Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-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

-January 7, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 11:1).

The Apostle was an imitator of Christ. He was saved on the road to Damascus and his life was radically changed. He went from a violent persecutor to passionate preacher and proponent of the gospel of God. After his conversion, he spent fourteen years in Arabia learning from the Lord. We can certainly see how he became an imitator of our Savior.

The word imitator is defined as, “a person who copies the behavior or actions of another.” Paul encourages the Corinthians and us as well to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Other words than be used for imitator are follower and example. Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we will be like Jesus. The first disciples were with Him for three full years. They learned from Him, followed Him, heard Him, saw the miracles He performed, and most of all how He loved people.

People who observed the apostles were struck by how much they were like Jesus. In Acts 4:13 we read, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” The Jews knew they had not studied at their institutions of learning. They were educated and trained by Jesus, not by mere men. They were like their Master and Teacher Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:24-25, “A disciple is not above his teacher, or a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.” We want to be like Jesus, and follow those who are following Him. When we disciple others we want them to imitate Christ. It is a great responsibility to be examples to others. Nowadays, we talk a lot about being good role models. The best role models are godly men and women who are walking with the Lord. A mentor can only take a person as far as he has gone himself.

Let us then be imitators of Christ, following His example; and to the extent that a person is imitating Christ, we want to imitate them. Others are watching us and listening to our words. Do they see Christ in us or hear Christ through us? The unknown songwriter wrote, “To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, all I ask, is to be like Him. All thru life’s journey from earth to glory. All I ask is to be like Him.”

Have a blessed day imitating Christ and the godly people around us who imitating Him. Let’s be spiritual producers and replicators. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace and goodness,

Dean