Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-January 26, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”

(Ephesians 1:5).

Sinners lost, separated from God, aliens, strangers, without God and without hope in the world—this was our lot, our standing, our state. It wasn’t pretty. Yet, God loved us and sent His Son to die on the cross for us, to bear ours sins. He turned our hopelessness into hopefulness.

God not only saved us, but He adopted us into His family as full sons. In Paul’s day, Roman sons were granted tremendous privileges. Often they were born into riches and honor. However, if one was born a slave, he stayed a slave. It would be almost impossible to be adopted into a rich family.

Paul told the Romans, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17).

Just think, you are a son of God, His own precious child! He loves you with an everlasting love and cares for you; he meets your needs and blesses you with every spiritual blessing. Everything that belongs to Christ is ours. He is our Abba, Father. Abba in the Greek means daddy. The Father can never love us any more than He does right now, nor will He ever love us any less. We will live and reign with Him forever.

How then should adopted sons live? We should behave as sons in our character, conduct, and conversation. We reflect our heavenly Father In everything we say and do. May the Lord help us to live like holy sons of God. We have recently seen the president’s son in big legal trouble and it reflects badly on his father.

Have a blessed day being about our Father’s business. Stay safe and healthy.

Living like sons while here below, points others to Christ, our salvation to show,

Dean

-January 25, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”

(Psalm 100:2).

Singing and playing instruments is a big part of worship. Music has always been important in the Bible. David played the harp and composed many psalms; Asaph was a song leader; and many of the Levites were part of the choir.

I love to sing and I lead the singing at church and sing in our Worship Team. We sing and play hymns, and praise and worship songs. It is such a blessing. I have several hymnals at home and sing hymns all the time at home.

King Saul was a disturbed man and was given to fits of anger. When David played his harp Saul was subdued and pacified. The old expression is is certainly true, “Music calms the savage beast.” Martin Luther said, “The devil takes flight at the sound of music, just as he does at the words of theology, and for this reason the prophets always combined theology and music, the teaching of truth and the chanting of Psalms and hymns. After theology, I give the highest place and greatest honor to music.”

For us as believers, Christian music keeps us focused on Christ. The words are so powerful, encouraging, challenging, and uplifting. Many of the great classical composers were believers. J.S. Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub.” Bach headed his compositions: “J.J.” Jesus Juva which means “Jesus help me.” He ended them “S.D.G.” “Soli Dei Gratia” which means “To God alone the praise.”

May godly, spiritual music hold a greater place in our churches, our homes, and our hearts. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

As the late Lawrence Welk used to say at the end of his shows, “Keep a song in your heart.”

Dean

-January 24, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“But he said, ‘O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else you may send.’”

(Exodus 4:13).

When God called Moses to lead the people of Israel out bondage in Egypt, Moses committed the sin of making excuses why he was not the man for the mission. God did not accept his protestations and gave him every reason why he would succeed in his role.

Moses asked, “…But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” God gave him a rod that turned into a snake and back again. Then his hand turned leprous and back again. The third sign was river water that turned into blood. Still, Moses had reservations about his own abilities.

All of us can relate to Moses. He claimed he was unqualified, unfit, and unable to speak well. Exodus 4:10 says, “Then Moses said, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’” This a common excuse why we can’t do something. God promised to be with his mouth and teach him what to say.

Every preacher, teacher, Sunday School teacher, missionary, singer, and soul winner needs the Lord to speak through them. I always pray that the Lord will hide me behind the cross and speak through me through His Word. The Lord is always faithful. Recently I was asked to convey some difficult news to a brother. In fact, I had to do it twice. I was not looking forward to it either time; but on both occasions God gave me the grace and the words to share. I had wondered why I had to be the one to do this. I realized it was my responsibility and I was accountable to the Lord and our church leadership.

The Bible is full of excuse makers: Adam, Eve, King Saul, and Aaron the high priest, are just a few that come to mind. There are many more. In all the cases, God did not accept any of them. Making excuses shows we doubt the Lord and His ability to speak through us and use us. Moses became one of the greatest leaders, prophets, and servants of God. God describes him as the meekest man on earth. Moses learned a big lesson: we have a great God. We make excuses when we are wrong.

I found a list of the top ten most used excuses:

1. I forgot.

2. No one told me to go ahead.

3. It didn’t think it was important.

4. Wait until the boss comes back and ask him.

5. I didn’t know you were in a hurry for it.

6. That’s the way we’ve always done it.

7. That’s not in my department.

8. How was I to know this was different?

9. I’m waiting for an O.K.

10. That’s not my job.

Excuses are so easy for us to make, but so hard for others to accept. They are just plain lame, hence, they are aptly called, “lame excuses.” In fact, there are no full- bodied ones. Let us resolve, with God’s help, to stop ourselves when tempted to make one. It will mean taking ownership, being honest, responsible and accountable. God will give us the grace.

Have a blessed, excuse less day. Stay safe and healthy.

Not making excuses for our excuses,

Dean

-January 23, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing.’”

(Revelation 5:11-12).

Right now in heaven there is a multitude of angels and glorified saints who are worshiping the Lord and praising Him for who He is and what He has done. The word praiseworthy is defined as, “deserving approval and admiration; laudable; deserving of praise.” Jesus is worthy of all our praise and worship.

When we praise the Lord and worship Jesus we are exalting Him and giving Him all the honor and glory. Think of of it as a dress rehearsal for heaven; for we will spend all eternity praising Him. John records seven things that Jesus is worthy to receive: power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. He deserves all the praise and worship we can give him and more.

The hymn writer Inglis Fleming wrote, “Exalted to the Father’s throne, with glory and with honor crowned, all at Thy glorious name shall bow, as Lord of all by each be owned. We worship Thee, all glorious Lord, forever be Thy name adored. We worship Thee, all glorious Lord, forever be Thy name adored!” Fanny Crosby wrote, “Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer! Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring! Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever; Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King! Christ is coming! Over the world victorious, pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!”

Let us praise and worship Jesus not only at church but daily in our devotional times with Him and wherever we are. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Praise is the language of heaven, for all the redeemed and those who are forgiven,

Dean

-January 22, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Then Leah said, ‘A troop comes!’ So she called his name Gad” (Genesis 30:11).

“Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, but he shall triumph at last.” (Genesis 49:19).

Jacob and his wives and their two maids produced twelve sons and one daughter, for a total of thirteen children, a baker’s dozen. The twelve sons of Jacob became the twelve tribes of Israel. The last son that Zilpah bore on behalf of Leah was named Gad, which means a troop. Leah was excited to proclaim, “A troop comes!”

When we think of a troop, we think of soldiers fighting a battle. In Genesis chapter 49, right before his death, Jacob gave his final words to his twelve sons. He had something to say about each one which described them and their future. Jacob’s words to Gad speaks of difficult battles but a final victory.

The same is true of the church today, for we are soldiers of the cross. Our three great enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. They attack us from within and from without. Christ won the victory at the cross and through His glorious resurrection. Our final victory will be over sin and death when we enter heaven. Until then we must fight the good fight of faith, putting on the whole armor of God. We may be tramped upon, shot at with the devil’s flaming missiles, but we will triumph at last. When we get knocked down, we must get up and fight on.

In speaking of Joseph, Jacob said, “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:22-24). Is your bow remaining strong in the mighty hands of God? We are powerless without God’s power.

David wrote of God’s help and power in Psalm 18:29, “For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.” David was a mighty warrior who relied on God’s mighty power. Paul exclaimed, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31).

Let us then be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We are victorious in Christ and we will triumph at last. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Being victorious in every way, every day,

Dean