Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 22, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“And if one members suffers, all the members suffer with it; and if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).

“Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

There is a oneness between believers in Christ: Christ is our Head and we are members of His body. The early church loved and supported each other, especially in times of persecution and hardship. If someone had a need, the saints would help them. They sold property that they owned and brought the proceeds to the apostles to distribute it as the situation dictated.

Acts 4:34 says, “Nor was there anyone who who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.” They cared and shared. There was even a time when the churches of the Gentiles sent monetary gifts to their brethren who were in need and suffering in Judea.

Today’s text shows how we should feel with each other in bad good times and good times. Both show how much we care. First, when one member suffers, all members suffer with him, all weep with him. This leads us to pray for those who are sick, in pain, out of work, hurting financially, or having problems. It is not enough to pray, though we all should pray; but we should also help as we are able. Though we may not have experienced the same exact experience, we may have gone through something similar. God allows trials in our lives so that we can empathize and sympathize with others. Empathy feels with someone, sympathy feels for them.

Second, we are to rejoice with those who are rejoice and are honored. This is sometimes harder to do than feeling with those who are suffering and weeping. Our sinful hearts find it hard to be happy for others who succeed or are blessed in some way. We may wonder, why did God bless them and not me? We should be just as happy if others are blessed as if it happened to us. Someone may get a new job or promotion, be able to retire, have a new baby, buy a new home, or get a new car. We must be on guard against envy and jealousy.

Let us then rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep; we can’t be fully happy if our brothers and sisters are hurting, nor should we begrudge anyone who is honored and blessed. May we be happy in the the answers to prayer and blessings of others just as much as if they were our own.

Have a blessed day feeling with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

In His eternal love,

Dean

-April 21, 2022-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Paul reminds the Corinthians that they belong to Jesus. He bought them with His own precious blood. They are to be holy in spirit, soul, and body. They can’t just live any way they please, for they must consider that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is a very valuable lesson for us today.

Corinth was a very worldly city; sin abounded everywhere, and in every place. In many ways it reminds me of San Francisco, California today. Although, Las Vegas, Nevada, is actually called “Sin City.” The early Christians came from this background. Paul admonishes them to be separated from the world and be set apart for God. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 says, “‘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.”

If our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and belong to Jesus, then we should take care of them and glorify Him in the process. Sleep, food, drink, and exercise are very important for all of us. I personally believe we shouldn’t endanger ourselves or engage in any sinful or questionable behavior. We are stewards of all that God has given us. We will one day give an account to the Lord for everything we have done in the body.

There is a wonderful hymn written by William Longstaff, that sums up our study today, entitled, “Take Time to be Holy.” The second verse says, “Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone. By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.”

Have a blessed day living a holy life, taking care of the body and glorifying the Lord who bought us with His blood.

In His grace,

Dean

-April 20, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. “

(1 Peter 5:7).

Over the last ten years or so, the number of caretakers in the U.S. has mushroomed into multibillion dollar industry. Being a caretaker is not easy, whether they are paid or not. Many caretakers are family members: husbands or wives, sons or daughters. My older brother takes care of our 94-old mother. He is a fantastic caregiver. For so many others they don’t have a caregiver, and are living in nursing homes, often in poor conditions.

Jesus is the best caretaker anyone can have. He calls upon each believer to cast their cares and burdens on Him. He promises to be with us and meet our needs. Jesus even made provision for His own mother Mary. He gave the apostle John that responsibility even as He hung on the cross. John took her into his own home and cared for her like his own mother for the rest of her life.

We all have cares, burdens and needs. God never intended for us to carry these loads ourselves. The story is told in a Daily Bread devotional of a young child who was walking along with his father and a family friend. The boy started picking up rocks that he called “piggies,” since their shape reminded him of little pigs. He filled every pocket he had, and then started carrying them in both of his hands. His father offered to help his overburdened son, but the boy suggested that the father carry him while he carried the stones. We are often like that: due to our pride and self-dependence, we want to still have the control. Like the son, we often carry so many cares and burdens that weigh us down.

David wrote in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved (or shaken).” Jesus is not only a caretaker but also a burden-bearer. We all have them: family issues, job issues, physical issues, mental issues, or any number of other issues that challenge us and weigh us down. So many things are out of our control but we keep holding onto them until we fall under their heavy load.

Will you let go of your cares and burdens and give them to Jesus? Jesus bore His cross all the way along the Via Delarosa to Calvary. He had been scourged so severely that He collapsed under the load. The Roman soldiers compelled a man named Simon of Cyrene, a passerby, to help carry the cross. It is mentioned that he had two sons, Alexander and Rufus who were followers of Jesus. Jesus feels with us, knowing how heavy our cares and burdens are.

The hymn writer Arthur Luther wrote, “Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail; One still loves and cares for you, One who will not fail.” Jesus has never failed us and He never will.

Have a blessed and lighter day casting your cares and burdens on Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In His care,

Dean

-April 19, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

(Romans 15:13).

Paul was very practical in his writings in the NT. He wrote his epistles to individuals such as Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, and to churches such as Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. Today’s verse is one of the most encouraging in the NT. Paul uses three words over and over in his writings: peace, joy, and hope.

God is the God of hope. He raised Jesus from the dead and promises that He will come again, and we will be with Him forever in heaven. The hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote, “O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, be Thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.” Hope always looks forward to the future to keep pressing on in the present. As He has been with us in the past, we can take solace in what lies ahead for us. As our pastor often says, “The best is yet to come.”

• Peace – Peace is so needed in a topsy turvy, ever changing, fearful and uncertain world. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” When we are saved we have peace with God; as we live, He gives us the peace of God that passes all understanding. We just need to pray and thank Him, and not be anxious.

• Joy – Just as the world cannot understand the peace we experience, even in troubled times, so it cannot know true joy outside of Jesus. The world has joy only in joyful times, we have the inner joy at all times. The joy comes from our relationship with Jesus, not from our circumstances. It says In Nehemiah 8:10, “Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

• Hope – We can’t live victoriously if we are constantly carrying the burdens of the past. The devil always reminds us of our failures, sins, and mistakes. The Lord however, reminds us that He has forgiven us and given us so many blessings. The hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” says, “Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow — Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!”

Let us then rejoice in our peace, joy and hope that come from the Lord and reign in our hearts. May His will be done in our lives today. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Have a blessed day in all you do. Stay safe and healthy.

In His eternal care,

Dean

-April 18, 2022-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

(Romans 10:9-10).

We have just remembered and rejoiced in Christ’s death on the cross for our sins and His glorious resurrection. For the believer, these two events energize us to proclaim Him to others. The message of salvation is so simple, yet so profound. It is indeed life changing. In the Book of Romans there are so many gospel verses that make up what is called “the Roman Road.” Today’s verses are part of that road.

Someone made it into a gospel tract: The problem of Sin (Romans 3:23) – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The Wages of Sin Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death”; The Love of God (Romans 5:8) – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”; The Free Gift of Salvation (Romans 6:23b) – “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”; Accepting the Free Gift (Romans 10:9-10 and Romans Romans 10:13 – “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” What a glorious road to heaven and eternal life, all from this great book of Romans!

We thank God that He loved us and gave His Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and give us the gift of eternal life and salvation through faith in Him. Today’s text represents the end of the road. One must confess Christ with the mouth, and believe in the heart. We all come to Christ as sinners in need of a Savior. By receiving Christ we are saved, forgiven, and have eternal life. What a great blessing. We confess our sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior; and we believe in Him and His finished work in the cross.

Years ago I heard a song based on Romans 10:9 that said, “Romans ten and nine is a favorite verse of mine, confessing Christ as Lord, I am saved by grace divine. For there the words of promise in golden letters shine. Romans ten and nine.” It is so inspiring and encouraging to us all!

May these words ring in our ears: “That if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.” Confession and belief are inseparable and vital. Our risen Savior still saves sinners and changes lives today.

Have a blessed day sharing the Roman Road with weary travelers. Stay safe and healthy.

In the way, He is the way, the only way,

Dean