Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 9, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.”

(Philippians 4:2-3).

While in prison in Rome, Paul heard the distressing news that two women in the church in Philippi were not getting along with each other. These were two sisters were not only Paul’s friends but his co-laborers in the Lord’s work. Something happened to come between them, we aren’t told what, that alienated them from one another. Paul’s heart was broken.

The goal for all believers is to love one another, be of one mind, to dwell in unity, and to serve together. Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” It isn’t always easy. Someone once said, “Oh to dwell above with the saints we love, that will be glory. But to dwell below, with the saints we know, well that’s another story.”

Satan’s goal is to attack Christians and sow discord, division, and distention among them. Charles H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, once said, “Satan always hates Christian fellowship. It is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything that can divide saints from one another, he delights in.” We can’t let Satan win.

Tradition has it that these two dear saints settled their differences and reconciled together. Problems like this, left unsolved and unsettled, can cause great problems in the church. Paul was so happy with they talked it out and asked for forgiveness from each other. The old axiom is so true, “All’s well that ends well.” Fellowship with the Lord and our fellow saints is of the utmost importance.

The key to settling conflicts and maintaining fellowship with each other is a humble, unselfish, and loving attitude. Paul wrote to the Romans, “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:16).

Have a blessed day in fellowship with the Lord, your family, your friends, and especially with your spiritual family. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 8, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“To whom then will you liken God? Or with what likeness will you compare to Him” (Isaiah 40:18)?

“‘To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?’ says the Holy One’” (Isaiah 40:25).

There is no one and nothing that can compare to the Lord, nor do we have the adequate words to describe Him. All other gods are idols. Our God is the Almighty God, the all powerful God, and the all loving, living God. God is our Creator and our Savior.

Isaiah described all the nations as a drop in the bucket, as less than nothing and worthless. He wrote, “Behold, the nations are a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts the isles as a very little thing” (Isaiah 40:15). He also said in Isaiah 40:17, “All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted as less than nothing and worthless.”

Man thinks he is so important, strong, and influential. Sinful people ruling over sinful people are so deceived. Only when one is spiritually awakened by the Lord can he see his need of Him and get saved. Our hope goes well beyond this world to the glory of heaven. One day we will see our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in all of His glory.

In the days of Christ, the people said were blown away by what Jesus did. Mark 7:37 says, “And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’” John wrote at the end of his gospel in John 21:25, “And there are many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.”

We have a great, incomparable God who rules from heaven above. His power is so great and nothing and no one can thwart His plans and purposes. He is our Lord, our King, our Savior, and our Master. We are so finite and insignificant, yet He saved us and made us His children. Let us rejoice in who He is and what He has done for us.

Have a blessed day in our relationship with our incomparable God. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 7, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

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

(Philippians 2:13).

God has our best interests at heart. He has a plan to make us conformed to the image of Christ. He begun working in our lives long before we got saved, and continues until we go home to heaven. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

God works in our lives with such perception, precision, and perfection. He is the divine sculptor. One day we will be finished, but as of now we are not completed yet. Most great artists will not show anyone their work until it is completely done.

God wills and works in us for His good pleasure. He is the Potter, we are the clay. He not only sees what we are now, but what we can be and will be. One day He will put us on display for all eternity. He created man in the His image, but we the sinned, marring His creation. But God never gave up on us, knowing He would send His beloved Son to die on the cross for us. He loves us so much, and knows what to allow in our lives and how to work all things for the good.

Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Only God can bring beauty out of ashes, cause streams in the desert, turn darkness into light, and death into life. Let us be patient with each other and with ourselves, for God isn’t finished with us yet. May we submit to His will and let Him have His will and way in our lives.

The hymn writer Adelaide A. Pollard wrote, “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay! Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”

Have a blessed day trusting God to work in us and through us. We can’t wait to see the finished product. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 6, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.”

(Ephesians 6:21-22).

Paul loved the saints in Ephesians so very much. He spent three and a half years there preaching the gospel, establishing a church, and teaching the Word to them. In writing this epistle, he longed to let them know how he was doing. He needed to send one of the faithful servants, in this case Tychicus, to bring the news. Paul describes him as, “a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord.”

Often Paul sent Timothy to represent him, but Timothy was the pastor of the church there. Paul found Tychicus to be trustworthy in this assignment. In fact, Paul also sent him on a similar mission to the church at Colosse. It says in Colossians 4:7, “Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me,”

It is a great responsibility to represent Paul and do the work of the Lord. One must be faithful. Can you be counted on by the church leadership to serve in some capacity? Jesus said, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). There is no job too small, no task too insignificant, or no mission too unimportant for the servant of the Lord.

Whatever we do, like Tychicus, should be with all our heart as unto the Lord not unto men. The Lord sees not only what we do but also our attitude and motivation, and one day He will reward us. Tychicus was perfectly willing to serve behind the scenes. He didn’t seek the limelight but shined the spotlight on our Savior.

Let us be loyal, faithful servants who can be trusted with whatever He gives us to do. Making a call, sending a text or email, encouraging someone who is down, or comforting those who are grieving, are things we can all do.

Have a blessed day doing the little things or the big things for Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 5, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Paul was acutely aware of the brevity of life. He used every minute of every day to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” At the end of his life, just before he was martyred, he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Paul practiced what he preached: “He redeemed the time…” He saw opportunities, and seized them. He preached the gospel and taught the Word right to the end. The days were evil in his day, just as they are today.

All of us are allotted 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week. What is unknown is how long our lives will last on this earth. The clock is ticking, and we must redeem the time. The word redeem means “to buy back.” We can’t cry over the past or regret the wasted years and wasted opportunities. Start the day fresh today, with new resolve, determination, and commitment. We aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.

When we live today as if it were our last day, we will finish strong, with no regrets. The finish line is up ahead, just keep going. Redeem the time, because the days are evil. Carl Sandburg, noted theologian and man of God once said, “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.”

Have a blessed day redeeming the time to serve the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean