Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 12, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Take Up The Cross And Follow Christ-

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.’”

(Luke 9:23-24).

Today’s verses are on the subject of discipleship. Every disciple is a Christian but every Christian is not a disciple. Jesus spoke very clearly on what it means to follow Him. So many go to church on Sunday but live their own lives Monday through Saturday. Jesus never intended it to be this way. Discipleship is a daily way of life.

Jesus calls those who desire to come after Him. There are three things we must do: deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow the Lord Jesus. Good intentions mean little, it takes practical actions. Those who save their saves, that is, insulate themself from hardship and persecution will lose them; and those who lose their lives, that is fully surrender the control of their lives to Him will save them. Discipleship requires full commitment, dedication, and surrender to Christ.

• Deny yourself – Self denial is not easy. Our flesh wants to be in control and have its own way. Denying self is so important to doing God’s will and pleasing Him. We must deny ungodliness, lust, greed, pride, and selfishness. Our sinful flesh is one of our spiritual enemies, along with the world and the devil.

• Take up your cross daily – In the context of these words of Jesus, He had just told them. “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” The greatest earthly enemies we face are those who are religious. The history Christianity is littered with persecution from religious people such as the Jews and later from the Roman Catholic Church. As soon as we mention the name of Jesus Christ, people turn against us. Today, there is a lot of hatred, animosity, and persecution directed at Christians. Though we do not have physical persecution in U.S. as there is in many countries, unsaved people are against us. Luke is the only gospel writer to add the word, “daily.” We must take up our cross daily in our identification and commitment to Christ, no matter the cost.

• Follow Me – It is not enough deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, we must follow the Lord. To follow Christ is to live for Him and serve Him; to obey Him and walk with Him; and to spend time with Him in prayer and the Word. It is a daily commitment to follow Christ no matter who is or is not following Him. The unknown hymn writer wrote, “Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow; Tho’ none go with me, I still follow; Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back.”

Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “…No one, after having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” A disciple must always go forward not backwards. Are you a disciple of Christ? It is not too late. Jesus would never ask us to do something we cannot do. He is our Lord and our example.

Have a blessed day by denying self, taking up your cross, and following Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 11, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-Thus Far The Lord Has Helped Us-

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’”

(1 Samuel 7:12).

Samuel was a great prophet, priest, and judge. His mother Hannah, who once was barren, bore him as a direct answer to prayer. She had promised the Lord that she would “lend him to the Lord,” which she did. She brought him to the tabernacle and entrusted him to the care of Eli the priest. From the time he was weaned until he died, he served the Lord. He was one of the greatest men in the Bible.

The Philistines were great enemies of the Israelites which continued into the days of King David. They were strong, fierce fighters who were very hard to defeat and subdue. Here in 1 Samuel 7, Samuel told the people to put away their foreign gods, prepare their hearts for the Lord, and serve God only. 1 Samuel 7:8 says, “So the children of Israel said to Samuel, ‘Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the Philistines.’”

The Philistines attacked Israel right as Samuel was offering a burnt offering and praying. The Lord answered Samuel’s prayer by bringing loud thunder upon the Philistines and confusing them. Israel overcame them and won the victory that day and pushed them back. It was at this time that Samuel took a stone and called it Ebenezer, which literally means, “Stone of Help.” This stone was a witness and reminder of their victory.

Stones in Scripture played a very a important role. When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River, they took twelve stones, one for each tribe, as a reminder of God’s help in their crossing into the Promised Land. The same is true in our text. Samuel said, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Oh, how we too need the Lord’s help daily! He has brought us safely and securely to this point in the Coronavirus pandemic. Many have contracted it and died here in the U.S. and around the world. He has protected us and preserved us thus far. God has helped us in so many ways spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, materially, and financially.

Psalm 46:1-2, says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the sea.” God is greater than any problem, difficulty, trial, or circumstance we face. He is with us always and will help us in our times of trouble. Psalm 121:1-2 tells us, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth.”

We can confidently say with Samuel, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” He has helped us in the past and He will help us in the future. May the Lord help us in whatever we face today. Let us pray, repent, turn to His Word, and trust in the Lord not in ourselves. He will help us.

Have a blessed day praying for God’s help and thanking Him He has helped us thus far. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 10, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Do Not Worry-

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”

(Luke 12:29-31).

There are many things in the world that cause worry, anxiety, and stress. It is universal and affects everyone to one extent or another. Jesus tells us not to worry for our heavenly Father knows what we need and takes care of us and meets our needs. In the context of Luke 12:22-34, Jesus speaks of birds, flowers, and grass. God takes care of them and He cares for us even more. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).

Worrying and being anxious shows that we are not trusting in the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We should pray for our daily needs, thank God, and trust Him to answer.

When we bring our requests to the throne of grace, and leave them there, God will give us peace and answer our prayers. Nothing good ever comes from worry and anxiety, in fact it is sin. Worry and anxiety also cause us many mental, physical, and emotional problems. The peace the Lord gives us is so sweet and calming. God loves us so much and provides for us on a daily basis. Our heavenly Father knows our needs even before we ask Him.

We often tell others not to worry but we worry. Christians are the only people who do not have to worry. In fact, when we do not worry, others around us will notice our calm demeanor and ask us about it. We can tell them about Jesus. Think of how much worry and anxiety there is over the Coronavirus pandemic. Has not the Lord taken care of us this whole time. Let us thank Him!

May the Lord help us to seek first the kingdom of God. When our priority is on the heavenly, God will take care of the earthly. Jesus said in Luke 12:34 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Let us be content with what the Lord has given us.

Have a blessed day trusting the Lord and praying, not worrying or being anxious. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 9, 2021-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-The Glory And Majesty Of Jesus Christ, The Son Of God-

“God, who at various times and various ways spoke in times 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; 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.”

The Book of Hebrews was written to the Jews about Jesus Christ the Messiah, His person and His work. The writer is unknown, but many Bible scholars believe it was the Apostle Paul, as I do as well. In this wonderful book, the writer demonstrates the superiority for Christ to angels, to Moses, to the law, to the Aaronic priesthood, and to the sacrificial system, all of which pointed to Him and was fulfilled in Him.

God formerly spoke to the people of Israel through the prophets to bring forth His message. There were many great prophets beginning with Moses and ending with John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest of those born of women. But even of John, our Savior said the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. The simplest believer in Jesus Christ has been saved and has eternal life in Him. All the OT saints were saved as it were based on what Christ would accomplish on the cross. Many say, and rightfully so, that they were saved “by credit.” God now has spoken through His Son.

The Holy Spirit through the writer paints a beautiful picture of who Jesus is in these first few verses. We must remove our shoes for we are standing on holy ground just as Moses did when God spoke to him at the burning bush.

• He is appointed heir of all things – The Father has made Jesus His Son the beneficiary of the whole world and all the universe as well. Jesus is His perfect and well beloved Son. As God He is eternal. Revelation 11:15 says, “Then the seventh Angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.’”

We will reign with our Lord forever. Romans 8:16-17 says of us, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” All this is because we are born into God’s family.

• Through whom also He made the world – Jesus Christ is the active agent in creation, the Creator of all things. Paul wrote of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-16, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Oh, what wonderful Lord and Savior we have!

• He is the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, upholding all things by the word of His power – Jesus is God, God the Son, the Son of God. He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, they saw Jesus in His glory. Matthew 17:2 says, “and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” The Father’s voice was heard, “…This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

• When He purged our sins He sat down at the right hand of the majesty of high – Jesus is our Great High Priest, and when He finished our salvation He sat down. In the OT, the high priest was always working and could never sit down. There were always so many sacrifices to offer. Jesus died once and made atonement for our souls. We will be with Him one day soon and will worship and serve Him forever.

The hymn writer Jack Hayford wrote, Majesty, worship His majesty, unto Jesus, be all glory, power, and praise. Majesty, kingdom authority, flow from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise. So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus. Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King. Majesty, worship His majesty, Jesus, who died, now glorified, King of all kings.”

Have a blessed day worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ and living for Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-April 8, 2021-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-From Enemies To Sons-

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

(Romans 5:10).

Our salvation and reconciliation to God was all by grace through faith. When Jesus died on the cross, we were enemies of God. Now through His substitutionary death, we are saved and have become sons of God. And not only sons but friends of God.

There are three words, all beginning with the letter “R” that describe what God has done for us: reconciled, ransomed, and redeemed. Today, we are considering our reconciliation to God. We were lost and separated from God, and Jesus came to reconcile us. He was the bridge between heaven and earth, between a holy God and unholy sinners. Now through His death, we have salvation and eternal life. Through the blood of Christ we are cleansed and forgiven.

Reconciliation is bringing two sides together. Jesus, as the Son of God, died in our place to bring us back to God. He has made us holy and clothed us in His righteousness. We are so blessed. The hymn writer Elisha A. Hoffman wrote, “I praise Him for the cleansing blood — what a wonderful Savior! That reconciled my soul to God — what a wonderful Savior!”

Have a blessed day walking with Lord and living for Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean