Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 8, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“For I will defend this city, to save it for My own sake and My servant David’s sake.”

(Isaiah 37:35).

God loved Israel and chose them to be His earthly people. He put up with a lot from them over the years as they rebelled against Him, disobeyed Him, and committed idolatry. He sent Judah into captivity in Babylon and Israel into Assyria. At the time of our text Judah was still in their land and Jerusalem was the beloved city.

Judah was surrounded by the Assyrians who threatened to destroy them. Sennacherib was their king and the Rabshakeh was his spokesman. The Assyrians conquered many countries and destroyed their gods, which were idols. He blasphemed God, and mocked King Hezekiah and the people of Judah. He called for unconditional surrender. Instead Hezekiah sought counsel from the prophet Isaiah and brought this matter before the Lord in prayer.

God made the promise, “I will defend this city, to save it…” He would do it for His own sake and David’s sake. The angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 Assyrians soldiers without the people of Judah lifting a finger. Sennacherib alone escaped back to Nineveh and was killed by his own two sons in the house of his god.

Many nations and rulers have since tried to destroy Israel. Their attempts have all failed. Today the terrorist group Hamas shot thousands of rockets into Israel killing and wounding innocent men, women, and children. Israel has and will defend itself. The Lord is behind them. You don’t mess with Lord and His people. In a coming day during the tribulation, all the Arabs and countries that support them will surround Jerusalem. The Lord will return and defeat them once and for all at the Battle of Armageddon. By that time we will be in heaven and will return with Him as the Lord Jesus Christ, will reign in Jerusalem over the whole earth for 1,000 years. He will regather and restore His people Israel.

How does this all apply to us living as believers today? The Lord loves His church composed of people from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. Christ is our Head, we are His people, His heavenly people. He will defend us. His coming at the Rapture appears very near. We will see the beginning of sorrows. We will smell it, but we won’t go through the tribulation and World War III.

We don’t have to defend ourselves from the attacks against us. The Lord will defend us and vindicate us. He will bring about the victory for us. Let us stand together in prayer for each other and for Israel.

Have a blessed day of worshiping the Lord, the preaching of His Word, and fellowshipping with the saints. Stay safe and healthy.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem,

Dean

-October 7, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.”

(Numbers 9:23).

Life is a journey from birth until death. At some time during this journey, we must get saved and have our lives are changed forever. We now have a new destination and a new focus and priority in life. Our end on earth is not the grave, but heaven where we will forever be with the Lord.

Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt. A journey that should have lasted 11 days took 40 years because of their disobedience. Joshua took over as leader after Moses’ death and led them into the Promised Land. There were many trials, difficulties, wars, privations, and struggles; much like we have today. The Lord fulfilled His promises and gave them the victory. Life is not easy. It can seem long and hard, but the Lord is with us all the way.

In the NT, Paul travelled on three missionary journeys, winning souls, making disciples, and planting churches. His journey with the Lord began on the road to Damascus when the Lord Jesus appeared to him and saved him. It ended on earth when he was executed by the Romans for his faith and witness for our Savior. He said in 2 Timothy 4:7 near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Paul finished the journey and if we ask him, “Paul, was it worth it? He will undoubtedly answer, “yes and amen.” We are on our joyous journey to heaven, our Promised Land. The Lord Jesus is coming to take us home; if we die first, we will be ushered into the presence of Jesus in an instant. This journey on earth is so short compared to eternity. The light afflictions we go through cannot compare to the weight of glory that awaits us in heaven at the end of our journey.

How is your journey going? Is it one of faith, trust, and obedience? Are you following Christ our Head, Lord, and King through the wilderness of this world? May the Lord grant us journeying mercies along the road. Christians of old used to pray that for those who were traveling. We should that expression more today.

Have a blessed day on the journey. Stay safe and healthy.

With Jesus leading, the path will be glorious, and we will be always the ones victorious,

Dean

-October 6, 2923-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”

(Philippians 2:9).

There is something special about the name of Jesus because of who He is and what He has done for us through His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection. God the Father has exalted Him and raised Him up to the highest place of glory at His own right hand.

There is power in the name of Jesus; there is love in the name of Jesus; there is life in the name of Jesus. God has given Him the name that is above every name. Though the name Jesus was common in His day, there was nothing common about Him. He was perfect God and perfect man. I personally don’t think any parent should name their child Jesus. His name is too sacred and holy to be shared with any mortal.

The Lord Jesus came into this world and humbled Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. He stooped so low to lift us up so high. He who was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we might become rich. He who made everything and everyone, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, owned nothing on this earth except His clothes and sandals.

God exalted Him and His wonderful name above every name. One day every knee will bow to Him, and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. That means every person saved and unsaved, of everyone in heaven and on earth. We as believers bow and confess willingly, but those unsaved will do it forcibly. We bow to His authority, doing His will; we confess that He is Lord of all, and honor Him as our Lord. God exalted Him and we exalt Him also.

Let us take a moment today to exalt Him and praise His name. The song writer wrote, “His name is higher than any other, His name is Jesus, His name is Lord. His name is wonderful, His name is Counsellor, His name is Prince of Peace, the Mighty God. His name is higher than any other, His name is Jesus, His Lord.”

Have a blessed day exalting the Lord in word and deed. Stay safe and healthy.

Bowing low to lift up His name, confessing Him as Lord without any shame,

Dean

-September 5, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or wherever you turn to the left.”

(Isaiah 30:21).

There are times we are so focused on what we are doing, feeling, or experiencing that we fail to hear the Lord’s still small voice. Here the Lord speaks these words to Isaiah, the people of Israel, and to us. There are many voices in this world and a multitude of distractions.

Through Scripture we find this phrase turning to the right of left. Neither of these directions is appropriate for the child of God. The Lord desires that we go straight, following Him along the highway of holiness and the straight and narrow path.

Proverbs 4:25-27 says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.” God’s path is the good path, and God’s way is best way. If we stray off the path, we need to repent and return to the Lord. Then our lives will be back on track. We will be realigned and recalibrated.

Have a blessed day following the Lord, listening to His voice, and walking in His will. Stay safe and healthy.

Walking In His way to walk everyday,

Dean

-October 4, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“And he said to me, ‘O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have been sent to you.’ While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.”

(Daniel 10:11).

Daniel was a prophet, a man of God, and a leader in Babylon and later in Media-Persia. He, along with a number of young Jewish men taken into captivity, were groomed for leadership. The prophecies he spoke pointed well into the future, to the end of times.

Daniel prayed three times a day, and as he was praying fervently for Jerusalem and the people of God, God heard and answered his prayers. But the answer was delayed 21 days due to a spiritual conflict between the Prince of Persia, meaning the Satanic power behind him, and the angel Gabriel and the angel Michael came to help him. This gives us a glimpse into the spiritual warfare going on constantly in the heavenly places. We can’t see or hear it, but it is real.

Gabriel calls Daniel, “greatly beloved,” three times in the book of Daniel: Daniel 9:23, 10:11, and 10:19. Every believer in Jesus Christ is called beloved by God. The word beloved is found 104 times in the Bible. It is defined as, “A much loved person.” The Lord is our Beloved and we are His beloved: the Bride of Christ. In the Song of Solomon, the word beloved is used over and over. The Shulamite maiden said, “My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies” (Song of Solomon 2:16).

In the NT, all the writers of Scripture used the word beloved to refer to the saints. Paul, Peter, John, James, and Jude. This is significant, in that it shows how precious we are to the Lord, and that the early Christians called each other beloved. We don’t hear this word nearly enough as in days gone by. We might say, dear brothers and sisters, which is true, but we should use the term beloved, way more often than we do in speaking and preaching or sharing in small fellowship groups.

It is so encouraging to speak and hear the word beloved. It serves to remind us of how much God loves us. We are special to Him, beloved! Greatly loved! There is a beautiful hymn entitled, “Immanuel’s Land,” written by Anne Ross Cousin. The third verse says, “Oh, I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved’s mine! He brings a poor vile sinner into His house of wine! I stand upon His merit. I know no other stand, not e’en where glory dwelleth, in Immanuel’s land.”

Have a blessed day, beloved, in His glorious love. Stay safe and healthy.

Loved with love which no knows no measure, we are His beloved, His special treasure,

Dean