Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-August 10, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“But I tell you you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

(Matthew 5:39).

Jesus was a great teacher, but more than that He was the Son of God. He taught and lived the law of love. He taught us to forgive others who wrong us up to 490 times. The standard we must use is how much He has forgiven us. Whenever we have wronged someone, we must go to them and ask for forgiveness, and whenever someone has wronged us, we must go to them and forgive them. It is always the responsibility of the believer in Christ to initiate the reconciliation.

There is never room for grudges, retaliation, vengeance, or revenge. The law of love must always prevail. Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves. We aren’t to resist an evil person but pray for them. If someone slaps us in the right cheek, we are to turn the other cheek also. Paul wrote in Romans 12:17-21, “Repay no one evil for for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all things. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

By God’s grace we can overcome evil with good and return good to someone instead of evil. Our old nature wants to fight, but our new nature wants to love, heal, and forgive. At the 94th Academy Awards ceremony on March 27, 2022, actor Will Smith violently slapped host and comedian, Chris Rock on stage for insulting his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head, which she had been shaving since 2021 due to alopecia areata. It caused an immediate uproar and went virol, in spite of the network switching it off from its live coverage. Since, Smith has apologized to Rock but was given a ten -year suspension from the Academy events effective April 8, 2022. It has been called “the slap that was heard round the world.” There were no arrests or charges filed in the case.

For us, we must behave like Christians, be an example of love, forgiveness, reconciliation and toward all. Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). It is never easy, but it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Our kids, spouses, other family members, friends, co-workers, and everyone else is watching us. The world always wants to find fault with Christians.

Have a blessed day walking in the love of Christ and turning the other cheek. Stay safe and healthy.

By the abundant grace of God,

Dean

-August 9, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”

(Matthew 5:41).

Today’s verse is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapters 5-7. His words are extraordinary. Much of it shows the difference between what the Law required and how His followers must fulfill and exceed it. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I say to you, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one little tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” The jot and the tittle were the smallest strokes of the Hebrew written language. They are much like our comma and period marks.

Jesus is the Author of the Word of God. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The Scriptures come from God, are inspired by God, and are empowered by God. They give us the answers to our questions, the solutions to our problems, and fulfillment of our needs. They teach us how live, how to give, and how to forgive.

Going the Second Mile is something only a believer in Christ can and will do. The First Mile represents what we are required to do, The Second Mile what we willingly do; The First Mile meets expectations, The Second Mile exceeds them; The First Mile is our duty, The Second Mile is our joyful privilege.

There are always things we must do in life. Somethings we like to do, they are easy; others are things we don’t want to do, and they are harder; and lastly there things that we must do that we dread or detest doing, and they are the hardest of all. Doing the latter and going the Second Mile gives all glory to God. Only God’s grace can enable us to do them joyfully. Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Paul could write these words because of God’s grace. The Lord told him in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Runners often speak of getting their second wind during the course of a race, especially a marathon. In the Christian life, our blessed Lord gives us a second wind to keep going strong to the finish line. The hymn writer B. Mansell Ramey wrote, “Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way! Where-e’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way! Until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach me Thy way.”

Are you willing to go the extra mile for Jesus’ sake? To run the extra mile? To give the extra effort, to give the additional amount to help others? If you are, you are a Second Mile Christian. The Second Mile Christian is always busy, sees things that need to be done and does them without having to be asked, and has a willing and sacrificial spirit. Jesus taught the Parable of the Good Samaritan to show us that our neighbor is whoever is in need. In the story, a man is beaten, robbed, and left to die in the side of the road. A priest and a Levite pass by, see him in need but pass by on the other side without stopping to help. The third man, a despised Samaritan, not only stops to help the man, but takes him to a nearby Inn to get further assistance and care. He even offers to pay the Innkeeper upon his return that way. He definitely went the Second Mile. Let us go the second mile with a smile.

Have a blessed day going the Second Mile. Stay safe and healthy.

Going above and beyond,

Dean

-August 8, 2022-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

(2 Chronicles 34:1-2).

Josiah was one of the most godly kings of Judah, along with Hezekiah and David. He was the son of Manasseh, who was the most evil kings in Judah. Manasseh lead Judah into vile idolatry, sin, and wickedness. He repented while in exile in Assyria and got right with God, and God restored him to his kingdom. Josiah became king at the tender age of eight years old. From such an early age he sought the Lord just as King David did. He lead many reforms, celebrated a great Passover, and reigned faithfully, and led the people to God.

Normally children have tender hearts toward the Lord. We should always encourage them to follow the Lord, learn God’s Word, and pray. Whenever the child understands the gospel, he must receive Christ. The Scripture is very clear in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” It also says in Deuteronomy 6:7, “And these words which I command you today, shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

Christian parents have the greatest and most prominent role in the spiritual development of their children. Josiah was only eight but he loved the Lord. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, walked in the ways of David, did not turn to the right hand or to the left, sought the Lord, and purged Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry and sin. All this from the age of eight. His name is mentioned fifty times in the Bible. When the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law in the temple when they were renovating it, he humbled himself and tore his clothes, a sign of deep contrition.

It is highly likely that Josiah’s mother taught him the ways of the Lord. So often this is the case in Christian homes. We owe a tremendous debt of thanks to them for their love, devotion, and faithfulness to the Lord. Many a godly man and servant of the Lord points to his mother as his greatest influence for Christ. In the NT, Timothy had both a godly mother Eunice, and a godly grandmother Lois, who taught and influenced him in the Scriptures. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:5, “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

Paul saw something great in Timothy when he first met him in Derbe and Lystra. He chose him to be with him and to be his mentor and partner in the Lord’s work. He was well spoken of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium.

Let us follow Josiah’s example of devotion and dedication to the Lord. May we do what is right in God’s sight, not veering off course, either left or right, and seeking the Lord’s will first in all things.

Have a blessed day following the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

In devotion and dedication,

Dean

-August 7, 2022-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3)

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:11-13).

Eternal life is as gift from God that we receive through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. God has given mankind a free will, and thus each person must choose to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When we do, we know with certainty on the basis of God’s Word, we have it. The early Christians endured much persecution and suffering for the cause of Christ. The Romans were against them, as were the Jews and others.

The believers in Christ adopted the fish symbol as a way of identifying themselves to other believers that they came into contact with. It is called the ichthys, the Greek word for fish. As early as the first century they made an acrostic from this word: Iesous Christos, Theou Yios Soter, i.e. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. Still today, Christians put this symbol on bumper stickers, signs, and jewelry. We as believers are called to be fishers of men.

It is a joy and blessing to have eternal life and know we will be with the Lord and all believers in heaven forever. It is always encouraging for me to meet other Christians, for we have a immediate bond in Christ. I ask people I think by their words may be saved, “Do you know the Lord?” when they say yes, I rejoice in the brotherhood. We connect on a spiritual level.

Have a blessed day rejoicing that you have eternal life in Jesus Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

In Christian bonds of love,

Dean

-August 6, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’”

(Mark 7:6).

The Jews in Isaiah’s day provoked the Lord to anger. They committed idolatry continually, while still offering sacrifices to the true God. The Lord had to take them into the Babylonian captivity for seventy years. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day followed in these same ways. Their hearts were not with the Lord at all. They just paid lip service to Him. They rejected Jesus and demanded He be crucified on the cross.

The definition of lip service is very telling, “to say that you agree with something, but do nothing to support it.” The questions we should ask ourselves are these: do our lives support what we say we believe? Is there reality to our faith? Is our heart into it? The Pharisees were hypocrites. They appeared to be religious but there was no substance, no reality to it. They talked a good game, but they didn’t live one. They had the law, the prophets, the covenants of promise, the priesthood, the sacrifices, and the festivals, but they lacked the true faith in action.

Today, many professing Christians go to church and appear godly but their hearts are far from God. Once they leave church, they go back to living in the world. For truly born again believers we must guard against mere outward Christianity without the substance and reality. True faith operates seven days a week. Our pastor coined the phrase many years ago: True Christianity verses Churchianity. To be right with Lord we must give Him our whole hearts and draw near to worship and serve Him. We can’t just go through the motions; saying the right words with our lips with no actions to back it up.

When our lives back up what we say, unsaved people will see the difference. That is why we are here in earth to proclaim Christ by our words and actions. We can then have a powerful impact on the world. Our testimony and witness is bolstered by the way we live for Jesus. Only Christ can change lives. We need daily devotions, times of prayer and time in the Word to strengthen our faith. If we aren’t growing we are going backwards.

Have a blessed day by drawing near to the Lord with our hearts not just our words. Stay safe and healthy.

In service to our blessed Lord and King,

Dean