Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 19, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

(Ephesians 4:29).

Our words have the potential for great blessing or great harm. Paul wanted the saints in Ephesus to grasp that concept. We have before us both the negative and the positive, as is the case so often in the Scriptures. First the warning against corrupt words that tear down; then we have the edifying words that encourage and build up.

Words are very powerful for the bad or for the good. James spoke of the harmful effects of the tongue in James chapter 2. Paul wrote, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” Before we were saved, our tongues spewed evil, vile, lying, and despicable things. But now that we know the Lord and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we choose our words.

In the New American Standard Bible, the word unwholesome is used. Nowadays people are very health conscious and do not want to put anything unwholesome into their bodies; that is a very good thing. Words come from our mind and heart and defile us. We must guard against profanity, off color jokes or comments, sarcasm, and comments harmful to others based on their race or gender. So many have lost their jobs in disgrace over comments that they made. Our bad words have a bad affect on those who hear them.

We all want to be a blessing, to point people to Jesus, and encourage and build up others. The word edify is defined as, “to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge.” It has to do with building up, establishing, and encouraging others. It involves positivity over negativity. Just think of the sheer number of words we speak on a daily basis. Once we say something, good or bad, we can’t take back the words.

When we do say something bad, we must ask the Lord and those whom we offended to forgive us. When we say something good, we are assured that the words will do good to others. Good words lead to necessary edification and impart grace to the hearers.

We as believers don’t often realize how many people hear what we say and how we say it. Paul wrote in Colossians 4:5-6, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside (i.e. unsaved people), redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Let us avoid angry, hurtful, lying, and destructive words and speak words of love, grace, truth, and encouragement.

Have a blessed day speaking positive, edifying, truthful, and encouraging words. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 18, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.”

(Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Each one of us, in fact everyone born into this world, has a void the size of our heart that only Christ can fill. Nothing else is will fit, nothing else will satisfy. Everyone who does not know the Lord is still searching, still seeking for satisfaction. They are looking for love in all the wrong places.

There is nothing wrong with money or things; we need money and possessions to live. The problem is loving them. When one loves anything or anyone more than the Lord it is vanity and grasping for the wind. The more one has, the more he wants, and the things he has, the more he wants. I once saw a license plate frame that read, “He who dies with most toys wins.” That is Satan’s lie.

It is ludicrous to think that anyone can take anything out of this world. Job was right when he wrote, “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” (Job 1:21). Someone once asked an attorney for one of America’s richest men, “How much did leave? The attorney answered, “He left it all.”

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from their faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” It is not money that is the root of all evil, it is the love of money. Jesus told a parable of the rich fool who loved money and possessions so much that he decided to tear down his barns and build larger ones to prepare for a carefree and abundant life. That very night he died without God. God required his soul. He made no preparation for eternity.

Jesus warned us in Luke 12:15, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Any good thing that we put ahead of the Lord becomes a bad thing. It isn’t too late to come to Christ, confess your sins, believe in Jesus who died for your sins, and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

For those of us who know the Lord, we also need a reminder of what is really important in life. We often get so busy in pursuing money and possessions that we have given Jesus second place, second best. It never works. Our lives suffer, our family suffers, and our ministry suffers. We need to ask God to forgive is. He will forgive us and restore us.

May the Lord help us to put Him first in everything. Our heart’s throne only holds one and it must to abdicated to our Savior. Then it will be victory not vanity.

Have a blessed day living fully for Jesus and loving Him above anyone or anything. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 17, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1).

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Most of his have heard the famous expression, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But we must be careful who we imitate! Paul states very clearly that we should be imitators of God as dear children. Children tend to imitate their parents in how they dress, in what they say, and in what they do. That is why parents have such a great responsibility, especially in spiritual things.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word imitate is defined as, “to take or follow as a model.” An imitator is thus “a person who copies the behavior or actions of another.” It is indeed a heavy responsibility to follow good role models and as well as to be good role models ourselves. This is exactly what we have before us today: imitating or following God as dear children and following Paul’s example.

We are the dear children of God. There is no better example and role model than our Lord Jesus Christ. The disciples followed Christ His entire earthly ministry and were eyewitnesses of His life, words, and miracles, and His resurrection from the dead. He called them with two words, “Follow Me.” Jesus not only taught them what to do and what not to do, He showed them. He practiced what He preached. His example was perfect because He was and is perfect.

