Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-May 2, 2022-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

(Philippians 4:4)

Life is about choices, and for us as believers in Christ it is about choosing to rejoice in the Lord even in the midst of difficult, painful, and troubled times. We cannot choose our trials, but we can change our reaction to them. Someone once said, “Pain in inevitable, misery is optional.” Feeling sorry for ourselves, complaining, or blaming others others are not profitable or viable options for us.

When our attitude is joyful, we can thank God in everything and for everything. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Choosing joy is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you just look at what Paul went through, it will become clear it was a difficult path for him, yet he had the joy the Lord. He was so happy that the Lord had saved him and was with him daily. He looked beyond the circumstances of life on earth to eternity with Jesus in heaven. He suffered for Christ, knowing he would one day reign with Him.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul cataloged what he went through: “Labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. Five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” Wow, what a list! I know my sufferings have never come close to his!

If Paul could rejoice in all that he went through, I can rejoice in what I go through. He was such a great example to all of us. We often think we could not have handled what he handled, but we must realize God gave him the same sufficient grace that is ours in Christ also. Twice in today’s text Paul uses the word rejoice. He highlighted and emphasized it. May the Lord help us to choose joy over misery. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Have a blessed day rejoicing in the Lord always, our unlimited source of joy. Stay safe and healthy.

In His marvelous love and grace,

Dean

-May 1, 2022-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

(1 Corinthians 11:24-25).

The Apostle Paul received this command directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. The account of the institution of the Lord’s Supper is also found in all four gospels, and is of vital importance for the church. The Breaking of Bread along with baptism are the two great tenets of the church, and thus for all believers in Christ. Only believers in Jesus can participate in taking the bread and wine in remembrance of our Lord.

Twice in today’s text, Paul quotes the words of Jesus, “In remembrance of Me.” Our Lord did not tell us to remember His birth, His life, or any of His signs, miracles, or teachings; He told us to remember His death at Calvary to save us from our sins. Of course He wants to remember all of those other things too, but His purpose in coming into this world was to die in our place on the cross.

When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper there in the upper room with His disciples, He had just celebrated Passover with them. He was to be the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God who willingly laid down His life for us. There was a clear fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the establishment of the New Covenant.

Our Savior took bread, a symbol of His body, broke it, and He and the disciples ate from it. Then He took the wine in a similar way, a symbol of His blood that was shed to wash away our sins. They took the wine and each drank from the cup. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” Bread is the staff of life and wine represents joy. The early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week, which was Sunday. They met together in this way each week.

1 Corinthians 20:7 says, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” Some churches celebrate the Lord’s Supper once a month or once a quarter, but biblically, it should be every Sunday.

It is a precious meeting that is spontaneous as the Holy Spirit leads men to share from the Word, and to offer up hymns in keeping with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. There is usually a distinct theme each Sunday on a particular aspect of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. It never gets old, dull, or monotonous; but it is rather fresh and flourishing each time. What a privilege we have to remember our Lord!

Have a blessed day remembering the Lord, hearing the Word, praying, and having fellowship with the saints. Stay safe and healthy.

In Calvary’s bonds of love,

Dean

-April 30, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

(Philippians 2:13).

From the moment we get saved, God is working in our lives to make us like His Son Jesus. He is skillfully and patiently working on our character as the master sculptor. He loves us so much and desires us to be the very best we can be. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Just as God is patient in working in our lives, so too, we must be patient with ourselves and one another. He knows what He doing. He knows just the right combination of trials and blessings that we need to grow. He has given the Holy Spirit to convict us, teach us, grow us, and mold us. He wants us to surrender our wills to His, and let Him have His way in our lives. He works in us to will and to work for His good pleasure. We must be willing, He will never force us.

Paul was a wonderful example. When he wrote Philippians he was imprisoned in Rome for the cause of gospel. Despite his very difficult circumstances, he was filled with the joy of the Lord, and used every opportunity to preach the gospel. The Christian life is not easy but it is the best life. God gives us peace, joy, and grace in all our circumstances; and He has a plan for each of us. He wants us to be clean vessels that He can use for His glory. We just need to remember that He isn’t finished with us yet. When He is finished with us the finished product of our lives will be on display for all eternity.

Have a blessed day obeying God’s will and letting Him have His will and way every day. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-April 29, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

(Ephesians 6:5-7).

If someone asked you this question, whom do you work for? How would you answer? If you have a job, you would respond with your company name, and that is certainly true, but in actuality if you are a believer in Christ, you work for Him. He is our Lord and King; He is our boss. Christians should be the best employees for this reason. Our performance, attitude, attendance, and punctuality should be outstanding.

We should be sincere whether the boss is watching us or not. Jesus our true boss is always watching and listening to us. As servants of Christ we are His bondservants and must do God’s will from our hearts. Whether we are employees working at the office some days or from home all the days, it should not matter. We should do our work as unto Jesus.

Paul says to all of us in verse 7, “With good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men.” This applies equally well to those who are homemakers, retired folk, military personnel, and or kids in school. It is a good reminder to us of who we really work for, Jesus Christ. When we please Him, it won’t be hard to please those over us. We are all stewards of our time, talents and treasures. One day we must give an account of our service to our Lord. Paul wrote in Romans 14:12, “So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.”

Jesus is the best judge, for He sees, hears, and knows everything. Not only that, but He knows our thoughts, motives, attitudes and desires as well. Let us do everything in His name and for His glory. At times we make mistakes, sin and fail, we all do, but let’s confess them to the Lord and move on.

Have a blessed day working for Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In His service,

Dean

-April 28, 2022-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:11-12).

Christ is the Head of the body and all of us our members of His body. In every church there are leaders whose mission is not do do all the work themselves, but to train others to serve. The goal is for those who are trainees to learn and serve in the church. The end result is that these who are trainers will equip the saints for the work of ministry so that all the saints will be edified.

In the church there should be no benchwarmers, only participants. On God’s team everybody plays. By working together for each other, everyone benefits. There should also be backups if the primary person in a particular ministry is unable to be at church. In sports, they call it “the next man up” mentality. It is all about the team. No one seeks the glory, but gives all the glory to the Lord.

The elders, pastors and deacons are the recognized leaders and are responsible for the ministry. They will have to give an account to the Lord. Part of that responsibility is training the next generation of young people. In our church, we call the young kids in our church, the church of the future. They are watching, listening and learning. Healthy churches prepare others to take over in the future. It is amazing how much these kids and young adults know, and how much they can handle. The church is not an organization but an organism. Like an organism there is life and growth.

If you have a ministry in the church, seek to get younger ones involved with you. It is always good to speak to the pastor about it first. Equipping and edifying leads to growth for all.

Have a blessed day serving the Lord. We should all encourage and build up others. Stay safe and healthy.

In the service of the King,

Dean