Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-August 13, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.”

(Genesis 22:17).

Abraham was certainly a man of faith. God made many promises to him and to his descendants. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (See Genesis 15:6). God established His covenant with Abraham, called the Abrahamic Covenant.

God fulfilled His promise by giving the Israelites the land of Canaan, commonly called, the Promised Land. One day, God will regather and restore all Israel and give them the final victory over their enemies. God always fulfills His promises.

Not only are the Israelites children of Abraham, but so are all believers who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in Romans 4:16, “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure (or certain) to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”

We are of the family Abraham and we will have be in the presence of the Lord! We are truly counted among them. Galatians 4:28-29 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

What a great joy to be part of God’s family by grace through faith. We should always stand with and for Israel with firmness of purpose. God promised to bless those who bless Israel and to curse those who curse them. Christ will have the final and complete victory.

Have a wonderful day and pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem. Stay safe and healthy.

Supporting Israel and all our brothers and sisters in Christ in the church.

Dean

-August 12, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

(2 Corinthians 5:15).

Christ died for us on the cross and rose again. His sacrificial and substitutionary death brought us forgiveness and eternal life. When Jesus died, we died with him. We died to the old life, to our sins, to the world, the flesh, and the devil.

When He was buried, our sins were buried with Him. He removed our sins as far as the east is from the west. And when He rose from the dead, we rose with Him to new life in Christ. Everything is new; now we who believe in Him, belong to Him.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of Holy Spirit who is in you, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

This is why Paul calls on us to no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again. Every day we wake up is another day to live for Christ and serve Him. We represent Him wherever we go. We are ambassadors for Christ, kingdom disciples, and servants of the most High God.

The hymn writer Daniel W. Whittle wrote, “Dying with Jesus by death reckoned mine, living with Jesus a new life divine, looking to Jesus ‘til glory doth shine—Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.”

Have a blessed day remembering we belong to Jesus and not to ourselves. Stay safe and healthy.

Let us live our lives today for Jesus in every way, pleasing Him in what we do and say.

Dean

-August 11, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’”

(Matthew 27:29).

Everything about crucifixion was agonizing. The Romans didn’t invent it, but they perfected it. Even before the cross, He was beaten, scourged, and mocked. The soldiers treated Jesus worse than the criminals who were being crucified on each side of of Him. He was numbered with the transgressors, though He was sinless and holy.

The soldiers took thorns and twisted or wove them into a crown. They jammed on His head, inflicting much pain. Tradition has it that the thorns used on Jesus’ crown came from the date-palm tree, and grew up to 12 inches; they were very strong and sharp.

The crown of thorns He wore were meant as a mockery and humiliation. But God turned them into a lesson to the whole world that Jesus bore our sin and shame. It became a symbol of our redemption.

The very first mention of thorns in the Bible are in connection with man’s sin. God said to Adam, “…cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat of the herb of the field” (Genesis 3:17b-18).

The crown of thorns also represents the curse of the law which Jesus bore for us on the cross. We deserved to wear that crown, but through our salvation we will wear a different crown, the crown of righteousness. Jesus too wears a different crown now as King of kings and Lord of Lords. It is a royal crown of honor and splendor. Let us never forget the price that our Savior paid on the cross.

Have a blessed day of worship and remembrance. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus’ flesh was torn by thorns and nails, He did all for us.

Dean

-August 10, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!”

(Psalm 81:13).

Is anyone listening? Are we listening to God’s voice through His Word? There is so much worldly chatter, some much bad news. God wants to get through to us. He has a message for us every day.

Sometimes in our high tech world, communication gets blocked by system failures or hackers. Power outages, system problems; they seem to occur far too often. It can be extremely frustrating.

Our communication with the Lord may be affected by our sin, pride, or pain. Recently I have had my share of pain and sorrow, but the Lord has sustained me by His mercy and grace.

God’s transmissions are always sent, nothing can affect Him, but do we listen to them? It is God desire to speak to us daily. The Psalmist wrote this prayer in Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”

From my earliest childhood recollections, it was stressed, “Listen, pay attention.” I grew up and became a man, and what did learn, “Listen, pay attention, stay focused.” Even as an elderly man, I still need to remember and apply this lesson.

God wants to get my attention so He can show me and teach wonderful lessons. I know I learn best through trials, sorrow, and pain. When things are going smoothly I don’t grow as much. God wants me to walk in His ways. I think this is true of all of us.

May the Lord help us to be good listeners faithful, obedient servants, who rely fully on Him. Have a blessed day listening to the Lord and following in His ways. Stay safe and healthy.

Open heart + open Bible = open life in Christ.

Dean

-August 9, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Romans 8:38-39).

Paul took the opportunity to wax eloquently on God’s love. The love of God is like a vast ocean that cannot be measured. Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:17-19, “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 fulness of God.”

Paul suggests all the possible things that could separate us from God’s love, and eliminates each one categorically. Paul mentions things on earth and things in heaven. The conclusion is the same: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The child of God can never stray where the love of God cannot reach him or her. From heaven to earth; from the four corners of the earth; to the heights of the mountains to the depths of the sea—God’s love flows to you and me.

God’s love cannot be stopped or hindered. In speaking of love, King Solomon wrote, “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised” (Song of Solomon 8:7).

God’s love is boundless, limitless, measureless, and faultless. Let us thank God for His love. His love gives and sacrifices unconditionally. Have a blessed day in His love in every way. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s love is like a treasure which has no earthly measure.

Dean