Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 18, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday, Merry Christmas,

-God Visited His People With Redemption And Salvation-

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, as He spoke by the mouth His holy prophets, who have been since the world began.”

(Luke 1:68-70).

This portion of Scripture (Luke 1:67-79) is known as the Prophecy of Zacharias. He was the father of John the Baptist. He was a priest who served in the temple and didn’t believe the angel Gabriel who announced that he and wife Elizabeth would give birth in their advanced years to John the Baptist. Because he doubted and question it, he was made mute for nine months until John was born.

When it was time to name the baby he wrote on a tablet that his name is John. Then his tongue was released and he began to praise God and he speak the words of this prophecy by the Holy Spirit. We should never doubt the power and promises of the Word of God. When God says, we must believe it!

It is significant that Zacharias mentioned three things God did for His people Israel: He visited them, He redeemed them, and He raised up a horn of salvation to them. He also says that God spoke through His holy prophets. God always fulfills His promises and His prophecies. The coming of Christ was first prophesied in the book of Genesis and throughout the OT. It was then fulfilled in the birth of Christ. John the Baptist was the forerunner who came to announce His coming.

God never forgets His people nor His promises to them. His timing is always perfect, though sometimes the wait is long. There were those godly Jews who were waiting for the Messiah to come. It was a long wait, but well worth it.

Charles Wesley wrote in his wonderful hymn, “Christ by highest heaven adorned, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.” It may late in time in man’s reckoning but precisely on time in God’s reckoning.

No matter what part we play in proclaiming Christ and serving Him, we are blessed. Let us like Zacharias praise the Lord and give Him glory that God sent His Son into the world to visit and redeem us. From His birth to His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus changed the world. One day soon, He will return in the air to take us home to heaven.

Have a blessed day and weekend. May we speak of the birth of our Savior and His love. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-December 17, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday, Merry Christmas,

“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’”

(Matthew 1:20-21).

The angel of the Lord appeared independently to Joseph and to Mary in order for God’s plan to be carried out, for they both had a part to play. This was the birth of Jesus the Son of God who was to be born into the world. Joseph was about to put Mary away secretly so as not to shame her. The angel told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the child conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

This Child would indeed be unique. Mary will bring forth a Son, you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. One of the most beautiful titles of Jesus is the Savior. Luke 19:9 says, “And Jesus said to him (Zacchaeus), ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’” Each person, Jew and Gentile, are saved by the blood of Christ. Everyone needs a Savior, everyone needs Christ. The rich and the poor, the famous and the obscure, the religious and unreligious. Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” One must see their need of Christ in order to be saved.

It is no wonder that the Birth of Christ is called “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” Books have been written, movies have been filmed, and still no one can fathom the depth of the love of God shown to man. The Babe of Bethlehem became the Man of Calvary to redeem men to God. It is not enough to know the story but we must believe it, and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Have a blessed day rejoicing in Jesus, and have a Merry Christmas. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-December 16, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

-Mary’s Song Of Praise To The Lord-

“And Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior’” (Luke 1:46-47).

“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name” (Luke 1:49).

This section of Scripture, Luke 1:46-55, is commonly called, “Mary’s Magnificat.” It is also called the “Song of Mary,” or we call it, “Mary’s Song of Praise.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, was filled with praise to God and gives Him all the glory for all His blessings on her and the people of Israel. She would be so upset if she knew how many today worship her and pray to her. She regards herself in verse 48 as “His maidservant” yet recognizes that all generations will henceforth call me blessed.”

God uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary things. Mary says in verse 48, “He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant.” She realized how great the Lord is. In verse 49 she says, “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” She was so humble and gave all the glory to God. She didn’t consider herself worthy. In her song, she spoke of God’s mercy, strength, and help for all Israel.

It reminds us of the great things God has done for us: in saving us, forgiving us, in giving us the gift of eternal life, and in giving us all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. The Psalmist wrote, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad” (Psalm 126:3).

It is no wonder Mary overflows in praise to God. She says in verses 46-47, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God in God my Savior.” There are so many examples of praising God in song in the Scriptures: Moses wrote a song of praise after God delivered him and the Israelites from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Miriam, his sister led the praise for the women there also. Deborah and Barak sang praises to God after the wonderful victory over Sisera and the Canaanites in Judges 5. David, Asaph, the sons of Korah and others wrote psalms of praise to God for who He is and what He did for them.

