Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-June 6, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Rooted And Grounded In The Love Of Christ-

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

(Ephesians 3:17-19).

We as believers are so incredibly blessed in Christ. Today’s verses are part of Paul’s second prayer for the Ephesians. The first prayer is in Ephesians 1:15-22 and the second is in Ephesians 3:14-20. Reading them both gives insight into how Paul prayed for the saints and how we should pray as well.

Paul prayed that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, that we may be rooted and grounded in love, that we would be able to comprehend the love of Christ which passes knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God. How rich and wonderful!

There are two aspects of the Christian life that we must be aware of: our position in Christ, that is what we are and have in Him, and our practice, that is how we live based upon that high position. The goal is always that our practice will match our position. That being said, that won’t occur fully until we get to heaven.

As believers we face many challenges, difficulties, trials, afflictions, and obstacles. As we do, we need to remember we are children of God and He has given us so many blessings in Christ. In Ephesians 1:3, Paul wrote,”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” These blessings belong to us now to claim and rejoice in. We will have and enjoy them for all eternity.

Sometimes it seems we live as paupers instead of as children of the King. We settle for less when we should claim so much more. When we are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ we can face anything that comes our way. The width, depth, length, and height of His love passes knowledge. Though we can’t adequately measure and comprehend it, we can and should enjoy it to the max.

May the Lord help us today to lift our eyes off the things of this world and see Jesus and thank Him for all that we have in Him. The things of this world change, mostly from bad to worse on daily basis, but our Lord Jesus never changes and neither do our spiritual blessings. We can’t get down when we’re looking up!

Have a blessed day in the love of Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

June 5, 2020

-Good morning, happy Friday,

-Comfort And Edify One Another-

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:11).

If there is one thing that is sorely needed in the church today is comfort and edification. It has been really hard to do since we have not been back to church since mid March. Praise God we do have in line sermons on Sundays and devotions on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Slowing things are opening up with many restrictions. God’s work continues on, God’s people continue on, and life continues on. It maybe quite awhile before we go back to the way it was pre-pandemic. We continue to pray for a vaccine.

Recently one of our church members contracted the Coronavirus from a neighbor who wasn’t aware of having. The member’s wife also is showing symptoms and being tested. We need to pray for them and all our members. We pray there won’t be a second waive of the illness.

Comforting one another is so important. We can all be comforters and comfort others. The only qualification needed is a heart of compassion and a willingness to share it. God has given us His Word, experiences we have gone through, and hope. God can and will use us.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:18, Paul wrote, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Which words? The message of the Lord’s coming to take us home (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). In today’s passage, Paul is referring to how we should live for the light of day of the Lord. The future is in the Lord’s hands and we should live soberly, putting on faith, hope, and live.

The other part of our verse today speaks of edification. To edify is to build up. Comfort offers hope and edification offers practical help to keep going forward and trusting the Lord with every step. In life we all need a little help along the way. We can’t make it on our own. The wonderful thing about comforting and encouraging others is that we get blessed ourselves. The giver and the receiver and both blessed.

May the Lord encourage us to comfort and edify one another in love. Let us help those in need and those who fall. We may be in the giving end today, but on the receiving end tomorrow.

Have a blessed and wonderful day about our Savior’s work. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-June 4, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-God Does Great Things For Us And Countless Wonders-

“He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number.”

(Job 9:10).

Job suffered so much pain and was under tremendous strain. Because of all his severe trials, he even regretted the day of his birth. Yet, he never lost hope or turned away from God. In today’s text he recognizes the great things God has done and the wonders that cannot be counted.

Psalm 126:3 says, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.” The hymn writer wrote, “Great wonders! Thy ways display Thine attributes divine; But the bright glories of Thy grace above Thine other wonders shine: Who is a pardoning God like Thee? Or who has grace so rich and free? Who is a pardoning God like Thee? Or who has grace so rich and free?”

There are great things that are past finding out, things we cannot fully comprehend this side of heaven. There are wonders that too numerous to count. It is no wonder the Apostle Paul wrote,”Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33).

We are indeed a blessed people in Christ. God has done so many great things for us starting with our salvation and extending to all our spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.

May the Lord help us to remember and reflect on the great things God has done for us, is doing for us, and will do for us. Let us look beyond our trials to the results God will have in our lives both now and for all eternity.

Have a blessed day rejoicing in the great things that God has done for us. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

My name is Dean Allen, a deacon and servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am a preacher and teacher of God’s Word at San Ramon Valley Bible Church in San Ramon, California, U.S.A. I am a graduate of The Discipleship Intern Training Program In 1979. My mission is to share what God has taught me through His Word each and every day.