Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 27, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

(Ephesians 1:7).

We often look at the price of something expensive and ask the question, “is it worth it?” There is no doubt with us sinners, we weren’t the price but Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. He loved us so much and saw well into the future what would become of us.

We often hear it said, “I was unworthy but not worthless.” Jesus died for us, His enemies, to redeem us with His own precious blood. 🩸 The Lord brought us the forgiveness of sins by the riches of His grace.

Even with all our sinfulness, weaknesses, and failures, He still loves us and cares for us; He invested so much in us, His very life. He considered us worth more than the whole world.

Have blessed day living for the One who bought us with His blood. Stay safe and healthy.

“Redeemed! Redeemed! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! Redeemed! Redeemed! His child and forever I am.” (Fanny Crosby).

Dean

-February 26, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.”

(James 4:8).

These last couple of days we have considered two important ways to victorious living in this sinful world: submit to God and resist the evil. The third thing found in James 4:7-8 is today’s topic, to draw near to God.

Drawing near to God is both a privilege and a responsibility. We have fellowship and communication with the living God. We then find that God will draw near to us. The great hymn writer Fanny Crosby wrote, “Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious bleeding side.”

Before we were saved we fled from God’s presence because of our sin and had no access to His holy presence. We were separated from God and dead in our transgressions and sins. God reached out to us in love and we responded in saving faith.

Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Christ’s shed blood has opened to us a new and living way into God’s presence. God is our Father and Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We are invited to come to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.

The word near is such a beautiful one. It means, “to come near (to someone or something); approach; in a close or intimate manner.” When you have intimacy in a relationship, there is a two-way communication. We draw near to God and He draws near to us. We need no appointment, for we can come before at anytime, any place, and tell me anything. We long to spend time with Him whom we love.

Coming into God’s presence we must cleanse our hands (what we do) and purify our hearts (what think and feel). This is where we start as we come before Him, confessing our sins to be right with Him. John wrote in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Let us then submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God. It is the best way to live as God’s holy people. Have a blessed day drawing near and walking close with the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

God makes it clear that we should always draw near.

Dean

-February 25, 2025-

Good morning, beloved, happy Friday,

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

(James 4:7).

The devil is a defeated foe. Jesus was victorious over him through the cross and the empty tomb. Even so, he fights on against Christ and His people. Though he is powerful, his power is nothing compared to the Lord’s.

Spiritual warfare is very important, especially for all soldiers of Christ. Both Peter and James were cognizant of this and said the same thing: resist the devil. Though both tell us how to resist, each gives us extremely important ways to do it.

1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

What does it mean to resist the devil. The word resist is defined as, “refrain from doing or having something (tempting or unwise); to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat.” We can’t resist or defeat the devil on our own; we need the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote a whole section on spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18. He tells us to stand against the wiles, (schemes, tricks, lies) of the devil by putting on the whole armor of God and praying in the Spirit.

So taken together, we should resist the devil being steadfast in the faith, being strong in the Lord, by standing against the wiles of the devil, by putting on the whole armor of God, and by being watchful, and by praying in the Spirit. When we do these things the devil will flee from us.

During WWII, the allied forces fought Nazi Germany and its leader Adolf Hitler. Even when France was occupied by Nazi troops, France fought back in the form of the French Resistance. These brave men and women worked behind the scenes and wreaked havoc on the occupying Germans.

Let us resist the devil today and he will flee from us. Have a blessed and victorious day in the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan.” We should say the same thing to him in the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood.

Dean

-February 24, 2025-

Good morning, dear friends, happy Monday,

“Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

(James 4:7).

Have you ever considered how submission is linked to humility? In the verse preceding our text today, James wrote in James 4:6, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

We can’t submit ourselves to God until we humble ourselves before Him; we can’t be humble before Him unless submit to Him. These two virtues complement one another beautifully.

We are no longer under the law with its condemnation for disobedience, but under grace. In essence we are under a different law, the law of love and liberty; we still need to obey God, not for salvation but in order to please Him.

The word submit is defined as, “accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.” God is our authority, and we must submit to Him and His will for our lives. Christ is our loving Lord and He wants what is the very best for lives.

The opposite of submission is rebellion, rejection, and refusal. If we don’t submit, we are hurting ourselves the most. As those who submit to God we are called to submit to our leaders, both in the government, at work, and at home.

Submitting to God is like obeying the traffic signs on the road: Danger, Stop, Slow Down, Yield, the speed limit, and others. God has a purpose for everything that He brings into our lives. He uses them to teach us and grow our faith.

Let us then submit to God and His will. He will see us through and cause all things to work for our good in our lives. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s love for us helps us to submit to Him.

Dean

-February 23, 2025-

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters, happy Lord’s Day,

“For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.”

(Psalm 22:28).

There have been many rulers over nations. Some even rule over a few different nations. The Lord Jesus Christ rules over all the nations. He is the King of glory—none can compare to Him.

There will be a time when our Savior will come back to rule and reign over the earth for a thousand years. Revelation 12:5 says, “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” The woman speaks of Israel and the Child is Jesus Christ.

God the Father has given Jesus the kingdom. Right now He sits at the Father’s right hand on the throne. He rules over all the nations. When go through severe trials, it is good to remember our Lord is still on the throne and in control. We are His beloved people. One day we will rule and reign with Him.

The nations, even all put together, are no match for the Lord! They are nothing to Him. Isaiah 40:15 tells us, “Behold, the nations are as a drop in the bucket, and counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.” The Lord is the final authority and reigns in heaven. Isaiah 40:17 says, “All nations are before Him as nothing, and they are counted by Him as less than nothing and worthless.”

Thank God that our Jesus has brought us into His kingdom. We are sons of the kingdom, kingdom disciples. Oh, how privileged we are! Jesus is the Ruler of all ages. All earthy rulers reign for a few years with limited power; Jesus reigns over all forever with unlimited power.

Have a blessed day worshipping the King of glory and doing His will. Stay safe and healthy.

The song writer Michael W. Smith wrote, “Above all powers, above all kings, above all nature and all created things. Above all wisdom and all the ways of man, You were here before the world began.”

Dean