Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-May 31, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”

(John 12:2-3).

Jesus had three very close, dear friends in Bethany: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He loved them and they loved Him. They often opened their home and invited Jesus and His disciples over. Mary and Martha were sisters and Lazarus was their brother. We are not told their ages or who was the youngest, the middle one, or the oldest; but we do have some clues from reading all the three passages that speak of them (Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-44; and John 12:1-11).

Using my sanctified imagination, I would say Martha was the oldest, Mary was the middle one, and Lazarus was the youngest. They lived together but we are told that it was Martha’s home. Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her serve, and when their brother Lazarus got sick and was near death, they called for Jesus to come and heal him. I say Lazarus was likely the little brother or baby brother. This is just my opinion, of course, but it makes sense.

Each of these three were precious to Jesus. Jesus had many friends while he was here on earth, but there were none closer than these three. As believers we are the friends of Jesus also. Our Savior said in John 15:13-15, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Over the next three days we will consider these three friends and what each of them symbolizes in our relationship to Jesus. In the OT, Abraham was called the friend of God. Now in the age of grace in the NT we are all His friends. Martha represents service, Mary represents worship, and Lazarus represents fellowship. Taken together these three traits form a beautiful tapestry of gold, blue, and scarlet like the garments of the priests. I trust we will all be blessed over these next three days and apply these truths to our lives.

Have a blessed day dear friends, walking close to Jesus in sweet fellowship, worshipping Him with holy adoration, and serving Him with all our hearts. Stay safe and healthy.

Having the best Friend in Jesus,

Dean

-May 30, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Now set your heart and soul to seek the Lord your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”

(1 Chronicles 22:19).

David had a burden to build the temple, but because he was a man of war, God chose his son Solomon to undertake this vast project for the Lord. David was old, yet he did everything in his power to prepare for the the building. David had it in his heart to do it, thus the Lord counted to him just as much as if had done it. He rallied all the people to support Solomon and build the temple.

Today’s wonderful verse shows that before one can serve the Lord, he or she must seek the Lord. David said, “Now set your heart and soul to seek the Lord God.” Our relationship with the Lord is more important than the work we do. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

When our hearts are right, our works will be right also. David tells the people, “arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God.” It would take a massive effort, with many people involved. It would be magnificent, majestic, and marvelous; it would be God’s house. 1 Chronicles 22:16 says, “Of gold and silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the Lord is with you.” Before one can finish, one must start; and before one can start, one be prepared.

The word arise is defined as, “get or stand up.” It means to get up and get going. When we do God’s will, in God’s way, He will be with us all the day. Arising takes action, work takes action. Nehemiah said years later when after returning to the land after seventy years of Babylonian captivity, “I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

They succeeded in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in an amazing 52 days. The key is found In Nehemiah 4:6, “…for the people had a mind to work.” Ben Franklin once said, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” As believers we know we can do whatever God asks us to do. The great missionary Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

Have a blessed day working and building God’s plan to reach and save every man. Stay safe and healthy.

Arise and begin working for our Savior,

Dean

-May 29, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

(Joshua 4:6-7).

God delivered His people Israel from their bondage in Egypt, bringing them out by His mighty power and outstretched arm. He parted the Red Sea, killing Pharaoh and his army who had pursued them. It was a tremendous miracle that they would serve as the birth of their nation. The story did not stop there, God fulfilled His promise to give them the land of Canaan as the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Now in Joshua chapter 4 they are about to cross over the Jordan River at a time when it was at its height. God provided another miracle for them by cutting off the water of the Jordan so that the ark of the covenant and all the people could safely cross over to their new land. The Red Sea represented redemption and deliverance; the Jordan represented new life and hope.

God instructed Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes to gather twelve stones from the River Jordan, one for each of them and carry them on their shoulders to Gilgal. This would be a great memorial of what God did for them. It would be a testimony for generations to come, even forever. These stones were not some small rocks but large stones that a man had to carry on his shoulders.

Nothing was written on the stones, but the Israelites were to teach their children their meaning. It reminds us of another time in Israel’s history in the days of Samuel. He took a stone as a reminder of God’s victory over the mighty Philistines. 1 Samuel 7:12 says, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’”

In Christianity we also have a memorial in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose for our justification. We too have a story to tell not only to our children but to the whole world, the gospel, the sweet story of our salvation. The Lord has helped us thus far and will continue to be with us until we reach heaven, our promised land. Let us never forget how the Lord saved us forever and has done many great miracles in our lives and answered so many of our prayers. Today in America we pause to remember all the men and women who died protecting our freedom. We are so blessed by their sacrifice in paying the ultimate price.

Have a blessed remembering all our blessings. Stay safe and healthy.

Keeping our memories alive and passing them on to the next generation.

Dean

-May 28, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

(Romans 12:15).

By our sinful nature we care only about ourselves and our own families and friends. Once we are saved, God gives us a new heart and we begin to think more of others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. We pray for each other, and others pray for us. Paul instructs us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” It sounds a lot easier than it really is. Our flesh resists it on both counts.

It all stems from the love of Christ. Love is happy with others who are blessed and succeed. We can share in their victories and blessings. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “…if one member is honored, all members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27).

It is often harder to rejoice with others than it is to weep for others who are hurting. The other side of it is to weep with those who weep. It goes beyond just praying for them, Those who are weeping need our sympathy and empathy, comfort and help. Visits should be short, and we should share the Word but not preach to them. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Coaches, teachers, parents, neighbors, and friends know important it is to support and encourage those in their circle of relationship and influence. We should always be available to talk to those who are down, discouraged, or depressed. May we be available. There will always be times when we need encouragement and help from others. We have to learn to receive help as we give it.

Have a blessed day rejoicing and weeping with others. Stay safe and healthy.

Loving others as we love ourselves,

Dean

-May 27, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Then King David went and sat before the Lord; and he said: ‘Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?’”

(1 Chronicles 17:16).

King David had a rich, full, and blessed life with the Lord. He was so thankful for all the blessings and all the trials he went through. He came from humble beginnings as the youngest of the eight sons of a simple God fearing man named Jesse. He was a shepherd-boy who cared for his father’s sheep. He was picked on by his brothers. He was called to play his harp before King Saul. He then was chosen to be in King Saul’s army.

David’s life changed when he faced and killed the Philistine giant Goliath who taunted the army of Israel and blasphemed the Lord. He became a mighty warrior. Samuel anointed him king over Israel, but David had to wait for years to first be crowned king of Judah and then king over all Israel. Saul grew so jealous of him that he sought to kill David on numerous occasions. Not until Saul died in battle, did he reign. Before that he refused to kill Saul because he was the Lord’s anointed.

David fought the Lord’s battles and was victorious in each one. God richly blessed him, protected him, and helped him. Twice it says, “So the Lord preserved David wherever he went” (See 1 Chronicles 18:6; 1 Chronicles 18:13). David was so humbled and thankful for all that the Lord had done for him. He felt so unworthy before the Lord. He asked two great questions: “Who am I? And what is my father’s house?’

David was so thankful that the Lord brought him this far. Should we not feel this way also? If it weren’t for the Lord we wouldn’t be saved, we wouldn’t be forgiven, we wouldn’t have a future in heaven, and we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything for the Lord. The great prophet, priest, and judge Samuel shared the same sentiment when he said, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12)

Let us, like David, look back with thanks and praise, and forward with joy and hope. He will see us through until death or the Lord’s coming whichever comes first. We can all say together, “the Lord has brought us this far.” He will continue to be with us and take care of us until we reach the glory of heaven.

Have a blessed day sitting in the presence of the Lord, standing for Him and His Word, and walking in His will. Stay safe and healthy.

Unworthy in self, yet so worthy in Jesus,

Dean