Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 28, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“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.”

(2 Timothy 1:5).

When Paul visited Derbe and Lystra, he first met Timothy and his family. The account is found in Acts 16:1-5. From the first moment he met this young man, likely in his late teens, he was impressed with him. He saw his knowledge, zeal, dedication, and commitment. His mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were believers, but his father was not saved. Paul says he was a Greek.

Paul circumcised him and took him along with Silas to serve the Lord. Paul loved him like a son and they became very close through the rest of their lives. I am confident that Paul asked Eunice’s permission before taking Timothy from her; I am equally sure that she was thrilled. Paul was only impressed by Timothy but by his mother and grandmother as well. He had a very godly upbringing and heritage. Most believers are saved while they are young and have their lives ahead of them.

Having a godly heritage is so wonderful, and not something everyone has. Just because a child is born into a Christian home doesn’t make them a Christian, for each individual must make their own decision to receive Christ. But have a loving, godly home where the Word is read and practiced and prayer is made to the Lord really helps. Kids learn from their parents and want to be like them.

It seems that in almost every family there are some unsaved like Timothy’s dad. We don’t know his name nor much about him other than he was a Greek. We also don’t know whether he ever got saved, but I am sure that Timothy, Eunice, and Lois prayed for him. We love our families and want each one to be saved. I am sure Eunice missed Timothy but she was thankful that he was serving the Lord. She had the heart of Hannah the mother Samuel who brought him to Eli the priest to serve the Lord from his youngest days. God answered her prayers, providing her Samuel, and she honored her commitment to the Lord to “lend him to the Lord.”

Timothy was so blessed to have such a godly heritage in the Lord. I am sure that he missed his family and friends when he went out to serve the Lord in full-time Christian work. Timothy became a great man of God, missionary, pastor, and teacher with Paul and then in Ephesus. Timothy who was mentored by Paul went on to mentor others. Paul told him, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

I had several godly men who taught me when I was young and I was so blessed to learn from them. I gleaned from each of them and I am the person I am today because of the Lord and these men. Having a godly heritage is such a blessing. We should start with our children and grandchildren, and with new believers in Christ. Someone will thank us for helping and teaching them.

Have a blessed day serving the Lord and mentoring others in the faith. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 27, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

(1 Timothy 6:6-8).

One of the secrets to being happy in the Christian life is to be content with what we have. Godliness with contentment is great gain. The word contentment is defined as, “The state of happiness and satisfaction.” It is not bound to things, it is bound to Christ and the people in our lives. Being content is being satisfied with what we have and not craving more and more earthly things.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” If the great Apostle Paul had to learn to be content, how about us?

Daily we are bombarded by advertisements. They tell us what we need to buy to make us happy, feel good, be healthier, stronger, more physically fit, safer, or whatever the case may be. No wonder as a society we are in such debt. As a country we owe trillions in debt, and as families and individuals, we owe so much that we bought that we couldn’t afford and now must pay for it over time. Our homes are filled with stuff, our garages are filled with stuff, and our storage sites are filled with stuff. Stuff weighs us down and makes us want more.

We cannot take it with us when we depart out of this out of this world at death or the Rapture. Paul wrote, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” We entered as babies with nothing, and when we leave as adults we cannot take a single thing with us into eternity. Having lost nearly everything, Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” If this is true, then why do we desire so many earthly things? As someone said, “The difference between the men and the boys is the price of their toys.”

When our priority is on the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be satisfied in Him, content with what we have, and thankful to Him for everything. Contentment is a state of mind and heart. Lately we have seen individuals and families lose everything in fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. People who lose earthly things are thankful to be alive and have to start over. I really believe that contentment, thanksgiving, and peace all go together in the Christian life.

When we move, we learn what we can get rid of a lot of what is in essential. At work I had to move many times I got rid of so much that it made it easier over time. The more in life we own, the more things own us in terms of time and effort to care for them. Since I have retired have found I can live on less than when I was working. I am so thankful God led me to retire while I am still young, at the time 62, now 64. I have more time to pray, read the Word, and serve the Lord. I find my days fly by like when I was working and even more.

May the Lord help us to remember that godliness with contentment is great gain. All we need is food and clothing to live so well in this world. The Lord doesn’t always give what we want, but provides for all our needs.

Have a blessed day of contentment in Jesus. We are so blessed. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 26, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Let no one look despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

(1 Timothy 4:12).

Paul, the older, mature, servant of the Lord wrote two letters to Timothy instructing him how to conduct himself in the the church, as a leader and pastor in Ephesus. At this time, Timothy was still quite young, somewhere between 30-35 years old. He had already learned so much from Paul’s teaching and example. He was so loyal, faithful, trustworthy, godly, and devoted to Christ.

Paul was an encourager and helped many young men to serve the Lord, including Silas, Titus, John Mark, Demus, Luke, as well as Timothy. But there was something special about Timothy’s godly upbringing, unbridled zeal, and unquestioned dedication. In Philippians 2:19-22, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.”

Paul considered Timothy his son in the faith and loved him very much. He tells Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, (or as it can be rendered, look down on your youthfulness).” As a young man he would be working with elders and deacons, and others, many of whom were much older than he was. He was telling Timothy, you are ready for this moment, this ministry. Paul of course wanted him to be confident, not arrogant, humble, yet strong in the faith, able to handle people’s problems in a loving, caring, and empathetic way. Youth has many privileges and advantages, but experience and maturity are not usually part of the equation. Timothy, however was mature beyond his years by spending so much time serving the Lord with Paul.

Paul’s advice to him in today’s verse covers the gamete of Christian life and ministry. The qualities that Paul espouses is shows that Timothy should “be an example to the believers.” All of us need to be examples before others, young and old in the church. He gives Timothy six specific things to show his example before others: in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity. These fall into three main areas of character, conduct, and conversation.

1. In word – Our tongues can get us into more trouble than any other part of us. We usually say the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way; or we say the right thing in the wrong way. Paul wrote in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

2. In conduct – The way we live out our lives toward others will either demonstrate our identification of Christ or will misrepresent Him. We need to practice our Christianity so that others will believe in Him and follow Him. Paul said in Philippians 1:27, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ…” Actions are stronger than words, and our actions must back up our words.

3. In love – We can do many good noble things, but unless we do them in love, it is all for naught. 1 Corinthians 16:14 tells us, “Let all that you do be done with love.” We must love each person, friend or foe, returning good for evil, and praying for those who wrong us.

4. In spirit – Some versions do not mention this one, though the best Greek manuscripts do have it. The word is not meaning the Holy Spirit, but our spirit, our character. It has to with our attitudes, motives, and desires. These show on our faces and come across in our actions.

5. In faith – We must have a practical faith that steadfast in Christ. We need to know what we believe, why we believe it, and how it affects our daily lives. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Faith sees us through difficulties, and helps overcome obstacles. Faith must be proven in how we handle life’s challenges.

6. In purity – Purity or personal holiness is sorely lacking today, whether in our relationships with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, fellow saints, or anyone else. Peter wrote, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15).

May the Lord help us as believers to be examples in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity. We may stumble at times, but let us strive for them passionately, and practice them doggedly.

Have a blessed day being an example to the believers and others we come into conduct with. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 25, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having a promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

(1 Timothy 4:7-8).

Americans spent so much time and money exercising. People want to stay healthy, be fit, and feel good. There is nothing wrong with that at all. Paul says that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness profits for now and for all eternity. The priority for us as believers should be on the spirit, the soul, and the body in that order. Heavenly things are vastly more important than earthly ones; spiritual things are way more important than earthly ones; and eternal things are of a much higher priority than temporal ones.

Paul advises Timothy to focus most on what matters the most: godliness. To exercise our spiritual muscles is the key to our spiritual health and well being. While bodily exercise is good, spiritual exercise is even better. It is good to do both as long as we prioritize our lives around the things above. There a many parallels between physical and spiritual exercise. They are both challenging, take a lot of effort, but bring joy and pay dividends for us. The main difference is the opposition that Satan gives us for our spiritual exercise that we don’t get for physical workouts.

Some people walk, some jog or run, and some lift weights, or train for and play sports. They are all good. In the spiritual realm, there are several distinct things we can do to exercise ourselves to godliness: pray, read and study the Word, share our faith with others, and encourage and help others in need. Each of these things requires our our time, effort, and even our money. Are we willing to pay the price to pursue godliness and spiritual exercise? It is so worth it when we do!

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” He also urged Timothy, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:11-12). While physical exercise helps us in this life, spiritual exercise helps us for all eternity.

Have a blessed day in the profitable things of godliness. Stay safe and healthy.

Just as we have to fight for time to exercise our bodies, we must fight even harder to spend time in prayer and the Word. I enjoy my physical workouts that I do, but not as as I enjoy my much spiritual workouts. I have a treadmill and I walk briskly for 4-5 miles and pray while walking. I call it “my prayer walk.” It is my favorite multitasking. Let us exercise ourselves toward godliness, and get in some good physical exercise also.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 24, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.”

(Luke 19:10).

There are many examples of Jesus seeking individuals to save them. Here in Luke 19, it is the chief tax collector Zacchaeus. He also sought the Samaritan woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, each of the twelve disciples, blind Bartimaeus, and many others. Jesus comes to where we are, lost, dead in our sins, separated from a holy God.

He seeks us, we do not seek Him. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the shepherd leaves the 99 sheep in the fold to go after the one lost sheep until he finds it, then brings it back rejoicing. In Luke 15, Jesus gives three parables: the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son (prodigal son). In each case there is great joy. Salvation is represented in each case. It is God’s desire that each person be saved, and none be lost.

Jesus died for every person, bore their sin in His own body on the cross. Not everyone is saved, however; only those who believe in Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior are born again. It is always good to remember how Jesus sought us in His love and bought us with His blood. None of deserve to be saved and to be the children of God.

The hymn writer Leila N. Norris wrote, “Of Jesus’ love that sought me, when I was lost in sin; Of wondrous grace that brought me back to His fold again; Of heights and depths of mercy, far deeper than the sea, and higher than the heavens, my theme shall ever be.”

May we rejoice in our salvation today. Once we were lost but now we are are found. We are now the sheep of His pasture and Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life to save us. We are so unworthy and undeserving. Thank God Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost.

Have a blessed day thanking God we are saved. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean