Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-November 17, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

(Hebrews 6:10).

The phrase “labor of love,” is found in today’s verse as well as in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, which says, “remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.”

We still use this expression in our world today. It is defined as, “a labor voluntarily undertaken or performed without consideration of any benefit or reward.” As believers whatever we do for others can be a labor of love, if we do it the name of Christ as unto Him.

In our church we have an all volunteer staff as well as all the workers. It is a blessing to see it in action at church and outside of church. I have two signs, one on my refrigerator and one in my office at church that reads, “I am called to serve Jesus —A mission of mercy and a labor of love.” It serves as a good reminder of why I am here: to serve the Lord.

Paul is my example in the way he served the Lord. I am in no way close to him, but I strive to be like him. He said in Acts 20:35, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

May the Lord help us in our labors of love. God will never forget them and will reward us. Stay safe and healthy.

Laboring in love, by love, and with love always.

Dean

-November 16, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

(John 15:11).

Joy in Christ is a wonderful thing. It is one of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul mentions in Galatians 5:22-23). Joy differs from happiness; happiness refers to feelings and circumstances which ebb and flow in life, whereas joy is not dependent on our circumstances, but is based on our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The joy that Jesus gives us remains in us, now and through all eternity. When something remains in us, it lasts, it continues, it abides. In John chapter 15, Jesus uses the word abide or abides nine times. We abide in Christ the Vine, in the Word of God, in His love, and in the Father. Herein lies the true source of our joy.

Joy can’t be manufactured, concocted, or maintained on our own—it comes from Jesus and flows through us to others. Jesus is the Vine, we are His branches. We have nothing in and of ourselves apart from Him. Just as the vine produces the grapes that make wine, so too, His joy comes through the crushing of the grapes. Our pride, selfishness, and self-will must be crushed. In the old days, people stomped on the grapes to make wine. Wine in Scripture is a symbol of joy.

They ran out of wine at the wedding that Jesus, the disciples, and His mother Mary attended in Cana of Galilee. Jesus turned water into wine. He still does this spiritually in our daily lives. Only Jesus can turn our ordinary times into times of joy, even in the most adverse circumstances. Nehemiah says, …the joy of the Lord is your strength” (See Nehemiah 8:10).

Jesus wants our joy to be full to the brim and overflowing. There is a hymn I sung years ago, entitled, “I’ve Got the Joy.” that is so beautiful. The first line says, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in heart; I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.”

May the joy of Jesus flow from our hearts as we walk closely with Him. Be safe and healthy.

The joy in the heart shows on the face, as we travel through life in every place.

Dean

-November 15, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“A day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

(Psalm 84:10).

Psalm 84 is a rich, beautiful psalm written by the sons of Korah. They were Levites who served in the temple and were musicians who played instruments and sang praises to the Lord.

The tribe of Levi didn’t have their inheritance in the land as the other tribes did. The Lord Himself was their inheritance. Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Korah was one of the sons of Kohath.

The sons of Korah carried on faithfully for the Lord despite their inauspicious beginning where they rebelled against Moses and God caused the ground to swallow them up. It just shows God’s mercy and grace.

The psalmist said, “A day in Your courts is better than a thousand.” One day as a believer is better than a whole lifetime time outside of Christ. To be a simple believer in Christ is far better than the highest positions in this world. Psalm 84:12 says, “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord!”

Unbelievers are those who dwell in the tents of wickedness. They may be presidents, prime ministers, kings, governors, CEO’s, billionaires, or any other prominent people in this world. Without Christ they are spiritual paupers.

The hymn writer Rhea F. Miller wrote, “l’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.” The chorus says, “Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.”

You think that you are small, insignificant, or simple—yet in Jesus Christ, you are a child of the King. Our service for Him matters and is more important than any other job in this world. Even doing simple things in Jesus’ name brings eternal blessings are rewards.

Have a blessed day serving the King in everything. Stay safe and healthy.

Never consider anything as done unto Christ as little; it is important for all eternity.

Dean

-November 14, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

(Hebrews 10:24).

Normally the expression, to stir things up,” is not a positive one. It means to cause some trouble, controversy, or problem. Here, however, it has a positive and has an encouraging effect on people.

Our goal as believers is to stir up one another to love and good works. It has the idea of stimulating to love and good works. Love is the motivation and good works is result.

Jesus commanded us to, “…that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34b-35).

Good works stem from Jesus, in His name and for His glory. In order to be a blessing and stir up others to love and good works, we must be at church and spend time with one others. We can’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).

Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Our example of love and good works makes a huge difference.

Dean

-November 13, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin for salvation.”

(Hebrews 9:28).

The NT is filled with references to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and coming again. In fact, the Second Coming should always be front and center as we live for the Lord and serve Him. Today’s verse is our Scripture memory verse at church this week.

The writer of Hebrews tells us how we should wait: eagerly. The word eagerly is defined as, “a strong desire to do or have something; marked by an enthusiastic or impatient desire or interest.”

When you eagerly desire something or someone it is accompanied by excitement, focus, and longing. Are you eagerly waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? His coming is imminent, meaning He could come at anytime. John wrote, “Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). Thoughts of His coming purifies our souls.

When I think of someone who was waiting eagerly it was Simeon. God had promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. As he got older and older the flame continued to burn until the day Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus into the temple. Anna the prophetess also waited eagerly for redemption of Israel and saw Him.

Our Lord is coming to take us to heaven. He will come in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, with the voice of the archangel and trumpet of God. In the Star Trek TV series, Captain Kirk would always say, “Beam me up, Scotty.” Our exit from this world will be even faster than that.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:7-8, “so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Let us wait eagerly with joy, anticipation, and hope for the Lord to come. Have blessed day living in the light of His coming.

While we wait we wait, we watch, work, and worship until the end.

Dean