Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 29, 2020-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-Reacting to the The Light That Exposes Good And Evil-

“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

(John 3:20-21).

In the context our verses today, Jesus is speaking about the light of God’s truth, the Word of God. Those who are unsaved react very differently to the light than those who are saved. The former hide from the light and the latter draw near to the light.

Practicing evil indicates one is unsaved. They are children of darkness and they shun the light because their deeds are evil. The light convicts them and they want to continue in their sin. The light makes them very uncomfortable. Most sin is committed under the shroud of night and darkness. It is interesting that when you pick up a rock you see tiny creatures who live in darkness. When they see the light they scurry to find cover from it.

Unsaved people hate the light because their deeds are evil. They know they are doing wrong and sinning, but they want their sin. They love their sin more than God. The devil’s main mission is to keep them in darkness and away from the light of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

The unsaved stay away from church, do not read the Bible, and do not want to hear the gospel. It makes them feel very uncomfortable. They do not want to be convicted.

On the other hand, those who are saved love the light. They are sinners also but sinners saved by grace. They are not perfect but they are forgiven through the finished work of Christ on the the cross. They hate their sin now and they way they used to live before salvation. The light is now their delight. They want to be convicted by the Holy Spirit through Word of God. They are called children of light.

The Bible is like a mirror that exposes us. It will show us that are deeds are good and have been done in God. If we have thought, said or done something wrong, we are quick to confess it to the Lord. Ephesians 5:9 tells us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).” No longer do we desire sin and darkness, but we yearn for goodness, righteousness, and truth in the light of God and His Word. We are now light-bearers and light-sharers.

Are you a child of darkness or a child of light? Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). Those who are saved by grace walk in the light and love it. If you haven’t received Christ as Lord and Savior, won’t you receive Him today? You just have to confess your sins, turn from them, believe that Jesus died for you on the cross, and receive Him into your heart.

Have a blessed day walking in the light. There is no shame but great joy in the light of His Word. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 28, 2020-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-The Natural Man Does Not Receive Or Believe The Things Of The Spirit-

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

(1 Corinthians 2:14).

Those who are born of Adam, who are unsaved, and devoid of the Holy Spirit cannot understand the things of the Spirit. Unregenerate people, though they be brilliant with high IQ’s , great knowledge, or education, do not understand, appreciate, or receive the things of God; they are foolishness to them.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, Paul wrote, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

The lost are unable to understand, believe, or receive the things of the Spirit. They make no sense to them. The Holy Spirit convicts those who are unsaved and brings them to Christ. Then it is like a light bulb does off and it starts to all make sense. They get saved and the Holy Spirit begins to teach them wonderful things from the Word of God.

In the world, one must appreciate the value of something, otherwise it means little or nothing. Some understand and appreciate art, science, sports, music, or other things that others do not. They have an eye and a passion for them. The same is true of spiritual things. Only believers in Christ who have the mind of Christ can understand and appreciate the things of God; otherwise they are foolishness to unbelievers.

All this being said, this why those who do not know Jesus, do not believe or accept the gospel. They argue against it, for it makes no sense to them. They view Christians as fanatics, extremists, or weirdos. They oppose us every step of the way. We pray for their salvation. This is why getting saved is such a huge transformation. Only God can save a sinner through a Jesus Christ.

Let us thank God we are saved and are in dwelt by the Holy Spirit. We have the mind of Christ. We are able to discern spiritual things, to know right from wrong, and to see things from God’s perspective. We must be patient with the unsaved. We can’t expect them to understand. We pray for the Spirit to open their hearts and minds to the truth.

Have a blessed day walking in the Spirit, knowing the Lord and His truth, and appreciating what we have in Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 27, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-Don’t Worry: Seek First The Kingdom Of God And His Righteousness-

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

(Matthew 6:33).

Today’s verse is both a wonderful promise and a needed reminder especially in all that we are going through during the Coronavirus pandemic. In the context of Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to worry, God knows our needs and provides for us; God is our Heavenly Father and we are His children. The word “worry” is used five times and the word “worrying” once in this passage.

There are so many things we worry about in life, yet none are justified when the Lord is with us. God provides for the birds, the flowers, and all nature, and He provides for us even more. Worrying only causes us so many problems, and is a sin. God takes care of us and provides for our needs.

Jesus gives us the key to overcoming worry in our verse: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” There are so many things we cannot control, but we can control our reaction to them. If we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, it will keep us from worry.

We must ask ourselves, what does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? It simply means to put the Lord first in our lives, to make our service for Him the highest priority, and to thank Him for what He has done for us and given to us. We live in an imperfect, sinful, broken world. If we expect it to get better, we are sorely mistaken. In fact, in these last days it will only get worse.

Jesus promised us that when we seek first His kingdom and righteousness, He will add all these things to us: food, clothing, and shelter. It was true in Jesus’ day and it is true today. He knows what we need and provides for us. There is no need to worry. These uncertain, hard times, serve to remind us how much we need the Lord day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. 2020 is a very rough year but it will pass. We will one day look back and see how the Lord carried us through it.

Let us then trust Him, thank Him, and put Him first in our lives. May we serve the Lord and His kingdom with all our hearts. Doing these things is like a vaccine for worry. Instead of worrying, we pray, read the Word, and serve the Lord.

Have a blessed day putting the Lord and His interests above our own. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 26, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-God Is A God Of Justice And Judgment-

“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

(Hebrews 10:30-31).

So many people think they can do what they want to do and get away with their sin. Nothing has happened to them so far, which lulls them into a false sense of security. We as believers know better. God is a God of justice and judgment. Judgment Day is coming. God has given people so many chances to repent. We are still living in the Age of Grace.

Every unsaved person will stand before the Great White Throne at the end of Millennium. The lost, those who have rejected Christ, will be cast into the lake of fire. God’s judgment and His vengeance will be poured out in abundant measure. He is absolutely fair in all His judgment. If a person’s name is not found in the Book of Life, also called the Lamb’s Book of Life, they will face His wrath. God is completely fair and impartial.

Verse 31 says clearly, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” God doesn’t want to scare people but warn them of the wrath to come. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 says,”In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power.” It is a wake up call.

No one can get away with sin. Criminals on earth may escape earthly judgment but will one day stand before God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And as for us as believers living in these last days, it should encourage us to live more holy lives and to share the gospel with the unsaved. Peter wrote, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘ if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear’” (1 Peter 4:17)?

No truly saved person will experience the wrath and judgment of God. We will have to give an account of our service for the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ but we will not be judged for our sins since Jesus paid for them at the cross.

Let us then live more holy, godly lives, serving our Lord and reaching out to those who are unsaved. God’s justice and His judgment are coming. It is a sure thing for God repeats so many times in Scripture. God desires every person to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. He will force anyone to get saved, they have to choose to receive Him or reject Him.

Have a blessed day safe in the arms of Jesus, saved from the wrath to come. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 25, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-We Have An Advocate With The Father-

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

(1 John 2:1).

God loved us so much as to send His one and only Son, His unique Son, His well beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. He took our place on the cross and bore our sins in His own body, and paid our sin debt in full. He then rose from the dead and ascended back to heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God.

Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father. His wounds plead our case. An advocate is defined as “one who pleads the cause of another, specifically: one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; one who defends or maintains a cause or proposal; one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group.” We have so many different advocates in the world, such as attorneys, and advocates for all different kinds of causes, such as women’s rights, family rights, homeless rights, racial rights, animal rights, and a whole slew of other causes. An advocate represents others, defends them, speaks on their behalf to promote their cause and their rights and maintain them.

Jesus Christ is our Advocate. When we sin, He pleads on our behalf by showing His wounds. The devil is our adversary and is called the accuser of the brethren. The Lord defeats him each and every time. He has never lost a case nor will He ever lose one. There is no one else we could want on our side. He intercedes for us with the Father. In human terms, Jonathan, the son of Saul, tried his best to advocate for David to his father but even that didn’t work. Saul was out to kill David but the Lord was his Advocate and protected him.

John tells us “these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” God wants us not to sin, and we don’t want to either, but there times that we do. We still have the old nature and we can fall into sin. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” David was forgiven for his sins of adultery and murder; Jonah was forgiven for his sin of disobedience in his running away from his mission of preaching to the people of Nineveh; Peter was forgiven for denying Jesus three times. These are just a few examples.

There are two types of forgiveness in the Bible: the first type of forgiveness is judicial. God as judge forgives our sins once and for all through the death and resurrection of Christ. Our sins are washed in His blood. The second type of forgiveness is parental. God as our Father forgives us when we confess our sins and restores the relationship we have with Him that was affected by our sin. A son may do wrong and sin against his father, but he is still his son and the father is still his father. The father doesn’t banish him from the family. We are sons of God forever through Jesus Christ. The word restored is such a beautiful one.

Let us rejoice that we have the Lord Jesus Christ as our Advocate. He intercedes for us, defends us, represents us, and most of all loves us with an everlasting love. When we sin, let us immediately confess it, repent of it, and forsake it. We all know how we feel when we as believers sin and that intimate fellowship is broken. We also know the joy of being forgiven and restored.

Have a blessed day under the advocacy of Christ. There is no better security and comfort than being in close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean