Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-August 8, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

(Romans 8:18).

Life hurts! We have pain, suffering, sorrow, and distress. With all we go through on this earth, it can be a very heavy burden.

As difficult as our sufferings are, they cannot compare to the glory that we will have in heaven. One day all will be peace and rest in heaven.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” On earth our affliction is light and lasts for a moment. Trials are temporary. We can’t wait until we get to heaven, our eternal home, with all the glory of Christ.

Let us endure, persevere, and be steadfast in our daily lives. May be look forward to the glory of heaven. It will be awesome, beyond all comprehension.

Have a blessed day serving the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

This is my story, to God be the glory

Dean

-August 7, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.”

(Proverbs 10:7).

There is a great contrast between the life of the believer and the unbeliever. We as the saints of God should leave behind a blessing after we depart from this world. We should in fact be a blessing now while we are living, using every opportunity to share our faith and to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Memories are so special and we all have special memories of our friends and loved ones who have gone home to be with the Lord. We have a visual board at church with the pictures of brothers and sisters who have preceded us to glory. I remember each one and can’t wait to see them in heaven.

I especially have so many wonderful and precious memories of my Mom. The night she passed away I started flashing back over my life with her. It was a blessing to me and brought joy and comfort to my soul.

Each one of us leave an imprint and impression on others around us. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “”Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of Christ in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

The memory of the righteous, that is those who are saved, is blessed; but the name of the wicked, those unsaved, will rot. What a difference a life in Christ makes in this world. How tragic it is when a person dies without Christ!

Have blessed day remembering and making memories with our friends and loved ones. None of us know how long we have left to live in this world. Stay safe and healthy.

The memory of the righteous is blessed, far above all the rest.

Dean

-August 6, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Romans 6:11).

When we get saved we are transformed from death to life spiritually. We were once dead in our trespasses and sins, but made alive in Christ. Ephesians 2:4-6 says, “But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Sin no longer has dominion over us; we are set free in Christ. We have new life in Him. Now, Paul tells us to reckon ourselves dead to sin… Another word for reckon is consider. The best way to do this is by reacting to sin the way a corpse would—no response to it. We can only do this through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The second part of the verse seals the deal: to reckon ourselves alive from the to God in Christ. We have spiritual life, abundant and eternal. Paul wrote, “And do not present your members (bodies) as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).

When we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God, and are not conformed to this world—we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This will enable us to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (See Romans 12:1-2).

Our instruments can either be used for good or evil. We must make the choice to obey God and be set apart to Him. Let us choose to live godly and walk with the Lord and serve Him daily.

Have a blessed as alive in Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dead yet alive, sin’s reign is done; alive in Christ God’s well beloved Son.

Dean

-August 5, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“But it good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.”

(Psalm 73:28).

Why is it good to draw near to God? It is the single most important thing we can do on a daily basis. When we draw near to our Lord in communion before we face anyone or anything in life, we are as ready for the day as we can be.

None of us can know what will happen to us today—only the Lord does. By drawing near to Him, He teaches us His Word and guides us for what is to come. We must put our trust fully in the the Lord.

James 4:7-8 tells us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your minds you double-minded.” God promises us that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

When we draw near to the Lord He strengthens us. The Psalmist asked the question, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You” (Psalm 73:25). Fanny Crosby wrote, “I am Thine, O Lord; I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love for me. But I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee.”

Have blessed day drawing near to God. Stay safe and healthy.

When we draw near to God we align ourselves with His will and priorities.

Dean

-August 4, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.”

(Matthew 27:59-60).

This account of what Joseph of Arimathea did for our Lord’s body is both touching and beautiful. The account is found in all three of the synoptic gospels: Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-46; and Luke 24:50-53. Matthew offers the most detail of the three gospel writers.

Joseph was a godly man, a believer in Christ. Matthew tells us he was a good and just man. He was a prominent member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, but was not complicit in calling for Jesus’ death. He was a rich man.

He had a new garden tomb which he carved out of the rock to be used as his own burial place. He gladly gave it up to lay the body of Jesus in it after His crucifixion. He asked permission of Pilate and he granted it to him. We learn from John’s gospel that his friend and brother in Christ, Nicodemus, helped him.

In those days they made preparation for the burial and anointed the body with spices. I am sure the tomb was a costly one. This is why we say that Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. In His case, He was only in the tomb for three days before He rose from the dead, never to die again.

My brother and I will be burying our Mom in a few days. We purchased two graves, one for Mom and my brother in the future, and one for me. They were very expensive. I recommend to everyone to purchase them now, as prices continue to go up. They say, “nowadays, you can’t afford to live and you can’t afford to die.” There’s a lot of truth to that, sad to say.

Now I can say I am prepared to die. I am saved and I have the grave to be laid in when I die. The grave site is on a slope and has a beautiful view.

Are you prepared to die? You can be if you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Lord may come at any time, and I won’t need the grave.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus was born in a borrowed manger and was buried in a borrowed tomb. He lives and we will live with Him forever.

Dean