May the Lord help us to join Mary in praising God for all He has done for us. Let us honor her part in the birth of Christ and call her blessed. We are so blessed to be Christians and to serve Him humbly and dependently. The Christ Child grew up and became our sin bearer, shed His blood, and died in our place. He rose again and ascended back to heaven. Christmas is the greatest love story showing God’s great love for man.

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

Dean

-December 15, 2020-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-Jesus Was Born To Reign-

“Then the angel said to her, ‘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 you will 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.’”

(Luke 1:30-33).

Jesus was not only born to die on the cross, but He was also born to reign forever. This tiny baby will rule the world. The way the angel describes Jesus to Mary causes goosebumps. He is no ordinary baby nor is His destiny limited to His life on earth.

• He will be great – Jesus’ greatness did not begin at His birth in Bethlehem’s manger, for He the eternal Son of God. He is great because He is God and He never changes. In Revelation 1:8, Jesus says, “l am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who was and who is and who is to come, the Almighty.” Three other times in Revelation He repeats this in Revelation 1:11, 21:6, and 22:13.

• He will be called the Son of the Highest – The Father’s voice is heard saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). He is the Second Person of the Godhead. He sits at the right hand of the Father, of the majesty on high. He has all authority and power over everyone and everything.

• The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever – God promised David that his seed will always rule over all Israel. Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise and prophecy. Even though He existed long before David was born, He is called the son of David. When Jesus comes to earth after the Great Tribulation, He will rule and reign in Jerusalem.

• And of His kingdom there will be no end – Every king on earth had a beginning and ending of his reign. They all died and their bones are in graves. Not so with Jesus, His is an eternal reign. God has given Him the kingdom that has no end. We are subjects in His kingdom and we will reign with Him.

What Child is this? The One who was born in the manger, lived as a Stranger, died on the cross for our sins, rose again, and ascended back to heaven. He is the One we celebrate and worship this Christmas. He is what Christmas is all about.

There is a hymn by Isaac Watts that says, “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun, does His successive journeys run, His kingdom spread from shore to shore, ‘Til moons shall wax and wane no more.” May we fully appreciate who Jesus was and is. He is great and He is the Son of the Highest. He will reign forever!

Have a blessed day serving our King in His kingdom. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-December 14, 2020-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Highly Favored, Fully Blessed-

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’”

(Luke 1:26-28).

The gospel of Luke contains more detail on the birth of Christ than the other three gospels. Today’s verses reflect the encounter and conversation between the angel Gabriel and the virgin Mary. Mary was a young girl, likely a teenager, from the city of Nazareth. She was to be the mother of the Messiah. According to Luke 1:35, Gabriel told her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Mary was troubled or fearful of the angel’s presence and words. The angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). There was no doubt that the baby to be born would be the Messiah. She must have felt so overwhelmed and unworthy. In Luke 1:28, the angel tells her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.”

• Highly favored one – Mary found favor with God. God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. This is all by the grace of God. She was not only favored but highly favored or honored in the eyes of God. Was she better than the other girls of her day? No, but God saw her heart and knew she would be obedient and carry out the mission of mothering the Messiah.

• The Lord is with you – Mary could do nothing without the Lord and His help. She was assured of the Lord’s presence and power in her life. Her reaction to the entirety of the angel’s message is found in Luke 1:38, “Then Mary said, ‘Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word…” She did not question it, argue about it, or refuse it. God gave her the grace each step of the way.

• Blessed are you among women – She was truly blessed among women. She was chosen among many for this awesome responsibility and privilege. Other notable examples in Scripture of those found who found favor: Ruth found favor in the eyes of Boaz; Esther found favor in the eyes of King Ahasuerus; Joshua, the successor of Moses found favor with God.

The application to our lives is clear. God has favored us, showered with His grace, is with us, and has richly blessed us. Who are we to be saved? We are so unworthy and undeserving of His blessings. We can truly say that we too are highly favored and fully blessed. We like Mary should be willing to do God’s will fully and to serve Him daily, for He is worthy!

Have a blessed day serving the greatest Master, Lord, Savior, and King. Merry Christmas. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean