Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 27, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“So he answered and said to me: ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.’”

(Zechariah 4:5).

The context of today’s verse is the Israelites are back in their land after the Seventy Year Babylonian captivity. A remnant of the people returned led by Ezra and Nehemiah to rebuild their cities, the wall around Jerusalem, and most of all, to build the temple. They faced incredible opposition from without and within. With God’s help they succeeded to the glory of God.

Zerubbabel was chosen by God with the task of rebuilding the temple, the house of God. It almost seemed an insurmountable and impossible task with the resources and manpower they had available. Solomon’s temple was the first temple and it was destroyed by the invading Babylonian army. God encouraged Zerubbabel to take up his responsibility and complete it. The power to do it would God’s power through the Holy Spirit. Paul encouraged Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it” (Colossians 4:17).

Any work for God must be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot rely on man’s power at all. Hosea 1:7 says, “Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen.” God needs nothing to give us the victory. All we need is faith and trust in Him, He will work for us by His mighty power. We have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

There are times when we face seemingly impossible circumstances. We tend to fear, be anxious, and or worry. We have so many examples in the Bible of the great miracles and victories that God worked for His people. From deliverance of Israel from Egypt’s control and bondage, to the parting of the Red Sea, to Gideon’s victory over the Midianities, to Hezekiah’s victory over the Assyrians, to Daniel’s deliverance from the lions’ den, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego’s through the fiery furnace. These are just a few examples of the power of God.

To do a great work, we need a great God; to finish it we need to follow a great plan from God. We must rely on God fully to do His will fully. We can’t give up but must keep pressing on. That is what is really needed now with this most recent variant of the Corona virus. Every time we think that we have turned the corner, we are faced with new challenges and difficulties. God’s work can and is going on.

We know that Zerubbabel finished the task by the help and power of the Lord. The second temple was called Zerubbabel’s temple. Later the third temple was built called Herod’s temple. The fourth temple will be built during the Tribulation, and the last temple will be constructed during the Millennium.

We must remember that whatever we do for the Lord must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the only way for success and victory. When we rely on God’s power and resources, we see great things done for Him, and He is glorified. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” We come to Him as empty vessels, and He fills us with His power. God can only use humble, clean, empty vessels.

One day at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will be rewarded for our faithfulness in the Lord’s work for doing them by His power. He will say to us, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” Let us take up our responsibility and fulfill it faithfully to the end. Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.

Have a blessed day serving the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-December 26, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

(Habakkuk 2:14).

Today’s verse points to the future reign of Christ over the earth during the Millennium. We as believers will reign with Him as He rules over Israel and all the nations for 1,000 years, then He will reign for eternity. God’s glory will fill the whole earth. Everyone on earth that came through the tribulation will bow and summit to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the earth like the waters that cover the sea. His power, dominion, authority, and sovereignty will be on full display for all to see. Just imagine how much water is in all the seas of the world! Isaiah 11:9, says, “They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Imagine a time of plenty, prosperity, and peace. We now live in a time of war, conflict, crime, and violence; there is also strife, division, and lawlessness. Isaiah 11:6-10 describes the conditions that will exist in the future day: the wolf and lamb will dwell together; the leopard will lie down with the lamb; the calf and the young lion will lie down together, and a little child will lead them; and the cow and the bear will graze, and lion will eat straw. A child will play near a cobra’s hole and be able put his hand over a viper’s den without fear or harm. There will be no hurt in God’s holy mountain.

The Jews will live on the new earth and Christ will rule over them; we who are saved shall be in heaven in the New Jerusalem. God will fulfill all His promises. Habakkuk 2:20 says, “But the Lord is in His temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

As we gather today in the name of the Lord Jesus to worship Him, praise Him, and thank Him, may we think of Him in all of His glory. Let us sing His praise and hear His Word. The Babe in the manger will one day rule the world.

Have a blessed day looking to Jesus and willingly submitting to Him. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-December 25, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday, Merry Christmas,

“Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying that was told them. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (Luke 2:17; Luke 2:20).

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

Today is Christmas Day, our Savior’s birthday, a great day of celebration and joy. What a privilege it would have been to be there to witness that first Christmas! How excited we would have been! But we living today should be even more excited given what we know of Jesus and all the Scriptures in God’s Holy Word! The shepherds were limited, as were Simeon, Anna, the wisemen, and others at that time. Even the apostles did not have the all Scriptures in written form as we do today.

Jesus, our Lord and King was born in Bethlehem’s manger, lived and taught on the shores of Galilee and throughout all the land of Israel, died on Calvary’s cross, rose from Joseph’s tomb, and ascended to the highest place in heaven at the Father’s right hand. We have such a wonderful message to share with those who do now know Him! After the Day of Pentecost the apostles were filled and indwelt with the Holy Spirit; they began to boldly proclaim Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Peter and John, like the shepherds at Jesus’ birth, had the holy compulsion to tell others what they had seen and heard. They were persecuted for their faith in proclaiming the gospel, which is God’s good news to all the world. They were beaten, imprisoned, and put to death for speaking of Jesus. Acts 5:41-42 says, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Are we willing to do likewise: to suffer shame for His name and never cease to spread His message to a lost and dying world?

This beautiful hymn, “Go Tell It On The Mountains,” was written by John W. York, and has been an a source of great joy and inspiration over the years. It was one of the negro spirituals that have added so much benefit to all believers. The words of this song are such a blessing as we consider who Jesus was and is, and what He has done for us. The chorus, that comes at the beginning of the verses inspires us to take His message, share it, and spread far and wide.

“While shepherds kept their watching, o’er silent flocks that night, behold throughout the heavens there shone a heavenly light. The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and brought us God’s salvation that blessed Christmas morn.” The chorus challenges and inspires us to, “Go tell it on the mountains, over the hills and everywhere; Go tell it on the mountains that Jesus Christ is born.”

We love Christmas, the miracle of Jesus’ virgin birth, the celebration of His grace, truth, and salvation; but it did not stop there. He loved us so much as to take our place on the cross and die for our sins, and rise from the dead for our justification. How blessed and privileged we are to share the good news, live for Him, and serve Him. Let us go tell it on the mountains, wherever we go, to whomever we meet, in His name and by His grace.

Have a Merry and blessed Christmas Day basking in the sunshine of God’s grace and sharing His story. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-December 24, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday, Happy Christmas Eve,

“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

“And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him” (Luke 2:33).

When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah, he said in Luke 1:30-33, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary sincerely asked the question to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and power of the Highest would overshadow her. He also said in Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” I love her immediate answer spoken in faith, humility, and obedience, “Then Mary said, ‘Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be done to me according to your word,’ and the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38).

Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. In our modern language we would say “she took all things to heart.” She knew the weight of her responsibility and accepted it willingly. But Mary, did you know? In 1991, Mark Lowry, a singer in the Gaither Vocal Band, collaborated with Buddy Green, guitarist and singer/songwriter, to write this song, “Mary Did You Know?” The song became an instant classic.

The words are so amazing and heavenly, “Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new; This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you? Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with His hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod, and when you kiss your little baby you’ve kissed the face of God? Mary, did you know?

“The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again, the lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the Lamb! Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy was Heaven’s perfect Lamb, and the sleeping Child you’re holding is the great, the great I AM? Oh, Mary did you know?”

Wow, what a song? I quoted the whole thing since it is such a blessing. We may, like Mary, not know the future events of our lives, but we trust God, walk by faith, obey Him, and leave everything in His hands. We have today to live for the Lord and serve Him, tomorrow is in His hands. When we get to heaven we can ask Mary, did you know?

Have a blessed Christmas Eve. Let us keep what we have in Christ and His Word, and treasure them in our hearts. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-December 23, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. So I said, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’”

(Isaiah 6:1; Isaiah 6:5).

When Jesus came down from heaven as the King, He left His throne in glory to come into a world of sin; He set aside His regal robes to wear the clothes of a servant; He put off His royal crown to exchange it for a crown of thorns; and He who was rich, became poor so that we throughHim might become rich. He came undercover to the very people He had created. When I was just a lad, I remember singing the chorus of a hymn that said, “ Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe, only His great eternal love, made my Savior go.”

The hymn writer Emily E. S. Elliott wrote this beautiful Christmas hymn, “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne.” She wrote this hymn to teach children the truths of the advent and nativity seasons. It proved to be an inspiration not only to children but to adults as well, during the Christmas season and also throughout the entire year. It differs from the usual Christmas songs since it focuses not only on Jesus’ birth but also His life on earth, His suffering and death, and the ultimate triumph of His second advent.

The first two lines of this hymn say, “Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me, but in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room for Thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee! Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming Thy royal decree, but in lowly birth didst Thou come to earth and in great humility. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee!”

There was no room for Jesus in the Inn at Bethlehem, and no room for Him on this earth. On earth He was the homeless Stranger who came to die for our sins. Is there room in your heart for Him? He is the King of glory who is now seated at the Father’s right hand.

Paul described how Christ humbled Himself in Philippians 2:6-8, “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Paul goes on to tell us that God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name, and that every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Heaven and earth cannot contain Him, but our hearts can. We can praise and worship Jesus as our King!

Have a blessed day and a Merry Christmas. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean