Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 25, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34-35).

“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27).

The Lord Jesus spelled out what it means to be a disciple in many verses in the Gospels. There are four characteristics of being a disciple: the desire to come after the Lord, the self-denial of our will, the taking up (or bearing) our the cross, and the commitment to following Jesus. Today, our focus is on taking up our cross. To take up our cross is essential to being a disciple.

In Mark 8:34-35, Jesus is speaking to two different groups: the people that traveled around with Him and the twelve disciples. Jesus sent out the twelve two by two and also sent out seventy others two by two. Every Christian should be a disciple, but not everyone is. Anyone who desires to come after Christ must make that decision without hesitation, qualification, or procrastination. Jesus gives the requirements of discipleship up front. Our human nature wants its own will and way. Instead we must choose God’s will and way. Self-denial is not an easy road to choose. It goes against our natural desires.

Not only must we deny ourselves, we must take up our cross and follow Jesus. We follow Him in salvation, we must also follow Him in sanctification. We must go where the Lord wants to go, do what He wants to do, and speak what He wants us to say. Beating our cross means to identify with Christ, bear suffering, shame, and pain. Each one of our crosses is uniquely suited for us. They are heavy but not too heavy to carry. Sometimes we wish our crosses were lighter and easier. Our Lord knows how exactly how much we can bear. It is sad when a believer in Christ puts down his cross, gives up or gives in.

Jesus said, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Him cannot be My disciple.” He also said in Luke 14:33, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” A disciple of Christ counts the cost and pays the price. His life in not his own.

Thus, discipleship is a choice, denying ourselves is a choice, bearing our cross is a choice, and following Christ is a choice — we must make the choice each day. Have a blessed and fulfilling day.

Taking up our cross daily,

Dean

-February 24, 2023-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever.”

(Psalm 45:17).

Each generation of believers has the privilege and responsibility to teach the new generation about our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We pass it on to our children grandchildren, and even grandchildren. It is so needed in the church and world today. This is what the Israelites were to do. This is we must do also. America and whole world has strayed further and further away from the Lord and His Word.

We must be role models, examples, testimonies, and witnesses. Young people want to see reality and consistency in our lives. It is not about religion, it is about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If we profess it, we’d better possess it; and if we speak it, we’d better live it! Otherwise, we will be hypocrites like the Pharisees.

The Israelites looked back on their deliverance from their bondage in Egypt; we look back to the cross and our deliverance from our bondage of sin, the devil, the world, and the flesh. We must share with others this great message of the gospel. Before our Savior went to the cross, He instituted the Lord’s Supper by saying, in Luke 22:19, “…This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” He knew we are forgetful people and gave us the bread and wine to symbolize His body and His blood. The two major sacraments that were given to the church are Baptism and the Breaking of Bread.

Let us then remember the Lord Jesus and His holy name; Then we must make sure that these things are remembered by all successive generations. The church will survive us and we pass the torch to young ones. Wise and obedient church leaders will train their successors. Paul wrote, “And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Their job is not just to do the work of the Lord themselves but equip others to do it.

Making the name of Jesus known and remembered,

Dean

-February 23, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, ‘My head, my head!’ So he to a servant, ‘Carry him to his mother.’ When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.” She carried his body and laid on the bed of the man of God.

(2 Kings 4:18-19).

Life is in constant flux. Things never stay the same, people change, circumstances change; Only God never changes. This story of the Shunammite woman, her husband, and their son is an example of a vicissitude. A vicissitude is defined as, “A change of circumstances or fortune, typically that is unwelcome or unpleasant.” This certainly describes many people in the Bible, as well as ourselves.

The Shunammite woman and her husband developed a close friendship with the prophet Elisha. He stopped by their home when he passed by that way and had fellowship with him. She asked her husband to build him a small, upper room in their house on the wall of the city. They provided Elisha with a bed, table, chair, and lamp stand. They showed him love and kindness. He wanted to repay their kindness by doing something good for the lady. When asked what that was, she had no need. Elisha’s servant Gehazi found out she had no son and her husband was old. He told her she would have a son, and she couldn’t believe it.

When the appointed time came she delivered a wonderful baby boy and he became the love of her life. Then one day he grew to be a young boy and he went to his father in the fields, he was struck with a severe heat stroke and died. She went to Elisha the man of God, believing he could do something and he did. He raised him from the dead by the power of God, presenting him back to his mother. Things were good once again for this dear woman, her husband, and their son. The good thing happened and God worked a second miracle for her.

God helps us in the vicissitudes of life. Like has its sorrows, troubles, pains, and tragedies; but we don’t face them alone, the Lord is with us to help us through them. His grace is sufficient for us. Sudden changes can hit us hard, like the loss of loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of health, or any number of other things. These are often unwelcome and unwanted, but God uses them to draw us closer to Him and grow our faith. Job and Joseph both experienced the vicissitudes of life.

May the Lord be with us so that if sudden bad things happens to us, we will know that He allowed them for our good. Let Him show us how to be better not bitter as a result. Have a blessed day whatever comes. Stay safe and healthy.

Through the ups and downs of life,

Dean

-February 22, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

(Luke 24:15).

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to His disciples and told them of the things that He fulfilled from the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. It was necessary for Him to suffer and rise from the dead; that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations beginning in Jerusalem and extending to the whole world.

They were to remain in Jerusalem until the promise of the Holy Spirit would come. They would then be indwelt by and filled with the Holy Spirit. This occurred on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit would then teach them concerning Jesus. It is not enough to have knowledge, though that is very important, but we also need understanding to comprehend, and wisdom to put it into practice.

There are things in the Word of God that are difficult to understand. The Holy Spirit unlocks the truth to us. This is why those who are unsaved understand so little of the true meaning of the Scriptures, both from the OT and the NT. Everything in the written Word points to Christ the living Word. When we approach the Word of God we must pray for understanding. He will teach us giving us knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Knowledge is what we need to know, understanding is what we need to comprehend, and wisdom is what we need to apply it and put to use in our daily lives.

Phillip asked the Ethiopian Eunuch a very good question in Acts 8:30, “Do you understand what you are reading?” In the next verse, he answered, ‘How can I unless someone guides me.” Phillip was that someone and he led him to Christ and baptized him. He said to Phillip, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” As believers who have the knowledge and the understanding, we share the Lord in wisdom and love with those who do not know Him.

May the Lord open our eyes that we may see, our ears so that we may hear, and our hearts and minds so that we understand, obey, and apply the Word to our lives. We then can pass on what we have been taught to others, both saved and unsaved.

Have a blessed day reading and studying the Word so that we may be blessed and others will be also through us. Stay safe and healthy.

Coming before the Lord with an open Bible and open hearts and minds,

Dean

-February 21, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”

(Ecclesiastes 11:1).

There is great value in diligence combined with patience. In our text Solomon gives us valuable insight on two important aspects in the Christian life: our part and God’s part. God wants to be diligent, hardworking, and patient; God’s will answer our prayers and come through for us in His time.

To cast our bread upon the waters likely refers to the planting of rice. It grows in muddy ground or ground covered in water. It is trodden by cattle, takes root, grows, and produces a plentiful harvest after many days. Rice growers must be patient in order to see it through all the way.

So it is in life, things don’t happen as quickly as we’d like. We live in age of instant coffee, instant oatmeal, fast foods, microwaves, and food delivered right to our doorsteps. We get so impatient. Yet there is value in waiting. Sometimes it takes years for a soul to get saved; it may take a long time before God sends us a spouse; we may see scores of homes before purchasing one; it may take months to find a job; it may quite some time for a promotion to come through. Many give up waiting.

Our part is to give our best effort, then let the Lord take over. It may take blood, sweat, and tears and many days, weeks, or years. Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” We should never give up. God is able to do all things. We gain nothing by being anxious or worried, for God is in control.

Let us cast our bread upon the waters, for we will find it after many days. God sees us, hears us, and knows us better than we know ourselves. Making split decisions, moving ahead of the Lord, or taking matters into our own hands is not good. There are lasting consequences when we do.

Have a blessed, diligent, and patient day. Stay safe and healthy.

Showing diligence in sowing leads to blessing in growing,

Dean