Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 25, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-Singing Praises And Giving Thanks-

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Ephesians 5:19-20).

Christianity is a joyful religion. It is not based on mere doctrine on paper, but joyful practice on a daily basis. The joy that we experience is due to our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He makes all the difference in our lives both now and for all eternity.

It has been difficult not being able to physically gather together to break bread and worship the Lord together. We are thankful for online messages with music by our soloists and our Worship Team. Paul wrote of two wonderful things we can do in our homes or wherever we are: sing and thank God. By doing these things we will be filled with joy.

• Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord – There are so many great hymns and songs over the last 400 or more years that have tremendous words and beautiful melodies. We need to sing praises to God. Not everyone has a good voice but we can all sing in our hearts. The internet is a good source to look up hymns and songs by title or words. We can sing in the shower, sing in the car, sing alone or with others, but most of all we can sing in our hearts.

• Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – Thanksgiving to God is not reserved for once a year on Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday of November. Every day should be a thanksgiving day. We should thank Him always for all things in Jesus’ name. We have so many things to thank God for. The hymn writer wrote, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done. Even in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic or any other difficult circumstances, we can thank God for who He is and what He has done for us.

Let us be joyful Christians singing praises to God and giving thanks to Him. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this the the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Let us make a joyful noise unto to the Lord.

Have a blessed day singing, praising God, and thanking Him in and for all things. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-October 24, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-The Fear Of The Lord Is The Beginning Of Wisdom-

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

The book of Proverbs is one of the books of Poetry in the Bible. Wisdom is one of chiefest themes in the book. It was written by King Solomon, who was the wisest king ever. 1 Kings 4:30, 32 tells us of the extent of his wisdom, proverbs and songs, “Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand five.” That is a vast collection.

The reason Solomon was so wise is that when God asked him what he desired, he asked for wisdom to govern Israel. God gave him great wisdom. There is so much we can learn from Proverbs. Today’s text tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Job 28:28 says, “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.’” The phrase, “the fear of the Lord is found throughput the Bible. When Job quoted the Lord, He equated the fear of the Lord with wisdom. Solomon also wrote in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

If we want to please God and be successful and victorious in our lives, we need to fear the Lord and be wise. Fearing the Lord is reverencing Him and wisdom is putting our knowledge into practice in useful ways. Mere head knowledge will only puff us up in pride. Reading the Word to obey it and apply it to our lives is God’s intention for us. The more we know, the more humble we should be. We won’t graduate from the school of God until we get to heaven.

There are many things we can learn in this world but none more important than the Word of God. It is the highest form of higher education; And God’s wisdom is so much greater than man’s. James wrote, “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:7). May God help us to have God’s wisdom in our world today.

Have a blessed day fearing God and walking in His wisdom. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-October 23, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Bear One Another’s Burdens-

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

(Galatians 6:2).

Today’s verse is short, clear, and direct. It is not hard to understand, but practicing it is another story. Under normal circumstances it is difficult, but in a pandemic such as we are experiencing it is even harder. We all have been affected in one way or another. We all have our own problems, big and small.

Jesus taught us to be humble servants and to love and serve others. We all have problems, trials, and needs, but those who are members of the body of Christ care about each other. Christ is our Head, we are His body, the church. We can’t stand idly by while others are hurting without not only praying for them, but helping them in some practical, tangible ways.

Paul tells us, “Bear one another’s burdens.” To bear someone’s burden is to help them carry it. Jesus taught the parable of “the Good Samaritan.” A man was accosted, assaulted, and left for dead on the side of the road. Three men passed by him: a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan. The first two saw him, and walked away without helping him. The Samaritan not stopped and helped, he took care of him and brought him to an inn, and asked the proprietor to give him further care and told him he would pay him for it his next time through. The Samaritan illustrated what it meant to love your neighbor.

Jesus taught by His words and actions to love others as we love ourselves. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:26-27, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” We cannot look away or walk away without getting involved, especially when we have the resources to help.

By bearing the burdens of others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are fulfilling the law of Christ, which is the law of love. Jesus told His disciples in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus’ love for us was practical. He died for our sins. He laid down His life for us. John wrote in 1 John 3:16-18, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

We feel good when we care and share. We are most like Christ when we give and forgive. As followers of Christ we must be burden bearers. The command is easy, but doing it consistently is the hard part. It takes self denial and self sacrifice. Are we willing to do it? There is no other option for us.

Have blessed day and weekend bearing the burdens of others in prayer and in actions. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-October 22, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Giving Good Answers With Appropriate Words-

“A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is.”

(Proverbs 15:23).

We all know how good we feel when we give a good answer with just the right words at the right time. Often however, we think of what we should have said and didn’t. There are game shows on TV where the contestant is handsomely rewarded for coming up with the right answer within the allotted time.

Proverbs 24:26 says, “He who gives the right answer kisses the lips.” Giving the right answer is great, especially to a spiritual question. If we don’t know the answer to someone’s question we should ask for some time to research the answer. It is best not to fake it. God’s answers to man’s questions are found in God’s Word. Proverbs 25:11 tells us, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

Not only is it good to give a right answer but it should be a soft answer. Words are powerful and can harm people. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Words spoken in anger are never good and only makes things worse. Our tone of voice is as important or more important than our words themselves.

Right words spoken in the right way produce right results. We should always strive for this. When we read of the phrase “due season,” the word that comes to mind is appropriate, or apropos. May we be careful what we say and how we say.”

Have a blessed day speaking the right words at the right time, in the right way. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-October 21, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Delighting To Do God’s Will-

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”

(Psalm 40:8).

The writer of Psalm 40 is David. It is one of Messianic psalms speaking of Christ. In verses 6-8, we read of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, speaking to His Father. They are applied to our Him in Hebrews 10:5-10.

Our Lord Jesus Christ delighted to do the Father’s will throughout His life on earth, even to going to the cross to die for our sins. In His humanity He prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane that the cup of suffering and death on the cross would pass from Him. He knew how painful the cross would be spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. He also was well aware that there was no other way to save sinners.

Delighting to do God’s is often painful, difficult, and undesirable to the flesh, yet, God gives both the joy and the grace to do it. Psalm 143:10 says, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” Obedience to God’s will is something we must learn in our walk with Christ and practice all our lives.

God’s will is something that is good, acceptable, and perfect for us, for the church, and for all mankind. Paul wrote, “And do not be not conformed to this world, but but transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Every believer should desire, determine, and delight to do the will of God. There is no happier or better place to be than being in the center of God’s perfect will. Jesus found it so, so did Paul, and so did many others in Scripture. Jesus said in John 4:34,”My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” He later said “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).

How about you and me? Are we willing to do God’s will and delight to do it at all costs? It will not be easy, there will be sacrifices to be made, hardships to endure, and obstacles to overcome. F.E. Marsh said, “The will of God — nothing less, nothing more, nothing else.” Let us delight to do God’s will.

Have a blessed day desiring, determining, and delighting to do God’s will. Stay safe and healthy.