Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-January 12, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

(2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

God best the best comforter. He knows our circumstances, needs, problems, and hurts. He is our Great High Priest. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Our loving, kind Savior feels with us and for us. He lifts us up and encourages our hearts. He intercedes for us with the Father on our behalf. He invites us to come to the throne of grace in prayer.

Our Father showers us with His mercies each day, and they a new every morning. He comforts the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds. The church is like a hospital where the patients are healed in order to stay on staff to help those who are hurting. When God comforts us, He does so that we may also comfort others. Are we ready and willing to comfort others?

Once during during Queen Victoria’s reign, she heard that the wife of a common laborer had lost her baby. Having experienced deep sorrow herself, she felt moved to express her sympathy. So she called on the bereaved woman one day and spent some time with her. After she left, the neighbors asked what the Queen had said. “Nothing,” replied the grieving mother. “She simply put her hands on mine, and we silently wept together.” Often, silence is better than words to comfort people. John 11:35 says of Jesus when He heard that Lazarus was dead, “Jesus wept.”

Our Lord loves us so much and cares for us. He is tender, kind, and compassionate toward us, His children. He wants us to be this way toward others. We all need comfort at various times of our lives. Hugs, kisses, and hand holding mean so much in a time of grief or loss.

Have a blessed day comforting others with the comfort with which God comforts us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His mercy and comfort,

Dean

-January 11, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

(James 1:27).

James was very practical and convicting in what he wrote in his epistle. He made the statement in the preceding verse, “If anyone of you thinks is he religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” We normally we think of religion as following a particular dogma in a very strict and outward way. Christianity is not a mere religion but a personal relationship with Christ.

Jesus came down heavy upon the Pharisees for their wrong emphasis on the outward and not the inward. They washed their hands in a ceremonial way, washed cups, bowls, and other outward things but their hearts were far from God. They told others how to live but didn’t live that way themselves — they were hypocrites. If one is going to be religious in a good way, one must obey God, love Him and others, and follow Christ.

The Pharisees actually took advance of widows. Jesus condemned them in Matthew 23:14, “Woe you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.” James tells us that to have pure and undefiled religion, we must visit orphans and widows in their trouble, rather than making trouble for them. Both orphans and widows often have little in this world. God has a special love and care for them.

Christianity is practical not theoretical; we can’t say we love God if we don’t love our brothers and sisters. John wrote in 1 John 3:17, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” God is generous and He wants us to be also!

It is interesting that James links up visiting orphans and widows with keeping oneself unspotted from the world. If we are going to live for Christ in this world, we must live as Jesus did. He was fully obedient to the Father, and He kept Him unspotted from the world. If we aren’t careful the world can rub off on us; instead we should rub off on the world. Our Lord desires that we be separated from the world and set apart for the Lord.

May the Lord help us to have a pure and undefiled religion, that is godly and practical in the way we live and treat others. If our doctrine is right, it will follow that our practical lives will be right also. We can’t just be Christians in name only, we must show it and live it.

Have a blessed day seeing needs and fulfilling them with pure and undefiled religion. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace and goodness,

Dean

-January 10, 2022-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

(John 14:1).

There are many things that can trouble us in this world from pandemics, economic downturns, health issues, job losses, and a host of other problems. Believing in Jesus helps us each step of the way. Jesus answered and told Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41). Troubles in life come, but let’s not let troubles trouble us. The Lord is with us; The Lord has everything under control. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Lord wants us to trust Him whether the skies are gray or blue, the sun is shining or it is raining or snowing, at all times, and under all conditions. In place of troubled hearts, He gives us peaceful hearts, quiet hearts, trusting hearts. In Luke 24:38 Jesus asked His disciples, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Jesus often told them, “Peace to you.” If our souls have peace, troubles can’t invade them.

A Christian can face whatever comes his way, because his faith is in Jesus not in the things or people of this world. We all need to hear our Savior’s soft, calming, and reassuring words: “ Let not your hearts be troubled.” We can put our heads on the pillow and fall asleep, knowing tomorrow is in His hands. He will guard us, He will guide us — let not your hearts be troubled.

Have a blessed day having trusting heart not a troubled heart. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace and goodness,

Dean

-January 9, 2022-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

The gospel is the good news, in fact it is the best news anyone can hear. It is a life-changing message, that everyone who believes in Jesus and His finished work on the cross will be saved, forgiven, and have have eternal life. The gospel is both beautiful and sublime. It is easy enough for a child to understand as well as everyone else.

Wherever Paul went in the ancient world, he preached the gospel and won many souls to Christ. Here in our text, he mentions three tenants of the gospel: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again. Twice Paul says it is “according to the Scriptures.” God’s plan of salvation was devised before the foundation of the world, before man were created, and thus before the fall.

• Christ died for our sins – The reason Jesus came to die is because we were sinners and separated from God. We were without God and with hope. He bore our sins in His own body on the cross, became our Substitute on the cross, and endured the wrath and judgment of God. No one took His life, He willingly offered Himself in our place. We who were once far from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

• Christ was buried – Our Savior had to go to the tomb then rise again the third day. The grave could not hold Him. Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus for burial in his own garden tomb. Pilate made sure that He was dead, then released the body. He was in the tomb until God raised Him from the dead.

• Christ rose again – Just as He rose to new life, so too, we have been raised with Him. Paul wrote, speaking of Jesus, “who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). God the Father was fully satisfied with His sacrificial death for us that He raised Jesus His Son from the dead. Christ was seen by Peter, all the apostles, and Mary Magdalene. He was also seen by Paul and over 500 brethren. That same power that raised Jesus from the dead, flows through us by the Holy Spirit.

Men and women have preached and shared the gospel down through the centuries. Many risked their lives and were even martyred. Thank God that so many souls have been saved. One day we will be in heaven and see the countless multitudes from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. It is our responsibility to carry forth the message of the gospel to our generation. May we also rejoice in the beauty and simplicity of the message.

Have a blessed day worshiping the Lord and sharing the gospel with others in need. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace and goodness,

Dean

-January 8, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Blessed be the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.”

(Matthew 5:9).

Jesus went up on a mountain and His disciples came to Him, and they sat down to listen to His words. This passage found in Matthew chapters 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount, and the principles to live by are mentioned in Matthew 5:1-13. They are referred to as the Beatitudes. Each verse through verse 11 begins with “Blessed are, or “blessed are you.”

Jesus said, blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, and blessed those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

As believers in Christ we have peace with God. Paul wrote in Romans 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Not only do we have peace with God, but we also experience the peace of God when we pray with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Who better than Christians can be the best peacemakers to those around us.

The word peacemaker is defined as, “a person who brings about peace, especially reconciling adversaries.” It not any easy job, and many don’t apply for it. It takes grace, patience, sincerity, honesty, kindness, and most of all love. We must act and speak softly. Proverbs 15:1 tells us, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh word stirs up anger.” Bringing people back together in reconciliation is an art form. Paul admonishes us, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Sometimes because of an angry, agitated person, we can’t be at peace with them.

May the Lord help us to be men and women of peace, promoting peace, living in peace, and being peacemakers. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall called the sons of God.” We as the sons of God are the best peacemakers when we follow the example of Jesus. May God help us to do so with empathy and sympathy. We need more peace and more peacemakers in this world today.

Have a blessed day being peacemakers. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace and goodness,

Dean