Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-June 11, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Put On Love, The Perfect Bond Of Perfection-

“But above all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of perfection.”

(Colossians 3:14).

As was his custom, Paul’s epistles are divided between the first half doctrine and the second half practical. Here in Colossians 3:12-17, Paul writes on how the saints should live with one another. He lists putting on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering. He also discusses bearing with one another, forgiving each other, letting the peace of God rule our hearts, being thankful, letting the word of Christ dwell in our hearts, admonishing one another, and doing all in the name of Jesus.

The glue that holds everything together is love, the bond of perfection. As one preacher called it, “divine epoxy.” Love is the first of fruit of the Spirit and is the great character trait. Paul wrote, “But now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Not only do we as Christians need love for one another, the whole world needs love. If love ruled the day there would be no conflicts, no disputes, and no strife. Heaven will be such a place. We as believers are to lead the way in love. John wrote in 1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Love is far more than the greatest emotion in the world; It is a commitment of the heart and soul to another person. Love is giving, sharing, sacrificing, and serving others. We must never underestimate the power and beauty of God’s love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Let all that you do be done with love.” Let us put on love, the clothing of heaven.

Have a blessed day putting on love, the perfect bond of perfection. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-June 10, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Good And Bad Trees, Good And Bad Fruit-

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”

(Matthew 7:16-18).

How can one tell who is saved and who is not? Jesus gave the answer in Matthew 7:16, “You will know them by their fruits.” Fruit bearing is an excellent analogy of the change that takes place when a person gets saved. The Holy Spirit brings forth the results and bearing good fruit is the result in one’s life over time.

Jesus tells us that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. In the NT, there is two types of fruit bearing: the souls that we win to the Lord and the character and conduct of our lives. It is the latter that Jesus is talking about here.

When a person gets saved, their life is changed once and for all. As that person grows in his or her faith, their words, attitudes, motives, desires, and actions change by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is so exciting! A derelict, drug addict, alcoholic, mean-spirited, angry, selfish, or proud person becomes a new creation in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ; he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” When a life is changed, it is clear to all. You will know them by their fruits. If you pick up a good fruit, the fragrance will be noticeable the look beautiful, and the taste sweet. On the other hand bad fruit is clearly evident as well. Thorn bushes and thistles are not good fruit.

The Apostle John mentions several proofs or evidences of true salvation in a person’s life:

1. Keeps His commandments (1 John 2:3-6).

2. Walks in the light and loves his brother (1 John 2:9-11).

3. Practices righteousness (1 John 2:29).

4. Loves God and others (1 John 4:20-21).

5. Overcomes the world by his faith (1 John 5:4-5).

While we shouldn’t go around judging others to see if they measure up, we do have clear indications from the Scriptures if there is any doubt. You will know them by their fruit. if we think a person may not be saved, we should pray for them and if God gives the opportunity to share the gospel, we should take it. There are those who who think they are saved but aren’t.

May the Lord help us to be fruitful Christians, producing abundant fruit for the kingdom and glory of God. When we bear fruit it shows to all those around us. The fruitful life is the abundant life and the life of Christ shining forth in us and through us. Jesus said in John 15:4-5, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Have a blessed and fruitful day. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-June 9, 2020-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-We Can’t Out Give The Lord-

“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’”

(Malachi 3:10).

No one can out give the Lord. No matter how much we give, God gives to us way beyond what we ever give to Him. Here in Malachi, the last book of the OT, God accuses His people of robbing Him in giving their tithes and offerings.

God challenges them to bring their tithes into the house of God and give in accordance with they have been given and see if He will not open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing on them that there won’t be room enough to contain it.

1 Samuel 2:30 says, “Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.’” The Scriptural principle is that God honors those who honor Him.

Whether it is giving our money, our time, or our effort, God blesses us, rewards us, and gives back to us more than we have given. Everyone who has put God to the test has found it so. The Lord Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

We should not give just to get back. Our motive should always be love. God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son, and thus we give to Him because we love Him and want to honor and please Him.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

May the Lord help us to give Him all that we have: our time, our talents, and our treasures. Let us honor Him, please Him, and serve Him with all that we have; He deserves nothing less and He will bless us with far above what we have given to Him. We can never out give the Lord.

Have a blessed day giving all we have to the Lord and serving Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

– June 8, 2020-

Good morning, happy Monday,

Keep On Praying-

“Pray without ceasing”

(1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Prayer is such an essential part of the Christian life, much like breathing. We pray to the Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, and according to the will of God. We pray for ourselves, our families, our brothers and sisters in Christ, our spiritual leaders, our country, and in anything and everything big and small.

We keep on praying until God answers. Paul wrote in Colossians 4:2, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” We should lay our requests at the throne of grace and leave there, and keep on asking every day.

God wants us to pray and isn’t bothered by our continuous prayers, even more than once a day, especially important prayers. Jesus told His disciples, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

We continue to pray for our dear brother Jim who is in the hospital with the Coronavirus and is now in ICU and on a ventilator. The matter is serious, the need is urgent, and a good result is needed. We must keep on asking, seeking, and knocking on God’s front door, pleading to Him.

These three little words are simple, but they take effort, continuance, and persistence: “Pray without ceasing.” Due to the pandemic we cannot join together physically to pray but we can unite in prayer in our homes and with our families. Let us pray and pray without ceasing.

Have a blessed day praying and working. Stay safe and healthy.

– June 7, 2020-

Jesus The Great Physician Heals-

“Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever; and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she arose and served them.”

(Luke 4:38-39).

Jesus is the Great Physician. He alone can heal where medical science fails. The account of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law is also found in Matthew 8:14-15 and Mark 1:30-31. It is always good to read all the accounts to gain insight into this wonderful miracle of healing. Each writer writes from his own perspective and is a blessing.

Luke was a medical doctor and gives the most details of the three accounts. In his gospel he speaks of Jesus as the Son of Man. Our Savior had so much compassion, empathy, sympathy, and love toward everyone, especially His disciples. He was never too busy to help and heal people. Just prior to this event, Jesus and His disciples had been the synagogue in the service of His Heavenly Father.

The disciples made request of Jesus on behalf of this dear lady who was very ill. Luke is the one who tells us she sick just with a fever but with a high fever. The situation was extremely serious, definitely life threatening. We don’t know how long she had been ill. The best thing we can do for someone ill or in any other need is to pray.

The Coronavirus has several symptoms, one of which is a fever, usually a high one, that lasts for quite a while. It is one thing to read about or see on TV someone who has the virus and it devastating effects. The ones with more serious symptoms land in the hospital and in some cases in the ICU. Some recover but others die. It is totally different if you know someone who in this situation. It brings it much closer to home.

One of the members of our church is in such a situation. He contracted the Coronavirus from a neighbor who had it and didn’t know it, and got too close to our brother. Now, not only is our brother very sick but his wife is sick also. We are very concerned and our hearts go out to them and we are all praying earnestly and fervently for their full recovery. Our brother has underlying health issues.

In the case of Peter’s mother-in-law, Jesus stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. Mark adds the detail that Jesus touched her hand and lifted her up. It was a beautiful touch of the Master’s hand. She arose and served them. She didn’t get gradually better, she was immediately healed. What a great miracle! She had more service to perform, Her ministry on earth was not over yet.

Please join in prayer for both our brother, his wife, and all his family. The brother is a father and a grandfather. We pray God will heal him and raise him up. If he has more to do for the Lord, the Lord will restore Him. Only God knows what His will is in this matter. Our brother and his wife are both great servants of the Lord.

May the Lord help to pray believing, to pray continually, to pray fervently, and to pray according to God’s will. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus on behalf of their brother Lazarus, saying, “…Lord, behold he whom You love is sick” (John 11:3). Jesus said in John 11:4, “…this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Have a blessed day remembering that Jesus that heals. There is no situation that cannot be handled by the Great Physician. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean