Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-August 20, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly” (Job 8:7).

“Now the Lord blessed the latter days more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And after this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days” (Job 42:12-13; Job 42:16-17).

Job had a great beginning but it was small compared to his ending. He was struck with a multitude of trials, testings, and troubles. As good as his beginning was, it was pale in comparison to his ending. Job’s three friends were Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zohar. They all meant well, but they all missed the mark by saying that these afflictions came on him because he had sinned and needed to repent. In actuality, Satan was behind them. He had to get God’s permission to strike Job. At the end the Lord rebuked them, saying, “Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job will pray for you. I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:8).

Of all their words to Job, this statement was true for it turned out just this way for Job. His beginning was small, His ending was big. God actually doubled all that he lost. He also replaced his sons and daughters. Job lived one hundred forty years more and enjoyed his children and grandchildren to the fourth generation. Not only that but Job is mentioned in Ezekiel along with Daniel and Noah as having righteousness that would deliver themselves, though even they could not deliver the Israelites for their sin and going into captivity.

Job shall forever be remembered for his patience, and what he endured. James wrote of him, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). As believers our end will be in heaven forever. It doesn’t get any better than that.

God has plans for us as He did for Job. He wants to bless our latter days and make them more increasingly abundant. The older we get, the more we see it and appreciate all that He has done for us and will do for us. It is also best to be better at the end than at the beginning in our spiritual lives. In this case Bildad got it right.

May the Lord help us to draw near to Him, walk in obedience to Him, and serve Him more and more as we grow older. Stay safe and healthy.

Serving faithfully to the end,

Dean

-August 19, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

(Proverbs 16:9).

Solomon saw this principle in action when his father David planned build the temple but God changed the plan and commanded that his son Solomon build it instead after David’s death. Interestingly, Solomon’s son Rehoboam, who followed him as king planned to fight against the ten northern tribes to bring them back under his control. God showed him that he should not fight but it was of the Lord for the kingdom to be divided.

Got any plans? Plans for the weekend? Plans for school or work? Plans for college? Plans for vacation? Plans to buy a new car, house, or have a baby? Plans for next week, next month, or next year? Plans to retire? We, like everyone else in the world, need to and do make plans. As God’s people we are acutely aware that God may have another plan. Sometimes it may be an accident or illness, or it may be financial set back, or any number of things that can change the plan. It may be that other people who were part of the plan can’t do it.

Our text says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” We shouldn’t get frustrated or discouraged when God changes our plans. In fact, we should rejoice! Perhaps God is protecting us from something bad that would have happened to us. He always knows best and gives us something better. Everything and everyone changes, but the Lord never changes. God is sovereign and acts according to His will. God can and does change our plans. He often uses people, circumstances, and other things to direct our steps.

Only God knows the future for us and for everyone and everything. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This verse has helped and encouraged countless Christians down through the centuries. It is a command with a promise. We also have the tremendous promise in Romans 8:28 that says, “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.”

Joseph was a dreamer. He had two dreams in particular that he would rule over his family. When his brothers sold him into slavery, it seemed the whole plan changed. He worked for Potiphar then was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and was thrown into prison. Through all this God raised him up to the second highest place in Egypt. He ruled over Egypt, his family, and the whole world. Sometimes God has another plan.

There is a modern Christian song that says, “Forsaken by his brothers, didn’t fit the scene, being made a slave was not what Joseph dreamed. The coat of many colors was stained with blood and lies, but from this Divine appointment, a ruler would arise. When God has another plan, walk on and just say yes, when God has another plan, be assured that He knows best. When all your plans are shattered, rest in His sufficient grace, we don’t have to understand, when God has another plan.”

There is a very common expression in advertising today, “Subject to change without prior notice.” Let us then thank God our plans are always subject to change according to God’s master plan. He not only rules but He overrules; He not only routes but He re-routes; He not only directs but He redirects; and He not guides, but directs our every step.

Have a blessed day whether our plans come to fruition or He changes the plan. Our Lord guides each step we take today. Stay safe and healthy.

Walking with the Savior,

Dean

-August 18, 2022-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.”

(Jeremiah 9:23-24).

As humans, we so often think too highly of ourselves, and not highly enough of God. We prioritize the human over the divine. Our highest pursuits never rise above this earth. Everything we long for and actively pursue will be left behind when we die. As believers we have a higher calling. Our hopes, desires, and pursuits should be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our goals should focus on knowing, living for, and serving Him more.

When we glory in the Lord, we become more thankful and dependent on Him. We realize how His thoughts and His ways are far higher than our’s. We learn to seek His strength and not our own. We so need His help every moment of every day. The Lord reminds us of this as we grow older. Our greatest glory is that we have Jesus in our lives and we are His followers and children. Praise God that we will be with Him forever.

God delights in exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, and we should delight in them also. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, “That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”

Everything we have is from God. We can take no credit for anything but should thank Him for everything. This lightens our grip on the things of earth, and strengthens our grip on the things above. We came into this world with nothing and will leave it the same way. Our souls will live on and we will take those we have won to Christ with us, and our knowledge of Scripture.

What are you glorying in today? If it is in anyone or anything in this world it will be futile and unsatisfying at best. But when you glory in the Lord, you will be happy and content. Jesus gives us love, peace, and joy in our relationship with Him. The hymn writer Helen H. Lemmel wrote, “O soul are you weary and troubled? No light for the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savor, and life more abundant and free. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Have a blessed day glorying in Jesus and delighting in what is really important in life. Stay safe and healthy.

Looking up to Jesus,

Dean

-August 17, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

(Esther 4:14).

The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible where God is not mentioned. Though this is the case, God is present and working in the lives of His people in exile. Esther’s Hebrew name was Hadassah. She was the the cousin of Mordecai, who took her in and raised her when both of her parents died. He loved her like a daughter and she loved him like a father.

King Ahasuerus chose Esther to be queen among all the young virgins in realm to take the place of Vasti, who had rebelled against him and his kingdom. It was all in keeping with God’s will. Mordecai refused to bow down to wicked Haman who plotted against the Jews and encouraged the king to issue an irrevocable edict that all the Jews in his kingdom be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelve month of Adar. Mordecai had previously told Esther not to reveal her people, but now it is a time of desperation, fear, and catastrophe. Now is the time to speak up and intercede to the king for her people.

Esther had not been invited to come in the presence of the king for thirty days. She was well aware if she went before the king uninvited, though she was queen, she could be put to death. She was caught between a rock and a hard place: her personal safety and the deliverance of all her people. Esther 4:15-16 says, “Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ‘Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go up to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.’”

This reminds me of the situation Jacob was in. One of his sons, Simeon was held in custody in Egypt and he had to send his youngest son Benjamin with his brothers back to Egypt to secure his release and acquire food for their survival during a great famine. He finally agreed and told his sons, “Take your brother also, and arise, and go back to the man. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved” (Genesis 43:13-14).” He was also caught between a rock and a hard place. Little did he know Joseph was the man and there was a great deliverance; and he got to see and be with him for the last seventeen years of his life.

There are times we must make difficult decisions between two potentially bad outcomes. This is when we need to pray and fast, seeking God’s will and doing it. We must be courageous and act as Esther and Jacob did. Both ended with great deliverances and blessings. Esther spoke to the king, Haman was put to death, and all the Jews were delivered and given the opportunity to kill their enemies, which they did. God gave them the victory. The Jewish feast of Purim is celebrated yearly as a result.

Many times we expect the best, but fear the worst. Often, God has another plan for us, resulting in our good and His glory. God answers prayer and does great things for us. We should ask in prayer, believing and commit ourselves to His will and surrender fully to Him. God did put Esther in her role as queen for such a time as this. There was no coincidence in any of this. God uses people, circumstances, and other factors in just the right way and at just the right time.

Have a blessed day, being strong and courageous, trusting in the Lord and praying. He will work things out for us, even between a rock and hard place. Stay safe and healthy.

In humble dependence on God,

Dean

-August 16, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“For if we live, we live to the Lord; Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

(Romans 14:8).

The Lord Jesus came into this world to die for us, in our place, to save us from our sins, and give us eternal life. He died, was buried, and rose again. We have passed from death to life, from darkness to light. He is in control of life and death. No one knows the day nor the hour of His coming, nor do we know the day of our death. Since these are in His control, how should we thus live?

Paul wrote, “If we live, we live to the Lord.” We no longer live to the world or to ourselves. God put us here on earth for a purpose to spread the gospel, live to and for the Lord, and to serve Him. Paul lived his life this way, and so should we. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge this: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

Our Lord and Savior bought us with His precious blood. We are no longer our own for we have been redeemed at a high price. How can we ever repay the debt of love we owe Him? The hymn writer Thomas Chisholm wrote, “Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please Him in all that I do; yielding allegiance, glad heartened and free, this is the pathway of blessing for me. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, for Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne; my life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.”

We can’t control how long we live, but we can control how we live. The quality of our lives is thus measured by we give, not what we have; how we serve, not by how we are served; and what we do for the Lord and others, not what we do for ourselves. As long as our mission in life isn’t finished yet, there is so much we can and should do.

Have a blessed day living for Jesus and to Him alone. Stay safe and healthy.

In living or in dying, all for Jesus now and forever,

Dean