Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 2, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose going forth are from old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

“And when he gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet” (Matthew 2:4-5).

The town of Bethlehem in the land of Judah was very small, but though small and insignificant in the eyes of man, it had a great impact on the world, and still does today. King David, Boaz, Naomi, but greatest of all our Lord Jesus Christ was born there. This little town is where millions of Christians visit still today because it was where Jesus was born. God chose this little town from eternity past to be part of His plan. There is hymn written by Kittie Louise Suffield that says, “Little is much when God is in it, labor not for wealth or fame; there’s a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus’ name.”

Bethlehem is thought of mostly at this time of year in connection with the birth of Christ. The hymn writer and pastor Phillips Brooks wrote the wonderful words, “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent years go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light: the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” God chose the town and the manger for His Son to be born into this world in such a humble way. Today the smallest town in the world is one we have likely not heard of called Hum, a town of 30 residents located in heart of Istria, in the municipality of Buzet in Croatia.

You may see yourself small and insignificant, but God chose you, saved you, and can use you in His service. You have an important mission, and role in the church. Like Bethlehem, you can have a mighty impact on the world. It may be in your small corner of the world: your church, your city, your community, your neighborhood, your school, your workplace, or your home. You are like one single Christmas light that is shining for Jesus. If that burns out, it is noticeable and greatly missed.

God used a little town to be part of His big plan. His ways and His thoughts are greater than our’s. He is glorified through our weakness, and brings forth His power. Let us never underestimate what God can do through us if we are available and willing. People visit Bethlehem every day of the year.

Have a blessed day being a light for Jesus in the little place where God has called you to serve. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-December 1, 2021-

Good morning happy Wednesday,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2).

“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” (John 1:14).

The Apostle John does not include any details of the birth of Christ, nor does Mark. John’s purpose for his gospel is found in John 20:31, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” He presents Jesus as the Son of God and includes His miracles and acts of healing that show His majesty and power. Thus He begins at the beginning, from eternity past, calling Jesus the Word. Our Savior is the Son of God, God manifested in human flesh. Jesus is the living Word and the Bible is the written Word.

Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. He is Immanuel, God with us. He came down from the glory of heaven to this sin cursed earth to save us from our sins. He was fully God and fully man. He was sinless and therefore was able to bear our sins as our Substitute on the cross. Just imagine, He was the King of kings and Lord of lords; yet He took the place of a bondservant!

Paul wrote of Jesus, “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 death on the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). He set the example for us to follow. If He humbled Himself and was obedient to the Father’s will, should we not do likewise?

May we begin this Christmas season reflecting on Jesus, the eternal Word, both who He is and what He has done for us. Let us praise Him all through this Christmas season. May we sing the wonderful Christmas carols that honor Him. May every Christmas light shine brightly for Him and each Christmas tree point to Him.

Have a blessed day and Christmas season praising the Lord and being His faithful servants. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-November 30, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Through the mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way peace.”

(Luke 1:78-79).

The Gospel of Luke gives more details about the birth of Christ than of the four gospels. Today’s context is the portion that contains Zacharias’ prophesy in Luke 1:62-79. He was the father of John the Baptist who doubted the angel who had spoken to him that and his wife Elizabeth would in their state of infertility, be of the parents of John the forerunner of Christ. Once he told his friends and relatives that his name was John, his muteness was taken away. Then gave glory to God and uttered these beautiful words.

He shows his understanding of who John would be and that he would prepare the way of the Messiah. Through God’s mercy the Dayspring, which better translated Sunrise would visit them from on high. This is a clear reference of Jesus the Christ. Twice in his prophesy, he speaks of how God would visit His people. Verse 68 says, “Blessed be the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people His people.”

The Israelites waited hundreds of years for the Messiah to come, and the moment had come. Waiting is hard, and they waited so long. There was a period of 400 silent years between the end of Malachi, the last book in the OT, to the time Christ came.

Jesus the Christ came as the Light of the world to give light to those in darkness. Isaiah prophesied, “The people who walked in darkness have seen great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2). We also read in John 1:6-9, “There was a man sent from God, whose name is John. This man came as a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”

Jesus as the Light of the world came to die on the cross so that by believing in Him we might have eternal life and the forgiveness of sin. By His death, we have life. He as the Prince of Peace guides us the path of peace. Jesus fulfilled every prophesy of the Messiah from the OT. His coming was so exciting and well the wait. When you wait so long for something , it makes it all the better and sweeter. God is never a moment too soon or a moment too late. His timing is perfect.

We too are waiting for Jesus to come again as He promised and He will come. Hebrews 10:37 tells us, “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.” Just as but a few were earnestly and expectedly waiting for His first advent, there are but a few today waiting and watching for His second coming. We may see it in our lifetimes.

Have a blessed day watching and waiting, trusting and praying. Thank God for this Christmas season. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-November 29, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”

(Isaiah 49:15-16).

What led to these beautiful and precious words that God spoke to His people Israel? Isaiah 49:14 gives the answer, “But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten Me.” We also read of God’s message to them in Isaiah 40:27, “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God?’” We often blame Israel for this spirit of doubt, but do we not sometimes feel that same way that God has somehow forgotten us especially when we pass through fiery, painful trials or times of chastisement?

It is in this context that the Lord stirs their minds by way of remembrance. Did He ever leave them or forsake them? No, He didn’t. Did He ever forget them? No, not at all. Did He not say to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). God did it forget them when they were in Egypt for 430 years nor at the Red Sea when Pharaoh and his mighty army pursued them. He delivered them by His mighty power. He also brought them back to their land after the seventy year Babylonian captivity. There were so many times in Scripture that God delivered His people from their strong enemies.

The Lord uses a precious example of a nursing mother. Can she ever forget her child, she could as unlikely as that may be, but He will never forget them. As great as a mother’s love is, it can’t compare to His love for us. We must never forget His great and precious promises to us, no matter what we are going through. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:4, “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

The Lord tells us, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.” We are in God’s mind, under His care, in His heart, and under His wings. He has each one of us written in the Lamb’s Book of life and inscribed on the palms of His hands. He will never forget us though we may at times forget Him. God always remembers us and His promises to us. Oh, how much He loves us! What a great reminder to us today!

Have a blessed day remembering God’s love, faithfulness, and promises. He will never forget us, nor will He leave us or forsake us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean

-November 28, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day-

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

(Matthew 20:28).

Thanksgiving Day is past and we are now officially in the Christmas season. Trees are going up, houses are being decorated with lights, gifts are being purchased in stores or online. Christmas is the only holiday that is celebrated more than one day, in fact lasts for about a month. Were it not for Jesus, December would be just another month, and December 25th would be just another day, and our lives would be so empty. There would be no peace on earth and goodwill to men. We would have no hope beyond the grave with an eternity apart from God in hell.

But praise be to God He came into the world to save sinners, to seek and to save that which is lost, and to give His life a random for our souls. He was the King, yet He was born in a borrowed manger, died on a borrowed cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. He was born into a poor family, worked as a carpenter, began and ended His earthly ministry doing the will of the Father, and humbly serving others. He had but one tunic, had no money but He changed the world.

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that through His poverty might become rich.” He was perfect God and perfect man. He veiled His deity in a body of humanity. He healed and helped, taught, and loved us so much that He gave His life for us on the cross. He bore our sins on the tree, and rose again, and ascended back to heaven having given the promise that He will come again.

Has Jesus saved you? Has He changed your life? Is He your reason for living? Is your life centered in Him as your Lord? If these things are true you the happiest, richest person on earth. You are a child of God, forgiven of your sin, possessing eternal life and salvation. But we can’t let all the commercialism make lose sight of Jesus, God’s greatest gift to mankind. Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). We can’t place a value of Jesus and our relationship to Him.

Have a blessed day and Christmas season rejoicing in the Lord for who He is and what He has done for us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean