Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 7, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-The Goal Of Every Person: To Be Perfect In Christ-

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

(Colossians 1:28).

In the and around the church in Colosse there were false teachers who did not believe that the Son of God really died on the cross. Therefore Paul presents Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Head of the church. He is preeminent in all things.

Paul’s goal in his ministry was to present every man perfect in Christ. The word perfect here means to be complete or mature. Ultimately every believer will be conformed to the image of Christ. Every believer should be growing in Christ daily. Positionally, each believer is perfect in Christ, but practically we have a long ways to go to be mature and complete in Him.

Paul wrote to the Romans, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Our spiritual growth to maturity does just happen. We need sound biblical teaching and godly examples to follow.

Paul and others preached the gospel and taught the Word to the saints. Paul wrote in our text, Him we preach, warning and teaching every man with all wisdom…” Warnings are given to help us to avoid sin, pitfalls, and dangers around us; teaching helps us to learn to grow and know how to apply God’s Word to our lives. Paul loved the saints in all the churches and always prayed for them.

Paul wanted the very best of each believer “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” It took a lot of prayer, preparation, and perseverance.

We cannot just rely just what we hear on Sunday mornings, we must read and study the Word during the week, spend time in prayer, and serve the Lord. In Acts 20, Paul warned the elders in Ephesus upon his departure, of false teachers that would rise up, like savage wolves not sparing the flock. He had taught them as much as he could for three years. He told them, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

God isn’t finished with us yet. We are His masterpiece, He is the Artist, and He is working in us and on us daily. He never gives up on us. He is our Teacher, we are His students.

Have a blessed day learning and growing. Then we can be a blessing to one another and to the lost around us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 6, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday, happy Labor Day-

-Our Labor Is Not In Vain In The Lord-

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

(1 Corinthians 15:58).

Today is Labor Day, a day our nation and Canada celebrate our workers, most of whom have the day off. There are some people though that do have to work, and many of them really deserve a day off. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the summer.

For us as believers , we labor hard for our Lord Jesus Christ. Twice in today’s verse Paul uses the phrase “in the Lord.” We work for the greatest Master. Paul reminds us how hard the work of the Lord is. It is a spiritual work, and as a result we are opposed by the devil. We must be dedicated and determined to complete it while we live on this earth. There will be plenty of time to rest in eternity.

We may retire from our secular employment, as I have, but we never retire from the Lord’s work. Our work for Jesus and His kingdom will never be in vain. The words “in vain” is defined as, “without success or a result.” In the case of the Lord’s work, we are responsible for putting forth the effort and doing our best; the Lord brings forth the results. Paul points out three things we must do: be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.

• Be steadfast – To be steadfast means to stand firm or resolute for our Lord. There is no room for giving up. The word steadfast is defined as, “resolutely or dutifully firm or unwavering.” It reminds me of our police officers, firefighters, other first responders, and our armed forces. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for all they do to protect and defend us. Are we as steadfast in our service for our Lord?

• Be immovable – When we think of something that is immovable, we think of a great boulder. It would take many strong people to move it. Being immovable in Christ is relying on His strength and power, and not relying our own. In our world of political correctness and going with the flow, we stand out for our commitment to Christ and His Word. The world wants to squeeze us into its mold, Christ wants us to transform us into His image. We can either be conformed to this world or be transformed by the power of God.

• Be always abounding in the work of the Lord – There is a huge difference between merely working and abounding in the work. The word abounding is defined as, “very plentiful, abundant.” It is term associated with farming. Farmers work hard from dawn to desk so that we can enjoy their fruits and vegetables. We too benefit from our pastors, preachers, teachers, missionaries, Sunday School teachers, and other servants of the Lord. We should always support them in prayer and stand by them.

May the Lord help us to labor in the work of the Lord, trusting in our God to bring forth the results. We must always be steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the work of the Lord. The Lord will reward us for our faithful service at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Our labor for Christ is never in vain.

Have a blessed day laboring for our Master with all your spirit, soul, and body. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

“

-September 5, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-The Greatest Virtue Is Love-

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians chapter 13 is often called “The Love Chapter.” The Apostle Paul begins by describing the importance of love, then detailing how love works in our lives, and how everything else lasts at best only in this life. Love is eternal. Love is by far the greatest attribute, the greatest of the fruit of the Spirit, the greatest virtue.

There are three different Greek words for love in the NT: Eros, meaning physical love between a husband and wife; Phileo, meaning the love between friends; and Agape, meaning God’s love. It is the latter that is in view in our text today. It is a giving, self-sacrificing, and eternal love. It is the love that comes from God and is not based on human merit and requires no reciprocity.

In John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” In Romans 5:8, Paul said, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And John tells us in 1 John 3:16, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

In each of these verses God’s love is expressed in actions, not just words or emotions, though they are involved also. 1 John 3:18 says, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” Because we are God’s children and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we can show the love of Christ to others.

The reason why love is greater than either faith or hope is that only love will last for eternity. When we get to heaven, we will see the Lord and be with Him and one another forever. There will no longer be a need for faith to believe and hope to look forward to. But even in our world today, love is still superior to any other virtue or quality. It is involved in our relationship with God and with other people, both saved and unsaved.

Paul shows us what God’s love is, what it looks like, and how wonderful it is. He describes what love is and what it is not in verses 4-8a. Love suffers long (or is patient); love rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; love never fails. Love does not envy, parade itself, is not puffed up; love does not behave rudely, seek its own, is not provoked; and love thinks no evil, and does not rejoice in iniquity.

God’s love supersedes all other loves. It is deep, immeasurable, and beyond our understanding. Paul tried to measure it human dimensions but could not. He wrote in Ephesians 3:17-19, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

There was never a greater expression of love than at the cross of Calvary. Jesus loved the whole world and laid down His life to save us. He made the most tremendous sacrifice to save His lost and sinful people. May the Lord help us to love others as He loved and loves us. Truly we can say with Paul, “…but the greatest of these is love.”’

Have a blessed day showing Christ’s love wherever we go, to whomever we meet, in sincerity and truth. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 4, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Lessons From The Ant: Diligence, Preparation, And Hard Work.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise; which having no captain, overseer, or ruler, provides her supplies in summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.”

(Proverbs 6:6-8)

There are a many animals and creatures mentioned in the Bible, but this is the only reference to the ant. We can learn some important lessons from this tiny creature. Solomon in his wisdom was able to bring these lessons to our attention.

Job who lived during the days of Abraham in the book of Genesis recognized what we can clean from the creatures that God created. Job 12:7-10 says, “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among these does not know that the hand of God has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?”

God created all things and each one is unique and wonderful in its own way. When God directed Noah to build the ark, he was to lead them in two by two to keep them alive during the torrential rain and flood. Just as man repopulated the earth, so did all living creatures as well.

Of all God creatures, the ant, though not the smallest creature, is one of the smallest. Though small and not highly thought of by man, nonetheless has much to teach us.

Solomon writes, “Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider her ways and be wise.” A sluggard is a lazy person. The ant is the antithesis of laziness. The ant is in fact a great example of diligence. Solomon speaks much about diligence and the diligent throughout the book of Proverbs. Ants have been documented to be able to carry up to twenty times their own body weight. If a human could lift twenty times their own body weight that would be about 4,000 pounds!

Though we consider ants pests, we have to respect their hard work and resourcefulness. They have no captain or ruler, yet they get a lot done. They prepare their supplies in summer so that they will have food to eat in the fall. They are definitely not procrastinators!

Just think if we were as diligent, hardworking, industrious, and prepared as the ant what we could accomplish. We wouldn’t wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts, file our taxes, study for tests, or many other important things we do for our homes or jobs.

As believers in Christ, we should be examples of diligence in all areas of our lives. We can’t let laziness, indifference, or procrastination affect us, especially in the Lord’s work. We should be well prepared to work hard for the Lord with excellence. In other words, we should carry our weight, do our part to further the kingdom of God. Ants become giants by adding G-I (Great Intensity).

Have a blessed day working hard, preparing fully, and being diligent in all we do for the Lord. Let’s be ants for Jesus! Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-September 3, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Trusting In the Lord To Direct Our Paths-

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

(Proverbs 3:5-6).

We live in a confused, chaotic, and confrontational world. These are very difficult and troubled times. Today’s verses are very familiar to us and have been a great blessing to believers down through the centuries. We all want to make the right decisions and take the right paths which are what God has for us.

In order to be on God’s path, walking in the center of His will we must pray for His guidance and step out in faith, trusting Him even when we cannot see the way ahead. The heading in my Bible is “Guidance for the Young.” Yes, it is wonderful advice for the young ones, like those graduating from high school or college, and for young couples just starting out. But we know that it applies to every believer, young and old, on a daily basis.

King Solomon wrote most all of the book of Proverbs. It is a book of wisdom to help us live successfully and victoriously through both adversity and prosperity. There are three commands to obey, with a promise of His guidance and direction for those who do obey. This means that if we do our part, God will do His part. Our part is to, “Trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; and in all your ways acknowledge Him.” His part is, “And He shall direct your paths.”

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart – It doesn’t sound that hard but it is. We need to not only trust the Lord, but trust Him with every fabric of our being. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul wrote, “For we walk by faith not by sight.” Instead, as mortal beings, we often do the very opposite: we walk by sight not by faith. We must trust the Lord fully on a daily basis for whatever circumstances may come. The key is to trust Him with all our heart.

• And lean not on your own understanding – Our own will, thinking, knowledge, and experience is really not going to help us. When we lean on our own faulty knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, we fall so often. We can’t see the future, we don’t know which path to choose. So often we make decisions without consulting the Lord and it turns out predictably bad at best and disastrous at worst. This is a warning to each of us. Proverbs 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.”

• In all your ways acknowledge Him – We must acknowledge the Lord in all things. The way to do this is to look to Him in prayer and through the Word of God. In Psalm 16:8, David wrote, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” The Lord wants us to be still before Him and listen to His voice. Jesus is Lord of all, He must then be my Lord in all.

• And He shall direct your paths – This is God m’a promise to us when we trust in Him with all our hearts, don’t lean on our own understanding, but acknowledge Him in all our ways. He will make our paths smooth or straight. We will be in God’s Will. Someone once said, “The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” God will direct our paths in His ways and according to His timing. God is not in a rush, only we are.

Have a blessed day and weekend, trusting in the Lord to direct your paths. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean