Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 27, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

(Matthew 5:42).

There are needs all around us; we live in a needy world. Jesus said in Mark 14:7, “For the poor you have with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.”

When we do good, give, and share with those in need in the name of Jesus, the person we help is blessed in what they receive and we are blessed in what we give. The phrase, “Can you do me a favor’ means “to do a kind or helpful act for someone.”

Normally we don’t do favors for strangers but for family and friends, and especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ. For many in the world they do a favor for someone, expecting something in return. Sometime in the future they will expect that person to return the favor.

Jesus taught us the very opposite: to give hoping or expecting nothing in return. When we do this, God will repay us and reward us. God’s repayment plan always far exceeds our favors to others.

How do you respond when someone asks you a favor? Do you say, “What is it? Or do you say, “Sure, we can I do for you?” There is a huge difference! In the first case you want to know what it is first; in the second case, you’re willing to do anything to be of assistance.

Favors come in different flavors. Some are hard, time consuming, expensive; others are easy and require just a little time or effort. It shouldn’t matter to us. There were times when Jesus asked His disciples to do Him a favor. He sent two disciples to get a donkey to ride into Jerusalem on. On another occasion, the disciples asked Jesus where He wanted them to go and prepare a place for them to celebrate the last Passover. He sent two disciples to prepare the place.

Let us as believers always be ready to help, give, and share. It takes willingness and sacrifice, but it yields great blessing and fulfillment. Have a blessed day serving others humbly. Stay safe and healthy.

Don’t turn a deaf ear to someone in need; do them a favor in love that will always exceed.

Dean

-September 26, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.”

(Isaiah 6:1).

Today we have before us the Lord God in all His glory. The prophet Isaiah had a vision of the Lord and saw the Lord on His throne.

It reminds me of how Paul was caught up to the third heaven, and saw things too wonderful for words. He and Isaiah were privileged to see the Lord in glory. Psalm 24:8 says, “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”

Even the angels who stand before their Creator and King must cover their eyes because of His glory and holiness. Isaiah 6:2 says, “Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two it covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.”

The wonderful hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy, the writer wrote, “Holy, Holy, Holy, all the saints adore Thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, which wert and art and evermore shalt be.”

Have blessed day honoring and living for our King. Stay safe and healthy.

Giving glory to our King in everything.

Dean

-September 25, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

(Isaiah 2:5).

Today’s verse serves as a reminder to all of us to walk in the light of the Lord each day. The nation of Israel needed this admonition just as we need it today.

The prophet Isaiah’s ministry lasted through the reign of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. His impact on them was tremendous. We read of his role in encouraging Hezekiah when the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem to destroy it. God protected them and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

During his prophetic ministry, Isaiah called on the people of Judah to repent, trust God, and walk with Him. We live in dark days just as Isaiah did. Tradition has it that Isaiah was sawn in two by Hezekiah’s evil son, King Manasseh.

I love that Isaiah identifies himself with the people by saying, “Come let us walk in the light of the Lord.” God’s message is for everyone of all generations. Other prophets such Ezra and Daniel confessed Israel’s sins as their own.

To walk in the light of the Lord is to live according to God’s Word. There is no room for compromise. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:8-11, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness., but rather expose them.”

When we walk in the light, we confess our sins, and follow the Lord Jesus. John clearly stated, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

May we walk in the light, as children of the light, letting our lights shine before others. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Light shines brightest in darkness; there is no greater contrast.

Dean

-September 24, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

(Galatians 1:11-12).

The gospel is defined as the good news; It is a life changing message. Paul emphasizes that the Lord Jesus Christ revealed it to him. Paul was not one of twelve apostles, but his apostleship, like His message was from heaven without contradiction.

There are two gospels in the world: man’s and God’s. The former is what man must do to achieve salvation by his own good works or keeping the law. The true gospel from God is by grace through faith. Man’s gospel asks, what must I do to be saved? God’s gospel states what Christ has already done for us on the cross.

John wrote in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Man has always come up with his own way. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

May we live by the gospel, proclaim the gospel, and rest solely and securely on the gospel. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

The gospel is the dynamite of God that brings transformation and salvation to lost sinners.

Dean

-September 23, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward Him.”

(2 Corinthians 13:4).

It is very hard to admit our weaknesses. We often try to deny them, camouflage them, or overlook them. We all want to appear strong spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The only way we can strong is in the Lord.

Jesus is our great example. He was crucified in weakness, but was raised and lives by the power of God. No one ever suffered like He suffered on the cross bearing our sins, our shame, our guilt, and our pain. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Our Savior knows what we are going through. He knows we are weak and need His strength through the power of the Holy Spirit. We must live by His power. When Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take away his thorn in the flesh, the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” Paul concluded, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Until we acknowledge our weaknesses, we will never be strong. We can’t be victorious and successful in our own strength; we just can’t make it in our own. The anonymous hymn writer wrote, “I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.”

May we seek the Lord, trust in His mighty power, and walk with Him. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

His strength comes through our weakness; for His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Dean