Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-July 24, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Living Graciously And Lending Generously-

“A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.”

(Psalms 112:5).

Everyone wants to be known as a good man or good woman. The standards the society is one thing, God’s standards are quite another. To be good, we must do good to others without any hope of getting anything in return. The old expressions are true, “Actions are louder than words,” and “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.”

It so so important to practice what we preach. Our character and our conduct must match our conversation. The psalmist says, “A good man deals graciously and lends…” A good man in God’s sight goes good not to show off, but to show God. In Acts 11:23-24, speaking of Barnabas, “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all with purpose of heart that they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great number of people were added to the Lord.” Barnabas was a good man who encouraged others in the Lord. He was known as “the son of encouragement. We need more like him today.

The word gracious is defined as, “Courteous, kind, and pleasant.” This is exactly how we as believers should treat everyone, saved or unsaved. We should show the love of Christ and point people to Him. Galatians 6:9-10 says,”And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to the household of faith.”

Lending, or giving to those in need is a very big part of showing the love of Christ in action. In the OT, the Lord commanded the Israelites to lend to their fellow Israelites with no interest. They could only charge interest to the Gentiles. The Lord Jesus taught us to lend and give freely, especially to those who can’t pay us back.

When we deal graciously and lend freely, God will bless us and we will guide our affairs with discretion. Psalm 112:6 says, “Surely he will never shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.”

Are you a good man or good woman by God’s standards? Do you deal graciously with others, lend, and do good for others in Jesus’ name? Do others see your courtesy, kindness, and pleasantness?

Have a blessed day being good and doing good with no hope of return. God will bless you and reward you. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-July 23, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Jesus Loves And Blesses Little Children-

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid hands on them and departed from them.”

(Matthew 19:13-15).

Jesus loves everyone and wants everyone to come to Him. In Scripture, God has a special love for those who the weakest and most vulnerable such a widows and orphans, and as we see in today’s text, little children.

The disciples reacted poorly in this situation and actually rebuked the parents who brought them to Jesus. In Mark’s account of this incident, it says in Mark 10:14, “But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.’” There were a few times when Jesus got angry with His disciples, and this was one of them. Jesus used this incident as a teachable moment.

There is a double lesson for us in this story: how He loves and cares for little children and how coming to Him in salvation we must come like little children. We are blessed in both of these lessons for our lives.

• Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them – Parents have a big role in bringing their children to Jesus. They are with them 24-7 and have the greatest impact on their spiritual lives. Often, we do not think that the very little ones can grasp the gospel, and while it is true they must be able to understand sin and their need of Christ, we still need to impart to them from their youngest days the message of the gospel. It is amazing what they can understand from a very young age.

Sunday School is a big blessing to the little ones, but parents should not rely on the teaching their kids are getting on Sunday morning. The parent’s and Sunday School teaching must be complimentary. Both together provide children with the biblical foundation for their lives. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

• For of such is the kingdom of heaven – When we come to Christ, we must come like little children with a simple, child-like faith, fully relying on God. This why it much easier to win children to Christ than adults. Adults as the experience life become more skeptical and self-reliant than children. We as Christians are children of God and we must learn to trust our Heavenly Father to provide for us and protect us.

When the disciples argued among themselves over which one of them was the greatest, Jesus brought in a child to show them a lesson in humility. Little children don’t debate among themselves who is greatest. They just get long with each other and play together.

May the Lord help us to teach our kids about Jesus and lead them to Him. Children are precious to the Lord and to us. Let us also remember that we as believers are His children. He loves each of us and cares for us. We need that child-like faith and trust in our Heavenly Father. He is our Abba Father, which means daddy.

Have a blessed day living lives as children of God and being good role models to our children. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

“

-July 22, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Who Do You Say That Jesus Is-

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am.’ Simon Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

(Matthew 16:15-16).

Jesus first asked His disciples in Matthew 16:13,”Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” In these days they did not have public opinion polls like we have today. Even, so it was known how people felt about the issues of the day. The disciples had no shortage of answers: “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

While public opinion is important, one must answer this question for themselves, “But who do you say that I am?” The answer we give determines our eternal destiny. It interesting what various people actually called him: Pilate called Him, “the Man;” the centurion at cross called Him, a righteous Man;” Nathaniel called Him, Rabbi;” and John the Baptist called Him, the “Lamb of God.”

Peter, as he always did, spoke up and answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blessed him for his accurate answer and noted that flesh and blood had not revealed this to him but the Father who is heaven. Jesus is no ordinary man, prophet, teacher, rabbi, or leader, He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Jesus came into this world to die in our place on the cross, bear our sins in His own body, endure the wrath and judgment of God B against sin that was our due, and rose from the dead for our justification. The message of the gospel is simple, yet sublime. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

It is not enough to believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, one must believe that He is your personal Savior. You must repent of your sins, confess them to God, believe that Jesus died for you, and receive Him as your personal Lord as Savior. This decision determines your eternal destiny.

Who do you say that Jesus is? Martha also confessed Him by saying, “…Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who is come into the world” (John 11:27).

Each person must decide to believe in Jesus and receive Him into their lives. John 1:10-12 says, “He was in the world, and that world was made through Him, and the world did not known Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Can you say, “I believe in Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior?” Jesus is the one and only way to God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is Son of God who gives us life abundant and eternal.

Let us rejoice that God has saved us from our sins and given us eternal life. Our faith is in Jesus who must be Lord of our lives. We must put Him first and give Him our full submission. There is only one question on the test, it is pass or fail. There is only one correct answer who Jesus is. The unknown hymn writer wrote, “He is Lord, He is Lord! He is risen from the dead and He is Lord! Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Have a blessed day walking with Jesus and following Him. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-July 21, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-It Is Better To Give Than To Receive-

“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

(Acts 20:35).

Paul spent three years preaching and teaching the Word in Ephesus. He established a strong and effective church. His protege Timothy later served in Ephesus for many years. Acts 20:17-38 represent Paul’s last words to the elders at Ephesus before he left them. There is no record he ever returned there again.

Paul was a tremendous example to the saints and leaders in Ephesus. In his final words he mentions that he served the Lord in humility with tears and trials, kept back nothing that was helpful, taught the Word publicly and from house to house, testified to both Jews and Gentiles, did not shun to proclaim the whole counsel of God, did not covet anyone’s silver or gold, and worked to support himself and those who served with him. What a life he lived with such dedication, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice.

We as believers today, like those in Ephesus, and throughout the ancient world, have quite an example to follow in Paul. He also warned the elders that after His departure, false teachers will come in and they must be ready to defend the faith, standing on the Word of God. He exhorts them to do two important things: support the weak and remember Jesus’ words that it is better to give than to receive.

• You must support the weak – Paul uses his example for them to follow, “I have shown in every way, by laboring like this, you must support the weak.” Weakness among God’s people can be in various forms: spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, financially, or materially. Paul wrote in Romans 14:1-2, “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one who believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.” He also said in Romans 14:5, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.”

The devil always tries his utmost to divide Christians. We have different controversial issues today such as whether to drink wine or not; and since the pandemic, to wear masks or not, and whether to be vaccinated or not. Love should always prevail. Romans 13:8 says, “Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore Love is the fulfillment of the law.”

• Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is better to give than to receive.’ – These beautiful words of Christ are not found anywhere in the four gospels. Paul said that Jesus said them, and obviously they were widely known by those who were alive in the days of Christ. The last verse in the Gospel of John says, “And there also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world could not contain the books that would be written. Amen” (John 21:25).

This principle of giving and receiving is so important in Christianity. Jesus is not denigrating receiving but is exalting giving as being more blessed. We know this from many Scriptures as well as from our personal experience. It feels to good to give to others in need. Jesus taught a lot about giving. When we open our hearts and our pocket books, there is no end to all the blessings that will result. The Christian life is all about giving. Sometimes it hard for us to receive. Whenever there is giving in love, there should also be receiving with thanksgiving. Receivers must let givers get their blessing of giving. One day, givers will become receivers, and receivers will one day have their opportunities to be givers.

May the Lord help us to support the weak, show love and patience; and to remember it is more blessed to give than to receive. This will help us all to live in unity, love, and fellowship.

Have a blessed day supporting and giving to those in Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-July 20, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-Walking In The Light As Jesus Is In The Light-

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

(John 1:7).

The Apostle John wrote five books in the NT: the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation. He is affectionately known as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” Jesus loved each of His disciples, but the relationship He had with John was the closest. John reclined on Jesus’ bosom.

In 1 John, he describes God as the God of light, love, and life. He wrote in 1 John 1:5, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.” The other John, John the Baptist came to bear witness of Jesus. John 1:6-8 says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of this Light, that all through Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”

Jesus said in John 8:12, “…I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” The moment we get saved, we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Paul wrote, “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12).

Now that we are saved, we are children of light who walk in the light as He is in the light. We, like John the Baptist, bear witness of Christ, the true Light of the world. Jesus told His disciples whom He sent out into the world, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

In is a great privilege and huge responsibility to walk in the light as children of light, bearing the light, and pointing others to Jesus. Jesus is like the sun and we are like the moon. The sun shines on the moon and gives it its light. Without the sun, the moon is completely dark. Sin is the only thing that can affect us from walking in the light. When we sin, we must confess it and ask for God’s forgiveness. This restores our fellowship with God so we can continue walking in the light. When we sin as believers, we do not lose our salvation, but our closeness to the Lord. This is why John wrote in 1 John 1:6, “If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Our sin not only affects our fellowship with God, it also affects our fellowship with one another. That is why we can rejoice “that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

If you have ever been to a Christian concert or large gathering at a football stadium, and they turn all the lights off, and each Christian holds a candle, you know how awesome that is! Each of us is a light in this world for Christ. The song writer wrote, “This little of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Let us never underestimate our lights. We may just be one person in this dark world, but when we shine our light for Jesus, He can use us to light the whole world. May we walk in the light as our Savior is in the light; we will have fellowship with the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit, and with one another.

Have a blessed day walking in the light as children of light, pointing people to Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean