We, like David, have anxieties that we carry in our hearts. But when we pray and thank Him for what He has given us, He gives us the peace that passes all understanding.

• Try me – David knew the importance and value of trials. He wanted God to test him. He says, “Try me, and know my anxieties. We all have fears, concerns, troubles, and pressures in life. Only the Lord can calm them. Just remember how the Lord Jesus calmed the disciples as He did the sea. Job said in Job 23:10, “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”

• Lead me – Lastly, when God has searched us, known us, and tried us, we are ready to let Him take over and lead us in His ways and according to His will. With Jesus, who is the Way leading us, we will be on the right path in the center of God’s will.

May we come before the Lord today, and pray for a closer walk with Him. If we pour out hearts, He will search us, know us, try us, and lead us. Stay safe and healthy.

In earnestness in prayer,

Dean