Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 4, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put in the new man, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

(Ephesians 4:22-24).

Paul discusses the subject of the old nature verses the new nature here in Ephesians 4:17-24 and also in Colossians 3:5-17. For the believer, each of us have two natures, the old nature which is sinful, coming from Adam, and the new nature, which is holy and righteous.

Paul calls upon us to put of the old man or nature, and put on the new nature. You can’t change the old nature, it must be crucified and put to death, and its evil ways must be put off. Before we were saved, that is how we lived. The things we are are to put off are found in Colossians 3:5-9, “fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry.” He also mentions putting off “anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and “do not lie to one another.”

These sins make us cringe, and we can’t believe we are capable of committing all of them. This is why we must put them off daily, and when we sin, we must confess them to God. Man labels sins, some as very evil like fornication, adultery, and murder, and others as much less evil, such as lying, getting angry, or listening to or telling off color stories or jokes. God is holy, sinless, and righteous, and all sins are evil and repugnant in His sight.

On the other hand we are to put on the new nature or new man, which is the life of Christ. Paul also lists the qualities which we should put on: “tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, forgiving each other, and especially putting on love and peace.”

The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer and produces these character qualities as we submit to the Lord, obey Him, and do His will. We must remember that we are growing and becoming more and more like Christ until the time we get to heaven and we will fully conformed to the image of Christ. In the mean time, we are in a spiritual battle between the old nature and the new nature. With every victory, we gain strength in our spiritual lives.

Our prayers should be that God will show us what needs to be changed in our lives, by putting off the old and putting on the new. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” If the great apostle needed to be crucified to the flesh, how much more do we need to be as well. We can’t give the flesh an inch or it will take a mile.

Have a blessed day putting off the old and putting on the new. Let’s fill our minds with God’s Word, pray for His guidance and help, and have fellowship with His people. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 3, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”

(Ephesians 3:20-21).

Paul ends Ephesians chapter 3 with his second prayer of this great epistle on a very high note. In musical terms it is a crescendo. A crescendo is defined as, “the loudest point reached in a gradually increasing sound.” The first three chapters comprise the doctrinal portion of the epistle and the following three chapters represent the practical portion.

Today’s verse gives us such great encouragement as we pray to the Lord, and trust Him in our lives. God is not only able but He is more than able to do anything and everything, beyond what we can ask or think. Often we pray for pennies when wants to give dollars. We are content with mediocre lives, when God wants to do something great for us and in us. God is the God of the impossible. God doesn’t do anything halfway, in fact He goes beyond one hundred percent. He does exceedingly abundantly beyond what we ask or think.

God isn’t limited, He has all power. His power is the same power that created the world, the same power that parted the Red Sea, and the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. This tremendous power is in us through the Holy Spirit. God’s power is working in us and through us as we submit to Him.

We have no power in and of ourselves; we can’t rely on ourselves, our abilities, or resources, lest we succumb to our overwhelming circumstances. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The key phrase to this verse is, “through Christ that strengthens me.”

Each of us should pray for God’s perfect will to be done in our lives in every situation on each day. The best desire is His desire. Song writers Gregory Ferguson and Rory Nolan collaborated to write the wonderful Maranatha song, “He is Able.”

“He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. He is able more than able to handle anything that comes my way. He is able, more than able to do much more than I could ever dream. He is able, more than able to make me what He wants me to be. He is able, more than able, to do much more than I could ever dream. He is able, more than able, to make me what He wants me to be.”

Let us pray, live our lives, and serve Him today with the realization that He is able and more than able. His grace is sufficient to make us efficient and proficient!

Have a blessed day knowing God is able and more than able to handle anything in our lives. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 2, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

(Isaiah 26:3).

Isaiah chapter 26 is known as “The Song of Salvation.” Verse one says, In that day this song will sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for the walls and bulwarks.” God is our Protector and Defender.

One of the greatest gifts God gives to us is His peace. The Lord 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.” Our Savior spoke these words of comfort and encouragement in the Upper Room prior to going to the cross. The peace of God which surpasses all understanding helps us face any and all circumstances.

Isaiah acknowledges that it is God Himself who keeps us in perfect peace. The world’s peace is temporary, God’s peace is eternal; the world’s peace is changeable, God’s peace is unchangeable; the world’s peace is unreliable, God’s peace can always be counted on; the world’s peace is imperfect, God’s peace is perfect.

Because God is perfect, He keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him. Another word for stayed is focused. We need to focus not on ourselves, our circumstances, or what is happening in the world, but on the Lord. It doesn’t mean we should lock ourselves up in a room and ignore what is going on around us; we need to follow the events that are happening around us in the light of the Word of God. We should always be aware of prophecy and the promises of God.

The reason we can enjoy God’s perfect peace is because, “he trusts in You.” When we find ourselves anxious, worried, or troubled, we need to refocus on Jesus. The hymn writer Helen H. Lemmel wrote, “O souls are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

It is such a blessing to be kept in perfect peace in the midst of an imperfect world! When look up above to Christ in glory, we can live below a victorious story! Let us trust God one day at a time. We follow Him for He knows the way because He is the way.

Have a blessed day focusing on Jesus and enjoying His perfect peace. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-October 1, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

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

(1 Peter 5:7).

Life is very difficult and there are many things that cause us to be anxious, troubled, worried, or fearful. Certainly COVID-19 is high on the list, but our spouses, children, grandchildren, and friends are even greater concerns. Peter the apostle, elder, preacher, and teacher, knew first hand how care or anxiety can affect a person.

After all, Peter was the disciple who got out of the boat on the Sea of Galilee and with Jesus’ permission began walking on the water. He did fine while his eyes were on the Savior; but as soon as he took eyes off the Lord and focused on the wind and the waves, he began to sink. He cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” Jesus reached out and brought him into the boat and the sea became calm.

Peter learned the lesson of his life. He discovered two things: that cares and troubles come, and we need to cast them upon Him who cares for us. Jesus is only a prayer away. Peter’s prayer was the shortest in the Bible, “Lord, save me,” just three words. When we cast our burdens on the Lord, He is there for us, and cares for us. He doesn’t minimize our cares, but maximizes His care for us.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” We must cast our burden on Christ and must leave it there. So often we pray and cast our burden on the Lord at the throne of grace, only to take it back again and worry about it. That never works.

Jesus is our burden bearer. He bore the burden of our sin on the cross, and daily He bears our burdens as we call upon Him. Psalm 56:3 says, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Let’s remember our Lord wants us to cast our care upon Him, all of it, all the time.

The modern hymn writer John W. Peterson wrote, “No one understands like Jesus, when the foes of life assail; You should never be discouraged, Jesus cares and will not fail. No one understands like Jesus, when the days are dark and grim; No one is so near, so dear as Jesus — cast your every care on Him.”

Have a blessed day casting your care upon the Lord. His arms are strong and His heart is overflowing with you. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 30, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

(Ephesians 1:7).

In Ephesians 1:3-14, Paul speaks about all the awesome things that God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ. He wrote in verse 3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Spiritual blessings are ours now on earth and will be ours in heaven for all eternity.

Paul mentions just a few of them in this passage: we have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world; we have been holy and blameless; we have been predestined to be adopted as sons into God’s family; we are accepted in the Beloved; redeemed and forgiven through the blood of Christ; we have wisdom and prudence in knowing the mystery of His will; we have the guarantee of gathering as one in Christ; we are sealed with the Holy Spirit; and we have obtained an inheritance which is ours forever.

We are indeed so blessed! There are many other blessings we read of throughout the NT. Today’s verse is one of the richest in all the Scriptures: we have redemption and forgiveness through the blood of Christ and according to His grace. Each of these blessings are also doctrines in the NT.

The word redemption means to “buy back.” We were dead in our trespasses and sins, and under the control of the devil as slaves to sin. Jesus came into the world to take our place on the cross and pay for our sins. The hymn writer Fanny Crosby wrote, “Redeemed — how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.”

We are thus forgiven of all our sins: past, present, and future. Jesus died for us, bearing our sins in His own body. His blood has washed away every one of them. The hymn writer Ellis J. Crum wrote, “I had a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe. I needed someone, to wash my sins away. A now I sing a brand new song, “Amazing grace” all day long, Christ Jesus paid the debt, that I could never pay.”

Redeemed by the blood and forgiven of every sin, Christ died on Calvary to make me whole within. And just to think, it is all by His amazing grace. None of deserve so great a salvation. As we know, God in His mercy did not give us what we deserved: an eternity in hell away from His presence; but by His grace, He gave us what we did not deserve: forgiveness, eternal life in heaven forever, and making us His beloved children. May we praise and thank Him every day!

Have a blessed day rejoicing that we are redeemed and forgiven, all by His grace. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean