Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-July 26, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-The Object Of Our Faith Is Jesus Christ-

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

(Hebrews 11:1).

Today’s verse has been widely considered the definition of faith. We all know what faith is, but find it much harder to put into action. The reason is that we are creatures of sight; we want to see it first then we will believe, but that is not biblical faith. Faith believes first, then sees not the other way around.

Our text says, “Now faith is the substance (or confidence) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The word hope in the NT means a confident expectation. It is based on the facts and truths of the Word of God, not on our feelings, desires, or dreams. It is not “pie in the sky,” but pie on the plate.

The Lord Jesus told Mary in John 11:40, “Did I not say to you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?” Jesus put Mary’s faith to the test, just as He tests our faith. After the resurrection, Thomas said he would not believe unless he could touch the nail prints in Jesus’ hands and side. Our Savior rebuked Thomas’ doubting when He said, “…Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:27; John 20:29).

We all have a little Thomas in us from time to time we doubt. If we are honest we are sometimes like the father of the demon possessed boy who said to the Lord, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). We must not put faith in faith, but in our Lord. He is what we hope for, He is the evidence of things not seen. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith not by sight.”

Hebrews 11 is the “Hall of Faith” chapter. Each person in it showed faith under difficult circumstances, and their faith is an example to us. May the Lord help us to believe then we will see; to walk by faith even when it is dark, uncertain, and fearful.

Have a blessed day walking by faith, trusting the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-July 25, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Lawlessness Abounds Everywhere Today-

“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

(Matthew 24:12).

It is one of the signs of the times that will precede the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is lawlessness. Combine lawlessness with wickedness, rebelliousness, and senselessness and you see the results on our streets. It is all around us. In Judges 17:6 and 21:25, we read, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” In those days, God was their king, but the people rejected Him and did not follow His commandments or walk in His ways. They carried on the outward form of their religion but worshipped idols.The people did was was right in their eyes.

This is eerily similar to our world and our country today: there is a rebelliousness against God, His Word, and in fact all authority. Children rebel against their parents and teachers; people rebel against their bosses, civil authorities, and government authorities. No one wants to be told what they must do, even when it is best for them. Even when a mask helps the spread of Coronavirus, still there are those who refuse to wear masks, to keep social distancing, or avoid large crowds.

Just this week, there have been large, violent demonstrations in many large, American cities. There was even an incident where a toddler in Portland that was carrying a sign with very vile profanity on it directed against the police. Lawlessness is abounding and it seems the government leaders in certain cities are doing nothing about it. One of our church member’s son was violently attacked in front of his home by a homeless man living near the man’s house. The man called the police and the officer told him there was little they could do since if they arrest the perpetrator, he will be back on the streets in 48 hours and suggested that the man keep everything locked up and buy a gun for protection.

Where and when will this all stop? The answer is according to Scripture it won’t but the Lord will rapture His church and take us home to heaven before the tribulation.

It says in Psalm 11:3 it says, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The answer is found in the verses following, “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates” (Psalm 11:4-5).

We must pray fervently and faithfully for our nation; our leaders, our police officers, firefighters, all first responders, military, and government leaders. These are dark, uncertain, and fearful times. We need to respect and obey the authorities God has placed over us in order to counteract lawlessness with lawfulness, and rebelliousness with obedience.

Have a blessed day obeying all our authorities. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-July 24, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Being Generous And Lending-

“A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.”

(Psalm 112:5).

The Christian should always be gracious and generous toward one another as well as toward anyone in need. In the OT the Jews were commanded to lend to their fellow Israelites with no interest, though they could charge interest to Gentiles.

Psalm 37:26 says, “He is ever merciful, and lends; and His descendants are blessed.” It also tells us in Psalm 37:21, “The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.” Giving and lending also shows what is in our hearts. We should lend and we should give as God has blessed us.

The Lord Jesus took it one step further: He told His followers, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36).

The Lord promises to bless those who lend and give with sincere motives. The psalmist said, “…He will guide his affairs with discretion.” The NIV says, “It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.” We as believers want to be generous to others as God has been generous to us. It is not all about us, but it is about others.

David had shown kindness and helped Nabal’s shepherds and provided them protection. He then sent ten of his servants to Nabal asking him for some provisions. Nabal, being a fool and evil man refused. He said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from” (1 Samuel 25:10-11)? God prevented David from exacting vengeance on him; instead God struck him and became he like a stone and died shortly thereafter.

God has blessed so us so that we can be a blessing to others. We can never out give God, for He will send back to us more than we give or lend to others. Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know what evil will be on the earth.”

May the Lord help us to be good, gracious, and generous to others in need, giving and lending not hoping for anything in return. God will richly bless us. It is thus not about us but about others, and sharing with them, helping them, and serving them.

Have a blessed day being generous to others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-July 23, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Bring The Little Children To Jesus And Emulate Their Faith-

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.”

(Matthew 19:13-15).

Little children are such a blessing. They have such a childlike faith and trust. They are not worried, anxious, or concerned about the troubles, trials, and tribulations of this world. This is why Jesus said of them, “of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

When people started bringing their children to Jesus to lay His hands on them and bless them, the disciples rebuked them; but Jesus, in effect Jesus rebuked His disciples. He told not to forbid them from bringing their children to Him.

On numerous occasions Jesus had to rebuke His disciples for their wrong thinking and attitudes. He rebuked their lack of faith in the incident of the storm at sea. He rebuked them for condemning those who cast out demons in His name, though they did not follow them. He rebuked them for condemning Mary for wasting her expensive perfume by anointing Him. These are just a few examples.

Jesus showed how much He loves little children and wants them to be brought to Him. We often teach our kids to love the Lord and read the Word and pray. We often feel they are too young to understand the gospel, which is true in one sense that they do not understand what it means to be a sinner and how Christ died on the cross for their sins. But we should not hinder them from coming to Jesus and being blessed by Him.

It is much easier to win a child to Christ than an adult. Little ones are not jaded by the things of this world. Their hearts are simple, sincere, soft, and supple. They do not often reject, refuse, or resist the gospel as many adults do.

The hymn writer said, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.” Believers in the NT are called children, little children, and babes in Christ. We can learn so much from them in simply trusting and obeying the Lord.

On one occasion the disciples were debating which one of them was the greatest, Jesus brought a little child in their midst and said, “Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-5).

May the Lord help us to bring our children to Him, and for us to emulate their simple, childlike faith as children of God. Let our our faith be uncomplicated, unpretentious, and undefiled by the things of this world. Jesus loved the little children; and He loves each of us as His children.

Have a blessed day as a children of God trusting Him and teaching our children to love Him and follow Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-July 22, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-The Question Is: Who Is Jesus?-

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

(Matthew 16:15-16).

Accurately knowing and believing who Jesus is paramount in getting saved and being His disciple. In the verses prior to our text Jesus asked His disciples, “…Who do men say that I, the Son of Man am? They answered, ‘Some say, John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets’” (Matthew 16:13-14).

It is one thing to speak for others who Jesus is, it is quite another to answer it for ourselves. It got them thinking especially when Jesus asked the second question, “But who do you say that I am?” Now it is each one’s personal response that counts. It is not enough to know who He is, we must act on that belief.

Peter was always the disciple who spoke up; he did not always however say the right thing. Here though he gave the exact right answer. Peter was like the student in class always raising his hand and giving the out the answer before others had the chance to do so. Jesus asked a spiritual question and Peter gave a spiritual answer. He responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said that flesh and blood had not revealed this to Peter, but His Father in heaven.

He answer was doctrinally and practically correct. He knew Jesus was more than a good rabbi, leader, and teacher: He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. He was holy, sinless, undefiled, and separated from sinners. Someone once said, “Jesus was either who He said He was, or He was a liar or a lunatic.” Jesus was who He said He was and His words, His life, and Scriptures backed it up.

The only other person in the gospel records who made such a wonderful declarative statement was Martha. When Jesus asked her if she believed that He was the resurrection and the life, and that though someone may die, yet shall he live, she said in John 11:27, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Both Peter and Marta made great statements of their faith in Jesus. Both believed He was the Christ, the Son of God. Marta went a step further and called Him Lord. Only Jesus died for us, only Jesus can save us, forgive our sins, and give us eternal life. Only Jesus is Lord. Only He has the words of eternal life. He is the only way to God.

Now the question all of us must answer is: is “Who do you say that I am?” Before anyone can be saved he must see His need of Jesus, that he is a sinner separated from God and deserving of hell. He must accept God’s remedy for sin: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins as payment in full.

Jesus is Lord, my Lord and Savior. I owe all my allegiance to Him. Who He is and what He has done on the cross has changed my life forever. He is the only way to eternal life and salvation. Let us bow before Him, love and adore Him, live fully for Him, follow Him, and serve Him all our lives.

Have a blessed day as a follower of Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean