Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 17, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“God who at various times and various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.”

(Hebrews 1:1-2).

Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were experiencing persecution from their fellow countrymen. They were tempted to go back to Judaism. The writer, whom many believe was Paul, shows the superiority of Christ over the Judaic system, Moses, the law, the Aaronic priesthood, and the angels. Everything is better in Christ under the New Covenant of grace.

Under the OT economy, God spoke at various times times and various ways. It may also be rendered “in many portions.” God spoke to the prophets by the Holy Spirit in dreams and visions. The prophets were thus spokesmen for God or as they are called “the oracles of God.” Even into the earliest days of the church, before the Bible was written as we have it today, there were apostles and prophets. There is no need for these today. We teach what has been written in Genesis to Revelation. We are so blessed and privileged.

The writer says that God, “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He made the worlds.” Jesus is the living Word of God. John 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” The Word is the Greek word logos, meaning the word. God spoke by Him. Jesus is the living Word and the Bible is the written Word.

When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John on the mountain, and Moses and Elijah were present speaking of His decease or departure at Jerusalem, Peter spoke of building three tabernacles or tents, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. Immediately, a cloud came and God’s voice was heard, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” Jesus stands above anyone else and will not share His glory with another. The Father has appointed Him heir of all things, and He sits at the Father’s right hand. When Jesus spoke, God spoke through Him.

Jesus is the Son of God, and the writer says of Him in Hebrews 1:3, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Years ago when carbon was used to make copies of documents, and I am certainly dating myself, the term was used “carbon copy.” Jesus is the carbon copy of the Father. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Jesus is called, “the image of God.”

Let us rejoice during this Christmas season, that God has spoken to us by His Son. He was born to die for us, and to rise again. He ascended on high and is coming back for us. We are privileged to speak of Him to others. We as believers are blessed to be heirs of God and joint heirs of Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed day as we get closer to Christmas. May we worship and adore our Savior more and more. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

Note: tomorrow we begin a series on the great hymns of Christmas as we lead up to Christmas.

-December 16, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.”

(1 Timothy 3:16).

Today’s text is one of the deepest, most precious verses in the NT on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul calls it the mystery of godliness. A mystery in the Bible refers to the uncovering and revelation of truth that was previously unknown. Our Lord and Savior is described in six glorious statements of faith and fact.

God was manifested in the flesh – This relates to His birth into the world as God in the flesh. He was both perfect God and perfect man. His birth, life, death, and resurrection were in keeping with God’s plan of salvation devised before the foundation of the world. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” He is Immanuel (which can also be spelled Emmanuel), which means God with us.

Justified in the Spirit – Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. He was anointed by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, and empowered by the Spirit. He fulfilled every OT prophesy of the coming Messiah.

Seen by angels – Jesus has been seen by angels since they were created, but in a special way, they saw Him at His birth. They praised and worshipped Him. Gabriel is one of chief angels, along with Michael the archangel. Gabriel is the Christmas angel because he announced the birth of Christ to both Mary and Joseph. He is likely also the angel who spoke to the shepherds and made known to them the birth of Christ.

Preached among the Gentiles – Jesus sent out His followers to preach the gospel, first to the Jews then to the Gentiles. Most of us are Gentiles. We had no part with Jews. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, won multitudes to Christ and planted so many churches. Our mission today is to carry out the Great Commission to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them the Word of God.

Believed on in the world – Since the Day of Pentecost, many souls have believed on Christ and followed Him. Though many reject Him, there are many others who believe. Cornelius the Roman Centurion was the first to be saved and baptized; Lydia was the first convert in Europe; and Philippian jailer and his whole household were saved; and even some of those of the Praetorian guards who were responsible for Paul imprisonment were saved.

Received up in glory – After Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to the disciples and by more than 500 brethren. Luke 24:50 says, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried into heaven.” He is now seated at the right hand of God. One day He will receive us into the glory of heaven.

Having read this beautiful verse, we should take off our shoes, for we are standing on holy ground. Let us magnify the Lord Jesus, with praise, worship, and thanksgiving. We have the blessed privilege to live for Him and serve Him in all our ways and in all our days.

Have a blessed day as we get closer to Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season. We have so much to be thankful for. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-December 15, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“For you know the grace our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

(2 Corinthians 8:9).

This verse is so amazing and incredible! It shows how much He loved us, to come down to earth to be born in such a lowly way, to live humbly, to own almost nothing in this world, to go to the cross and die for us, and rise again. The King of glory who owns the world, chose to be poor in order to make us rich.

It is all by God’s grace that He came to make us His children and freely give us all things both now and for all eternity. He set aside His divine vestments, to wear the clothes of a servant. He was rich but for our sakes He became poor. He was born in a manger into a poor family, grew up to work in his earthly father’s carpenter shop, began His earthly ministry, did the Father’s will, and went to the cross. There are several instances of His poverty in the gospels.

Jesus had no home. He said in Luke 9:58, “The foxes holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” During His earthly ministry He lived and slept outdoors. Jesus had no money. When Peter asked about paying the temple tax, Jesus sent him fishing and the first fish he caught had a coin in its mouth, Peter used it to pay the tax for he and Jesus, just as our Savior had told him to. He had but one outer garment, which the soldiers gambled for at the foot of the cross.

Earthly things did not matter to Jesus, though He created all things and owns all things. Psalm 50:10-12 says, “For the beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for all the world is Mine, and all its fullness.”

Jesus became poor that we might become rich. Rich in mercy, in grace, in salvation, in eternal life, in all spiritual blessings, and in our inheritance as the children of God. We are so incredibly rich, not in monetary terms but in what really matters. The people of the world are chasing after the pleasures and treasures of money, possessions, fame, success, and power. None of these things brings satisfaction or fulfillment. Often the richest people in the world, with their billions, are the most miserable people. Only Christ and a personal relationship with Him brings true joy and contentment.

Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Paul also told us in Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

Let us thank God for everything we have in Christ. We are richly blessed and blessed richly; we are freely given and given freely; and we are loved fully and fully loved. The One who was rich became poor so that we might become rich.

Have a blessed day thanking God for Jesus and what He has done for us and given to us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-December 14, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”

(2 Corinthians 9:15).

At end of 2 Corinthians 9, Paul bursts forth with exuberant praise to God. Why? Because he reflects on the greatest gift ever given to man, God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Paul had been discussing the subject of Christian giving in this chapter. All giving is based on God’s giving to us. James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” God is always the source with an unlimited resource .”

Bible commenter Bill MacDonald wrote, “But it seems to us that the Apostle Paul reaches the end of his section on Christian giving, he is forced to think of the Greatest Giver of all — God Himself. He thinks, too, of the greatest gift of all —the Lord Jesus Christ. And so he leaves his Corinthian brethren on a high note. They are children of God and followers of Christ. Then let them follow such worthy examples!” No one can out give God.

For every believer the greatest gift we have ever received is Jesus Christ and bound to it, is the gift of eternal life through Him and His death on the cross. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God the greatest giver gave us the greatest gift of His Son so that we may experience the greatest blessing, eternal life through Him.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We don’t deserve any God’s gifts, all is our’s according to His mercy and grace. God’s gift of His Son and of eternal life came free to us but at a high price to Him: the suffering and death of Christ on the cross.

Each person must receive the gift of salvation and eternal life, but sadly, it remains wrapped under the tree, the cross. One must come to God as a sinner, confess his sins, believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and receive him into his life. When he does, he is unwrapping the greatest gift. We often quote the expression regarding wonderful gifts, “It is the gift that keeps on giving.” It means it lasts like gold and diamonds. God’s gift to us lasts even longer, for all eternity! Have you received God’s gift of His Son and of eternal life? Why not do so today?

God’s gift of His Son is indescribable, that is, it is incomparable, indestructible, inestimable, and invaluable. It is indeed the most thoughtful and precious gift we could ever receive. We may have received God’s gift many years ago, but it is just like new and just as exciting as when we first opened it.

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

In His grace,

Dean

-December 13, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things that were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

(Luke 2:33-35).

Simeon had waited so long to see the Lord’s Christ and spoke some wonderful things of Jesus in verses 31-32, “Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Just those words made Joseph and Mary marvel. Imagine their Son blessing the whole world, both Jews and Gentiles. In His first advent, He came to die on the cross and bring the offer of salvation to the Gentiles and to the Jews who believe in Him. His second advent to earth will be to restore Israel.

One important thing to notice is that the Holy Spirit is very careful in the words He uses here of Mary and and Joseph saying, “And Joseph and Mary His mother.” Christ was born from the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit apart from man. Nowhere in the Scriptures does it call Joseph His father. God is His Father. This is likely why Joseph is absent in many passages, and most likely died early. He played his part and was fully obedient to God, then disappeared off the scene.

Simeon mentions four important things: this Child was destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel; for a sign which will be spoken against; a sword will pierce through Mary’s soul; and the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Each of these four things happened just as Simeon said by the Holy Spirit.

1. This Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel – Usually we hear the expression the other way around, “The rise and fall.” In this case Israel’s fall precedes its rise. Israel as a nation rejected Christ but later will come to accept Him after the tribulation. Christ will reign over the earth from Jerusalem and regather and restore Israel. We will reign with Him. Jesus was the rock of offense in His first advent. Those who believed in Him were broken, but those who rejected him were crushed to powder. He was the Stone that the builders rejected.

2. Christ became a sign which be spoken against or opposed – We see that the leaders of the Jews, the chief priests and scribes, rejected Him and called for His crucifixion. They stirred up the multitude to choose Barabbas to be released, a murderer, over Jesus the pure, innocent, sinless Son of God. There some who believed, like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus was despised and rejected.

3. A sword will pierce through Mary’s soul – This happened when Mary witnessed her Son crucified on the cross. She saw Him suffer physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually at Calvary. There was tremendous pain and anguish her heart. It was like a sword piercing through it. John 19:25 says, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

4. That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed – One is either for Christ or against Him, there is no middle ground, no gray area. What is in one’s heart is revealed. Some choose to believe in Him and others to reject Him. God sees and knows every heart.

After this Simeon is ready to die. He had seen the Lord’s Christ just as God promised Him. He prophesied of His life and death and how He would change lives. We are blessed to be His ambassadors and followers, to tell others of Him and His plan of salvation. The focus is always on Jesus not on us. We are His children and servants.

Have a blessed day looking forward to His second coming by serving Him today. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean