Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 11, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting, and having torn my garment and my robe. I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God.”

(Ezra 9:5).

David, like Ezra, was in great agony when the child Bathsheba bore to him was very ill. 2 Samuel 12:16 says, “And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went and lay on the ground.” This went on for seven days before the child died. Jesus fasted forty days before being tempted by the devil. Moses also fasted for forty days while on Mt. Sinai. Ezra and Nehemiah each fasted and poured out their hearts to the Lord.

In the Bible, prayer and fasting always go together. When we deny ourselves food for a particular time, our minds and hearts are cleared and cleansed and it helps us to focus on prayer and the Lord more clearly. One can pray without fasting but should not fast without praying. When we fast, we are showing how serious we are and how great our need is. Our flesh may be weak but our spirits are strong.

Yesterday we considered the subject of feasting with gladness before the Lord. Today, we have the opposite side of the spectrum in prayer and fasting. There are many examples of fasting in both the OT and NT. Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to fast or told exactly how to fast, but those who fasted and prayed showed their seriousness and utter dependence on God in prayer; they fasted in confession of sins, and especially in times of great need, sorrow, or trouble.

Prayer connected with fasting is a personal choice we make. When there is a great decision to be made or desperate life or death situation, or we tremendously burdened, prayers with fastings are extremely valuable. It says in Acts 14:23, “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord.”

May we all pray earnestly and fervently, and when the situation calls for it, let us fast. Not everyone can fast due to physical limitations or conditions, but we can all pray with great urgency in times of emergency. God hears and answers prayer. Fasting is not easy and requires commitment, discipline, and sacrifice.

Noted Pastor, preacher, teacher, and author Tony Evans uses a great apology on prayer and fasting. He describes how there are two types of jumpers in track and field: high jumpers and pole vaulters. The former leap off the ground and propel themselves and leap just over seven feet. They depend fully on themselves. The latter have a pole in hands and sprint down the runway and put the pole in the ground and let the pole propel them over nineteen feet. He said, “maybe what you need is a pole vault. You need something to get your problem so that you can go higher than you could ever lift yourself. Maybe you need a pole that will help you jump over the mountain. The pole vault for the bars in your life are fasting and prayer.”

Have a blessed day pouring out your hearts in prayer and when in great need, fast and pray together. Stay safe and healthy.

Extreme need leads to extreme measures,

Dean

-April 10, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.”

(Esther 9:18-19).

Feasting among God’s people is found many times in Scripture. God commanded that the Israelites gather collectively and celebrate many feasts. They gathered to celebrate the goodness of God and praise and thank Him. Passover was the very first one. There was also the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, The Day of Atonement, Tabernacles, First Fruits, and Trumpets. There are seven in all. The Feast of Purim was a new one that the Jews celebrated in the book of Esther.

Without exception these feasts and others on the Sabbath and at other family gatherings were associated with joy and gladness. They ate and drank together, giving thanks to the Lord. The Lord was the center and focus of their feasting. Later on the early Christians gathered together often to eat and drink. It seems like a lost art today.

The context of our reading from Esther is the victory that the Lord gave them over their enemies who had plotted to destroy them. The wicked man Haman, who hated Mordecai and all the Jews, was led and inspired by the devil. Though God is not specifically mentioned in the book of Esther, He was working behind the scenes to protect, promote, and preserve them. The Jews celebrated a new feast called Purim. They had great joy and celebration, and they sent presents to one another.

We as believers should gather together to feast with good friends, to partake of good food and drink, and give all the glory to God for His goodness. When the pilgrims came to America in the early 1600’s they gave thanks to the Lord. They shared a great feast with the native Americans. Thanksgiving Day had its roots in this special time. Today we have special days, many of which are not just holidays but holy days: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter being three prominent ones. We also celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and other wonderful times.

I remember all the potluck dinners and prayer breakfasts I attended as a young man. They was good fellowship, food, and fun. We still have church lunches and dinners today. We need more times like this to get together and thank the Lord for what He has done for us. Feasting isn’t indulging it is enjoying God’s bounties and our meals with gusto. Acts 2:46-47 says, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

There is a verse of a hymn entitled, “He keeps Me Singing,” that comes to my mind. It says, “Feasting on the riches of His grace, resting ‘neath His sheltering wing, always looking on His smiling face—That is why I shout and sing.” Have a blessed day thanking and praising God, enjoying good friends and good times, and celebrating the special times of feasting in and around the Lord.

True feasting is at its best when Jesus gives us peaceful rest,

Dean

-April 9, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day, happy Easter,

“But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go and tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will find Him, as He said to you.’”

(Mark 16:6-7).

Jesus is the only religious leader whose bones are not in a grave. He rose from the dead to give us life, hope, peace, and joy. He is a living Savior who is seated at the right hand of God. Just as the disciples testified that He arose we must go and do likewise. Easter has always been about the resurrection not about Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, and Easter gifts and cards. Though they have their place if they give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The news of Christ’s resurrection spread to the disciples, though at first they did not believe it. It was an unprecedented miracle. The angel gave the news first to the godly women, Mary Magdalene was the first one to see Jesus in His new body, then He appeared to ten of the disciples. Thomas was not present, so Jesus appeared to them next time when Thomas was present. He would not believe unless he could touch His wounds.

Mark is the only gospel writer who mentions Peter specifically. The Lord knew that he had denied Him three times and that Peter needed forgiveness and restoration. Peter went on be to a great apostle, evangelist, leader, preacher, and teacher. The resurrection gave all of them great inspiration and motivation.

The hymn writer Alfred H. Ackley wrote, “I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him He’s always near.” The chorus says, “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.”

I have never been to Israel but I would like to very much. I would go to the empty garden tomb and see it and all the other places mentioned in Scripture. Have a blessed and joyful Easter, rejoicing that we have a living Savior and we live because He lives. Stay safe and healthy.

Living with Jesus, because of Jesus, and for Jesus,

Dean

-April 8, 2023-

Good morning, happy Holy Saturday,

“This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. That was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near” (Luke 23:52-54).

“Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone” (Matthew 27:65-66).

Jesus was dead, His body laid in the garden tomb of Joseph of Aramathea, who was himself a disciple. He, along with Nicodemus, who also believed in Jesus, went to Pilate requesting Jesus’ body so they could give Him a traditional Jewish burial. The tomb belonged to Joseph. The two of them carefully took down the body and laid it in the tomb which wasn’t far from the cross.

Pilate checked with the Centurion to make sure Jesus was dead, then released the body to Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin. The Jews told Pilate that Jesus told His followers that He would rise from the dead. Pilate told them to place a guard at the tomb to make sure the disciples didn’t come and steal the body and say that He was alive. There was a huge rock placed in front of the tomb. It was doubly secure, or so they thought. They didn’t account for an angel removing the stone and Jesus rising from the dead.

Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead. But what went on Saturday? It was quiet. The Jews called it the Preparation Day. The Sabbath began Friday at sunset and lasted until Saturday at sunset. Jesus’ body was in the grave but His soul and spirit were in Paradise. His body was like an aircraft in the hanger waiting for the pilot to take control and take off. Nothing and no one could keep Him in the grave.

The hymn writer Robert Lowry wrote, “Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord. Vainly they watched His bed, Jesus my Savior! Vainly they sealed the dead, Jesus my Lord. Death could not keep his prey, Jesus, my Savior! He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord. Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes; He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign; He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose.”

Yes, it was a quiet Saturday awaiting a triumphant Resurrection Day. Have a blessed Holy Saturday preparing for Easter. Stay safe and healthy.

Looking forward to Easter,

Dean

-April 7, 2023-

Good morning, happy Good Friday,

“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”

(Luke 23:44-46).

It is not called, Frightful Friday, Agonizing Friday, or Horrific Friday, it was all of that for Jesus in His suffering on the cross. Yet for Him and for us, it is Good Friday. He bore our sins, our guilt, and our shame on that old rugged cross. The cruel instrument of death became the instrument of life for us. It all played out on a hill called Calvary, Golgotha, the place of the skull. God brought complete darkness over the scene as the greatest sacrifice was ever made.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, died as the lamb of God in our place as our Substitute. He suffered, blessed and died for the sins of the world. He offered Him up as the perfect sacrifice. He died outside the camp, rejected and scorned by men, forsaken by God, all to save us. He also cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34); and “Father into Your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46).” He fulfilled all righteousness, defeated sin, death, and Satan by dying.

Once Jesus completed our salvation, He said in John 1:30, “It is finished.” After the great transaction was complete, He breathed His last. He yielded up His life willingly for us. He who could have called ten thousand angels to set Him free, died for you and me. He who knew no sin, became sin for us; He who innocent, took our guilt; He who was the Light of the world, died in darkness.

Yes, it was a Good Friday. A day like none other. Satan thought he won, the world thought it won. They silenced His voice. Yet, He won the victory over sin and death. Sunday we will once again remember and celebrate His triumphal resurrection from the dead.

One of the greatest hymns of the faith is, “The Old Rugged Cross” written by George Bennard. He wrote, “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; For ‘‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory forever I’ll share. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, ‘Til my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.”

Have a Good Friday remembering the price Jesus paid, giving His life to save us and bring us forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. Stay safe and healthy.

Gazing on the cross where Jesus died,

Dean