Christ called Paul as an apostle and servant of the Lord. He became the greatest apostle of all. He was so humble and always pointed people to our Savior. He wrote, “Be imitators of me, just as I also imitate Christ.” We may wonder how did He learn to imitate Christ? He spent fourteen years alone with Christ in Arabia before beginning his ministry. That is exactly what it takes for us too: spend time alone with Jesus in prayer and His word especially on a daily basis. There are no shortcuts to godliness and spiritual maturity. It takes effort and hard work.

There are many examples of those in Scripture who imitated others who imitated God: Joshua with Moses, Elisha with Elijah, and Timothy, Titus, and others with Paul. We all need good mentors to follow and learn from. Then we can become mentors of others. It is the best way of teaching and training.

Have a blessed day imitating Christ and others who imitate Him. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 16, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Showing Good Conduct According To God’s Wisdom-

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

(James 3:13).

Every believer in Jesus Christ should strive for good conduct for the Lord. God’s wisdom helps us to be faithful to Him in all we do. The word conduct means, “The manner in which a person behaves, especially on a particular occasion or in a particular context.”

We represent the Lord Jesus in this world. Our conduct will either draw people to Christ or push them away from Him, depending how we live our lives. In order to have an impact on people we must live a godly life before them. There is a beautiful poem by Edgar A. Guest, entitled, “I Rather See A Sermon” that says, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear, Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear; And best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, for to see good put to action is what everybody needs.”

It is easy to talk the talk, but harder and much more blessed to walk the talk. When we show good conduct it reflects upon our Savior. Just knowing that our good conduct is pleasing to the Lord should be enough for us. We know however that Jesus will reward us at the Judgment Seat Of Christ. It will be so glorious to hear His words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” He will give us crowns for our service rendered with the right attitude.

The armed forces have what is called the Good Conduct Medal, which is one of the oldest in United States Armed forces. The criteria for this medal as defined by Executive orders, is it awarded to any active duty enlisted member of the United States military who completes three (or until 1996 in the Navy, four) consecutive years of “honorable and faithful service.” Such service implies that a standard enlistment was completed without any non-judicial punishment, disciplinary infractions, or court martial offenses. If a service member commits an offense, the three year mark “resets” and a service member must perform three additional years of service without having to be disinclined, before the Good Conduct may be authorized. During times of war it may be awarded for one year of faithful service. It may also be awarded posthumously, to any service member killed in the line of duty.

May the Lord help us to be loyal, faithful servants for Him, showing good conduct according God’s wisdom. We do this not just for three years, but for our whole lives on earth. Let others see Jesus in our actions, not just our words. People would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.

Have a blessed day living your life for the Lord in good conduct that points people to Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 15, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-We Don’t Know What Tomorrow May Bring-

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

(Proverbs 27:1).

Do we ever really know what tomorrow holds for us? Even with all our planning, preparation, and responsibilities, we are never sure what will happen tomorrow. There are days when everything goes as planned, and other days where nothing does. The key for us is to live by God’s plan and timetable. He always knows what is best for us.

Solomon wrote, “Do not boast about tomorrow.” The Lord is the only one who knows what will happen tomorrow, therefore we must trust Him fully and walk by faith. Life is so uncertain. There are a number of things that can come with a new day, such as an illness, accident, natural disaster, injury, financial loss, or any number of things. How we respond to change is so important in the Christian life. We change, our circumstances change, but God never changes.

We are not even sure if we will be alive tomorrow. We could die or the Lord could come to take us all home to heaven. This is why Solomon says, “You do not know what a day may bring forth.” There is a certain amount of anxiety or worry associated with the unknown or uncertain.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” We should all say, “I have too much to do today to worry about tomorrow.”

There are so many things that we cannot control; we must leave everything in God’s hands. All we must do is, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Simply put it means to live for the Lord and serve Him. He promises that, “all these things shall be added to you.” God is not a subtracter or divider, but an adder and a multiplier. He also likes to surprise us. Life is more exciting when we do not know the outcome. Life offers no guarantees, but God guarantees to give us life abundant and eternal. He promises to meet our needs, care for us, and help us.

God gives us our marching orders on a daily basis. We often want to know more, which gets us into more trouble. The hymn writer Ira F. Stamphill wrote, “I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day; I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray. I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said; and today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.”

May we commit our day into the Lord’s hands and pray for His will to be done. Let us leave tomorrow with the only One who knows what lies ahead. Our faith will drive away fear, worry, anxiety, and stress. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

Have a blessed and peaceful day walking in the center of God’s will, leaving tomorrow in His hands. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean