Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-January 19, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-Victory Over Temptation-

“There is no temptation overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may bear it.”

(1 Corinthians 10:13).

God’s desire for us that we be victorious over temptation and sin. The devil is behind all temptations, in fact he is called the tempter. The uses our sinful flesh against us. He makes every temptation seem so good. He did this for the first time with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

The devil knows our weaknesses and seeks to exploit them. God never tempts us to do evil in any way, shape, or form. James 1:13-16 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

In the preceding verse 12, we are warned how susceptible and vulnerable we are, Paul wrote, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest we fall.” There are three important things we notice in our verse today:

• Temptations are common to man – We are not the only ones to experience temptations, in fact every human being experiences them. The Greek word Paul uses speaks of both trials and temptations. Unsaved people have no victory over trials or temptations.

• But God is faithful, who will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able – God knows us through and through and how much we can handle; and He will not allow us more than that. He wants us to be overcomers.

• But with temptation will also make the way of escape, that we may be able to bear it – In every temptation, God sends the way of escape. For Joseph, he fled the temptations with Potiphar’s wife. Though he was falsely accused and was thrown into prison, he maintained his innocence before God and man. In 1 Timothy 6:11, Paul wrote, “But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” The best thing for us in the midst of a temptation is to flee. In the times where that is not possible, we must pray for God’s help.

God’s will is that we may be able to bear it. Another word for bear is endure. When Peter began to sink in the water when walking on the water to Jesus, looking at the winds and waves, he simply cried out, “Lord, save me.” When we are tempted or face trials, we should immediately call out to the Lord for His aid.

Let us remember the commonness of temptations and trials, how faithful God is not to allow them to be more than we can handle, and that God provides the way of escape for us. He wants us to be victorious over temptation and sin, and to benefit from our trials in our lives.

Have a blessed day walking closely with the Lord in victory. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-January 18, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday, happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day,

-Jesus Preached Non-Violence-

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”

(Matthew 5:38-39).

Today being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is a good time to remember, that our Lord Jesus Christ taught and practiced non-violence. Christians down through the centuries and to the present day, have been persecuted for their faith in Christ. Jesus never advocated armed conflict nor any other violence, retaliation, or revenge.

In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord took the law one step further. He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. In Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Our Lord said, “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the the other to him also.” The natural inclination is to fight back, retaliate against those who wrong us, and seek revenge. Jesus taught the exact opposite. In fact, Matthew 5:44 tells us, “But I say to you love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:17-21, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he thirsty, give a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Paul never fought back nor did abdicate violence. He suffered much persecution in his life and service for the Lord. He was beaten, stoned, and imprisoned. We should follow Jesus’ and Paul’s teachings. When we show love not hate, good not evil, compassion not retaliation, our testimony for Christ will shine brightly.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor, preacher, and socialist activist on behalf of black people. He preached and practiced non-violence. He led the movement and suffered much. Sadly, one who abdicated non-violence died a violent death of an assassin’s bullet. His legacy lives on in our country and among black people and people of all races. Even when others promoted violence, he stood firm and did not. We need more men like him today! There is power in love!

May the Lord help us to be prayerful, loving, non-violent people who preach the gospel of the love of Christ, and practice what we preach. Let us overcome evil with good.

Have a wonderful and blessed day, remembering our mission and how God wants us to treat others with love. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-January 17, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-How To Live As Lights In This World-

“Do all things without complaining or disputing, that you become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

(Philippians 2:14-16).

Being a Christian in a non-Christian world is not easy. Paul described the conditions in his day as crooked and perverse. The world today is this way also. It is so wicked, evil, and sinful. We as believers almost feel like fish out of water. Our home and citizenship is in heaven. We live in the world but we are not of this world.

Paul tells how we should speak and live as children of God. He shares what not to do: complaining and disputing; and what to do: Be harmless children of God, without fault, shining as lights in this dark world.

• Do all things without complaining or disputing – It seems nearly everyone today complains and disputes. These two words can be translated as “grumbling and arguing.” We need to be different than the world. It is easy to complain or grumble, but instead we should give thanks; it is also easy to dispute or argue, but we must be cooperative and treat others with respect.

• That you become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault…shining as lights in the world – Being blameless and harmless does not mean being perfect. Job was not perfect, but it says of him, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1).

Christians are not perfect but forgiven. God wants us to be a good testimony before both the saved and unsaved, and always point people to Jesus, giving Him all the glory for saving us and changing our lives. By living as lights in the world, we will stand out in the darkness. It is said that the darker the night, the brighter the stars shine.

Where there is crookedness – we should be straight; where there is perverseness, we should blameless, harmless, and without fault. In terms of our conversation, character, and conduct, we must be like Jesus. We will have times when we stumble and sin. Then we must confess our sins and be forgiven and restored.

May the Lord help us to live heavenly lives on earth. Let us challenge one another and hold each other accountable. Our Savior is with us and we can do it with His help.

Have a blessed day living as lights, being blameless and harmless children of God, and shining brightly for Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-January 16, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Walk In The Spirit-

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

(Galatians 5:16).

Before Jesus went to the cross and died for us, He told His disciples in the upper room that He would send the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Spirit of truth, to be with them. Every believer in Christ is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. To be victorious in our walk, we must walk in the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is to be controlled by the Spirit.

Paul tells us that when we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. There is a constant battle between the new nature as controlled by the Holy Spirit and the old nature as controlled by the flesh. To experience the victory, we must obey the Word of God, pray, put on the whole armor of God, and be led by the Spirit.

Our three enemies in the world are the world, the flesh, and the devil. Paul wrote in Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Walking in the Spirit is living the life of Christ. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law.” We cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit; the Holy Spirit produces it in us. It is the fruit, not fruits, of the Spirit, meaning all these traits are as one fruit. You cannot have just one or two or a few, they are one.

We cannot fight the flesh in the flesh, it will not work. We must walk in the Spirit and yield to His leading. The Spirit teaches us, leads us, empowers us, encourages us, and intercedes for us. He also convicts the unsaved to bring them to salvation and convicts us as believers when we sin. May we walk in Spirit and not fulfill the lusts or desires of the flesh.

Have a blessed and victorious day walking in the Spirit. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-January 15, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-The Truth Shall Make You Free-

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

(John 8:31-32).

There were some Jews who believed in Jesus. Most of them, however were against Christ and excommunicated those who believed in Jesus and openly followed Him. Case in point, the blind man in John chapter 9 who testified of Him. John 9:25 says, “He answered and said, ‘Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know that though I was blind, now I see.’” In John 9:34, it shows their response, “They answered and said to him, ‘You are completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?’ And they cast him out.”

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; and His word is truth. Twice in our text today Jesus uses the word “truth.” Our Savior challenged the Jews who believed Him to know the truth which makes them free. Jesus also told them in John 8:36, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Only Jesus can set us free from our sins, from the power of death and the control of the devil.

When Jesus makes us free we are free forever. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and we are His servants. We are set free to live as slaves of Christ and righteousness. Romans 6:18 says, “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.”

Oh how thankful we should always be for being made free to live for Christ and serve Him. We have liberty in Christ, not liberty to sin, but liberty to righteousness. Praise God we are free indeed. To be a disciple is to be a follower of Christ. So much in today’s world, especially on the internet is purported to be truth but is not. Sometimes we don’t know who to believe or what to believe; but we can always trust Jesus who is the truth and His word. Both never change. The Bible is the truth we live by.

Have a blessed day and weekend walking in the truth of Christ and His word, we can never go wrong. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean