Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 4, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-We Don’t Know What A Day May Bring Forth Tomorrow-

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

(Proverbs 27:1).

Today’s verse is such a challenging and encouraging one. It is challenging because we don’t know what tomorrow may bring forth; it is encouraging because the Lord does know, He has a plan, and He will be with us in all things. The Lord has shown us what will happen in terms of prophecy and our future in eternity is set in Him.

As to the specific details of tomorrow it is in a sealed envelope only to be opened tomorrow. Inside that envelope with the plan for tomorrow comes His sufficient grace. They always arrive together. Paul quoted the Lord’s words to him in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Just this week I saw first hand what tomorrow brought to a dear brother in Christ who is going to be go through cancer treatments; a dear young sister in Christ who was injured in an accident; and our president who contracted COVID-19 and is in the hospital. None of them knew the day before that these things were coming. We feel with their pain and pray for them. All of us face trials and the Lord will use them for benefit and our good.

This is why we should not boast about tomorrow, nor should take it for granted. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, our lives are in the Lord’s hands. We should always trust God for tomorrow. James offers us the best advice, “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that’” (James 4:14-15).

Everything we plan is subject to the will of God. Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). We can choose to fear or we can choose to have faith in the Lord; we can choose to worry or we can choose to be thankful. Someone once said, “Pain is inevitable, misery is optional.”

The hymn writer said, “I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day. And I don’t borrow its sunshine for its skies may turn to gray. And I don’t worry about my future for I know what Jesus said. And today He walks beside me for He knows what lies ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”

Have a blessed day walking with Jesus hand in hand today and leaving tomorrow up to Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-October 3, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Praising God For The New Birth Through Jesus Christ-

“Blessed be the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

(1 Peter 1:3).

The doctrine of the New Birth, also called the doctrine of Regeneration, is so beautiful and wonderful for the child of God. We who were once born in sin and conceived in iniquity, are now born again, born from above, and born into the family of God. It is total transformation. We went from being children of wrath to children of God; from children of darkness to children of light; from those who were dead in our sins to those who are alive from the dead and are seated at the right hand of God in Christ.

Imagine how hard it was for Nicodemus to understand the New Birth. Jesus told him in John 3:3, “…Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus responded, “…How can one be born again when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born” (John 3:4)? He just wasn’t getting it. He was thinking in human terms, but Jesus was speaking in spiritual terms.

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5-7, “…Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.” The Holy Spirit brings about our regeneration through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is all according to God’s abundant mercy.

We shouldn’t be too hard on Nicodemus for not understanding this new teaching. To fully understand regeneration one must be regenerated and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We must be born again. The Spirit teaches us all things.

There was a mention of regeneration in Joel’s prophecy in Joel 3:28-29, it says, “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” This was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.

There is nothing greater than being born again, born from above, and born into God’s family. We should never cease thanking and praising Him what He has done for us. We sing that song on Wednesday nights, “Born again, there’s really been a change in me, born again just like Jesus said. Born again and all because of Calvary, I’m glad, so glad that I’ve been born again.” J.B. Nicholson said, “Those who are born once, will die twice; but those who are born twice will die at most once.” We as believers are born once in Adam in sin, and the second time, in Christ in righteousness. We have two birthdays: one physical and one spiritual. The second death has no power over us and we will never experience it.

Have a blessed day walking in the Spirit with joy as a born again Christian. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-October 2, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Don’t Fear Man But Trust In The Lord For Safety-

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

(Proverbs 29:25).

This two part verse is both a warning and a promise. It a stark contrast between fearing man and trusting in God. Fear is a very real, raw emotion that we should never downplay. We are all subject to fear. The best antidote for fear is the vaccine of faith, hope, and love.

• The fear of man brings a snare – The warning to every child of God is not to fear man, it only brings a snare. A snare is a trap that grabs us and suffocates us. The devil is behind all this fear and wants to frighten us, intimidate us, and discourage us. The fear of man didn’t stop our Savior when He was on earth. Also, after the day of Pentecost, Peter, John, and the other disciples showed tremendous courage despite opposition, persecution, beatings, and imprisonment, they continued to preach the gospel. Paul did the same thing.

What can man do us? They can reject our Christ, mock us, and the worst thing can do to us is to kill us. Despite this, they can’t harm our souls or affect our relationship with the Lord. John wrote in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” God’s love is way more powerful than our fear.

• But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe – Instead of fearing man, we should trust in God for safety. When we fear the worst, God brings us the best. We are in the midst of a devastating pandemic. So many have gotten sick and many have died. It is easy to be fearful. And as result of the coronavirus, many have lost their jobs. What are we to do? The same thing we always do: trust in the Lord. He is our refuge and our help. Instead of worrying about what may happen to us, let us cling to the Lord and thank Him for what He has done for us. If you are reading this devotion, you are still alive. God is still with you, and you have another day. The Lord has seen you through to this point.

The New Living Translation of today’s verse says, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.” Just last night we learned that both President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania have both contracted COVID-19. Let us pray for their speedy and full recovery. We may fear the worst but let us pray for the best.

Let us remember the words found in Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord.” Our hope in Christ cannot be dimmed or extinguished by internal fears or external difficulties. May we not fear man but trust God.

Have a blessed day trusting in the Lord no matter what the outward circumstances may be. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-October 1, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Blessed Are Those Who Are Reviled And Persecuted For Jesus’ Sake-

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

(Matthew 5:11-12).

The context of today’s verses is that Jesus is giving His revered “Sermon on the Mount.” Jesus uses the phrase, “Blessed Are,” nine times in Matthew 5:3-12. This teaching represents how we should live in the kingdom of God. He says, Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted, and those who are reviled and persecuted for Jesus’ sake.

Those who believe in Jesus are persecuted for their association with the Savior. They are treated badly for doing good. They are hated for their love for Jesus and the people of God. Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, you know that hated Me before it hated you. If you were of this world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Believers ever since have experienced some form of persecution. The crime of the these followers is their identification with Jesus. They are falsely accused and attacked. Some persecution is physical, some is mental, some emotional, and some spiritual. Paul wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

A believer is not only content to suffer for Christ but rejoices with exceedingly great joy. Peter and John were beaten and thrown into prison. Acts 5:41 says of them, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

There are places in the world today where believers face heavy physical persecution and are even put to death. But in our country, though we are not physically persecuted, we are put down, reviled, and falsely accused, and discriminated against. You can talk about God and religion and you may be tolerated, but if you mention the name of Jesus Christ, you will be attacked and unmercifully.

May the Lord help us to identify with Him, share the gospel, and live godly in Christ. Jesus promised, “… for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Have a blessed day living for and speaking of Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 30, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Praying For One Another As Paul Did-

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

(Philippians 1:9-11).

The Apostle Paul was a man of prayer. He prayed for the saints he loved in the various churches and he wrote to them in his epistles. He prayed earnestly, fervently, and faithfully for them. He also was very specific in his requests for them. Prayer is also such a blessing in terms our spiritual warfare and in our communion with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

We pray in the name of Jesus and according to the will of God. We lift up the needs of our fellow believers and for the salvation of the lost. We pray for our nation, our government leaders, and our spiritual leaders. We also lift our own needs to the Lord. The greatest regret most of us will have in life is that we did not pray enough. Prayer is hard work and the devil will oppose every step of the way.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” We need to set aside a time and a place to pray, and be committed and devoted to it daily.

When Paul prayed for the Philippians, he asked the Lord to grant them four specific things for their spiritual good and growth:

1. That their love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. Love is the greatest virtue and we can never have enough love for each other. Paul prays for their love to abound even more and for them to have both knowledge and discernment. Discernment is the ability to see what is true and right in every situation.

2. That they may approve the things that are excellent. Paul spoke of these things in Philippians 4:8 that we should meditate on. We should hold high standards for ourselves and other believers; always thinking of the best and looking for the best in others. None of us are perfect but we should strive for excellence in all things.

3. That they would be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Paul prayed for the saints to be sincere until the Lord comes. Sincerity is so lacking today for it seems so many have poor motives. Being without offense is to treat everyone honestly, justly, and fairly, without hypocrisy or partiality.

4. That they would be filled with the fruits of righteousness. Righteousness is being right with God and with one another. It is something we are in Christ and something we live out in our lives in a practical way. It is practicing what we preach and living an abundant life.

May the Lord help us to pray for one another and love each other with a sincere love that show the life of Christ put into practice. When we pray God will answer. To have strong, effective lives and churches we need to pray consistently, faithfully, and passionately for one another. We are only as strong as we are together in Christ.

Have a blessed day in prayer. Things always go better when we pray. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean