Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 19, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Words That Build Up Others Not Tear Them Down-

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

(Ephesians 4:29).

In Ephesians 4:25-32, Paul writes about the danger of grieving the Holy Spirit. No believer wants to grieve the Spirit and displease the Lord. He warns against lying, prolonged anger, and bad language. He also specifically mentions bitterness, wrath, anger clamor, evil speaking, and malice in verse 31.

In each case, Paul states what not do first, then tells us what to do instead. This is both a great teaching method but also a great way to live. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:22-24 regarding the old nature and the new nature, “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

In today’s text Paul is speaking about the use of our tongues, specifically in how we speak to other believers. He commands not to let any corrupt or as it can be translated, unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth…” Words can hurt, they can tear down, they can stumble others, and they can cause division and strife. This can includes off colors jokes or stories, lies, exaggeration, gossip, or flattery. It also includes racially derogatory or inflammatory speech. It is never acceptable to put others down.

Instead, Paul tells the saints to speak, “what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Corrupt speech tears down others, but good speech encourages and builds them up. Most of us learned from our parents that “ if you have anything good to say, don’t say anything.” While there is wisdom in this, we should always find something good to say about others without flattery. The only exception is if sin is involved, then we must speak against it and take a stand.

Once we say something we can’t take it back. We can and must ask for forgiveness, and we must forgive others who speak against us. The expression is very true, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If we can speak edifying and encouraging words we won’t have to take them back and ask for forgiveness. We will leave behind a blessing and not have to clean up a mess.

May the Lord give us grace in our speech so we can build up others and encourage them. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” The tongue can either be a great curse or a great blessing depending on what we say and how we say it.

Have a blessed day speaking the truth in love and building up others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 18, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-It Not About Us But About Others-

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each you esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

We live in a very selfish, self-centered world. The world tells us to “look out for number one.” The goal is to get as much as we can for ourselves, rely on ourselves, and not to let anyone get in our way. In the world, the one with the most toys wins.

Then along came Jesus who taught unselfishness, humility, and serving others. He showed people that there is greatness in serving others and self must be denied in order to achieve it. Today’s text is Christian philosophy at its highest and its best. The acronym J-O-Y is so encouraging: Jesus first, others second, yourself last. This is true joy!

When Paul got saved, the Lord taught him humility and unselfishness. He was once a proud, young Pharisee. He was so well educated, highly knowledgeable, and successful in Judaism. The Lord turned him into a humble, unselfish, servant of Christ who lived for Christ and others.

Paul uses the word “let” three times to express how we should live in this world. We have two natures: the old nature which wants its own way, the things of man, and to please self; the new nature wants God’s will and way, to serve the Lord, please Him, and to build up and serve others. There is a constant spiritual conflict between the two natures.

• Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit – There is no room for self, ego, pride, conceit, or arrogance. The world doesn’t revolve around us. Everything we have belongs to the Lord and comes from the Lord. We must give Him all the glory and use what we have to help others.

• Let each esteem others better than himself – This really runs against the grain of our old nature. We are taught by the world how good we are and to strive to be number one. To have lowliness of mind to give credit to others, their suggestions, ideas, and accomplishments. It is one thing to esteem others the same as ourselves, but quite another to esteem them better than ourselves.

• Let each of you not only look out for his own interests but also for the interests of others – We are good at looking out for our own families and their wellbeing, our own stuff, and our own interests, but not nearly as good at looking out for the interests of others. Only Christians can rejoice with those rejoice and weep with those who weep. It takes grace to be just as happy when others succeed as we are when we succeed.

May the Lord help us to live for Christ and for others. Let us be genuinely humble, unselfish, and caring toward others, seeking their best interests as well as our own. It isn’t easy to esteem others better than ourselves and to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ but it the only thing to do.

Have a blessed day in unselfishness, humility, and seeking the welfare of others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 17, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Be Imitators Of God-

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”

(Ephesians 5:1).

Paul used many metaphors to describe the Christian life: walking, running, boxing, wrestling, farming, among others. Here in our text he employs acting in the theatre. The actor imitates the character he is playing.

One of the highest aspirations we as believers in Christ can aspire to is to be an imitator of God. To walk as the Lord Jesus walked, to talk as He talked should be our goal and pursuit daily. 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself to also to walk just as He walked.”

The word imitators used here in Ephesians 5:1 is the same one used in 1 Corinthians 11:1. It is the Greek word mimeomai, meaning a mimic, an actor, or a mime. The verb is always used in exhortations, and always in the continuous tense, suggesting a constant habit or practice. W.E. Vine describes this way in his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

When one imitates another they become like the other person. The old expression is certainly true, “Like father, like son.” Children desire to be like their parents. They mimic their words, facial expressions, and actions. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Paul was a great role model, and the Lord wants us to be worthy role models and mentors as well.

In order to imitate someone, you have know them well, hold them in high esteem, and want to be like them. Oscar Wilde once said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” There are many basketball players who want to be like Michael Jordan.

As believers we want to follow the example of Jesus and the apostles who followed Him. To do this we must be saved and know and obey the Scriptures. The acronym from quite a few years ago was WWJD, “What Would Jesus Do.” It is still so relevant today.

May the Lord help us to be imitators of God as dear children. When we do, others will want to imitate us. We have a big responsibility to live for Christ and like Christ.

Have a blessed day imitating Christ and being a good role model to others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 16, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Choosing God’s Wisdom And Living By It-

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13).

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

James is such a practical writer. The Epistle of James is the NT equivalent of the book of Proverbs. God wants us to have His wisdom and for us to conduct ourselves according to His will and His ways. In James 1:5 it says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him.”

We must therefore ask for God’s wisdom, choose it daily, and act according to it in our lives. James tells us that God’s wisdom comes from heaven and leads us to holy lives in all goodness and righteousness; man’s wisdom comes from earth, has its origins from the devil, and leads only to bitter envy, self-seeking, boasting against the truth, is earthly, sensual, and demonic, leading to envy, self-seeking, confusion, and every evil thing.

The wisdom from above is what we desire and what we need, especially in today’s world. Just think if everyone in the world lived by God’s wisdom, how different things would be! We as believers need God’s wisdom in order to make the right decisions and put His Word into practice. We must ask God for His wisdom and the grace to live by it.

The believer in Christ doesn’t think of himself as better than anyone else, but sees himself as a sinner saved by grace, not perfect but forgiven, and one who humbly lives for and serves his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

God’s wisdom leads us to godly living and helps us to apply the Word of God to our lives and to do His will. The wisdom from above helps us live good lives below. May the Lord help us to live in purity, peace, gentleness, willingness, mercy, goodness, without any partiality or hypocrisy. This is wisdom put into practice. The same wisdom that King Solomon prayed for to govern the people of Israel, is available to us today. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather than silver.”

Let us choose God’s wisdom, pray for it, and live according to it daily. We will then make right decisions and do God’s will fully. May we humbly put His Word into practice. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Have a blessed day walking in God’s wisdom, doing His will, pleasing Him, and serving Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-September 15, 2020-

-Abiding In God And His Love-

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”

(1 John 4:16).

There are three main pillars of Christianity: faith, hope, and love. Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” All of 1 Corinthians 13 is devoted to the subject of love.

John is the disciple whom Jesus loved. Throughout all four of the books John wrote in the NT, love is mentioned so many times. In fact, in today’s verse John uses the word love three times. God the Father loves us, God the Son loves us, and God the Holy Spirit manifests the love of God in hearts.

God’s love must be known and believed, abided in, and experienced in a practical way. For when we abide in His love, we abide in God and He abides in us. When we get to heaven there will longer be a need of faith and hope for we will see the Lord face to face and everything will be perfect, but there will be love forever.

As believers in Christ we have known and believed the love God has for us. We have read of it in the Scriptures, believed it in our hearts, and have experienced it in our lives. With this foundation, we abide in God’s love and abide in God Himself. Jesus said in John 15:9-10, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

There is no greater place to be than abiding in God and His love. We are His children and we share His love with those who are unsaved as well as those who are saved. God’s love is rich, pure, and deep; His love lubricates all the moving parts of our lives.

Are you abiding in God and His love today? Love is more than an emotion that we feel, it is an action that we take. God’s love is practical and is so needed in the world today. God’s love flows to us and then through us. As John wrote, “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

May we abide in God and His love today; He will then abide with us. His love transforms lives in such magnificent and powerful ways.

Have a blessed day abiding in God and His love by keeping His commandments and putting His love into action. Stay safe and healthy.