Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-November 14, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-The Substitutionary Death Of Christ For Us-

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”

(1 Peter 3:18).

The mission of our Lord Jesus Christ in coming into this world was to die for us on the cross, bearing our sins, and shedding His precious blood. He died, He was buried, and He rose again. He willingly became our Substitute on the cross dying in our place.

There are four things this verse tells us about the substitutionary death of Christ: He suffered once for sins, He was the just, we the unjust, He brought us to God, and He was put to death in the flesh but raised by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Christ suffered once for sins – In the OT, many, many animals were sacrificed for sins. The work of the high priest was never done. The reason for this is that the sacrifices offered only covered sin but did not pay it in full. They pointed forward to the coming of Christ. His sacrifice was once for all. He exclaimed from the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Hebrews 10:10-12 tells us, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”

• The just for the unjust – Christ the Lamb of God was the sinless, holy, perfect Son of God. He willingly offered Himself for our sins on the cross. Hebrews 7:26 says, “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.” We are the other hand are the unjust, sinners, defiled, separated from God, unrighteous and unholy. He took our place on the cross and bore our sins in His own body. As someone said, “He paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.”

• That He might bring us to God – The Lord Jesus hung on the cross to bring us to God, to forgive us of our sins, and give us the free gift of eternal life. We now through His death are brought into the family of God and are children and sons of God. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a random for all, to be testified in due time.” The hymn writer Horacio Bonar said, “Near, so very near to God, I could not nearer be; for in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.”

• Being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit – Jesus Himself died for us on the cross. He suffered physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. No one else could have died for us but Him. God showed His satisfaction with His sacrifice by raising Him from the dead. He now sits at the right hand of God. Because He rose, we will rise with Him and be with Him forever. Our position in Christ is shown in Ephesians 2:5-6, “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Oh how blessed we are as children of God! We have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. What a great Substitute and Savior we have. He died in our place on the cross so that we may share His place at home in the glory of heaven forever.

Have a blessed day thanking God for saving us through the sacrifice of His Son. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-November 13, 2020-

Good morning, happy Friday,

-Doing The Will Of God By Doing Good As Bondservants Of God-

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men — as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.”

(1 Peter 2:15-16).

Our personal testimony for Christ includes both our faith in the Lord and how we live out that faith in our daily lives. It thus involves our words and actions. We who are saved have liberty in Christ, but it not liberty to live as we choose to and take advantage of it to sin.

We must always do the will of God by doing good. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our goal is to glorify God in the way we live in this world, doing good to others, and bringing glory to name of Jesus.

Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Many Christians today say, “So and so is doing it so it must be okay.” Think about that statement for moment. Since when should our standards be man’s ways? Our standards are found in the Word of God!

When we use liberty as a cloak or excuse for sin and bad behavior, it is so wrong and sinful. Anything that stumbles a brother or sister, though we have the liberty to do it and we may see nothing wrong in it, is wrong nonetheless. In the days of the early church the big issue and controversy was eating meat sacrificed to idols. Paul said he would rather not eat meat that to stumble a fellow brother or sister in Christ. This is the attitude we should take also.

In our modern world we have different issues and controversies in in the church. One of the biggest ones today is whether Christians should drink wine or beer. We may see nothing wrong with it, and we have liberty, but the question is, will it glorify God or not. Will our actions, though unintended, stumble a brother or sister for whom Christ died?

A bondservant of Christ seeks to please his master not himself. Paul said it plainly in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” Considering these three things will help us maintain a good testimony and be a blessing to others: Is it helpful? Is it edifying? And is it good for the well-being of others, saved and unsaved?

Doing good is always right and right in style for the believer in Jesus Christ. If it is doubtful, don’t do it, error on the side of caution. Just as the yellow yield sign averts many accidents on the road, so too, following the principles of Scripture averts many problems for ourselves and others. Let us do God’s will by doing good and considering the affect we have on others.

Have a blessed day doing the will of God by doing good and considering others. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-November 12, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

-Don’t Love The World But Love God And Do His Will-

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust if the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

(1 John 2:15-17).

The writer, the Apostle John, who was the disciple whom Jesus loved, makes it clear one cannot love the Father and the world at the same time. The devil, as he did in the Garden of Eden as the serpent, makes the world seem so desirable and pleasurable. Eve fell prey to his temptation as did her husband Adam. Thus sin entered into the world.

It is interesting to note that the word “world” is used five times in today’s text. In the NT, there are several Greek words used for world. The first is cosmos, the earth and sky and all that we can see around us; the second is the people of the earth as in John 3:16; and the third is the system of the world as it is in our text. This world’s system is against Christ. There is the political, economic, social, entertainment, business, sports, and religious aspects of the world. John says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

John specifically mentions the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Eve fell prey to its allure in Genesis 3:6, “So when the woman saw (the lust of the eyes), that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise (lust of flesh), and she took of its fruit and ate (the pride of life). Men and women are still being seduced by it today.

Achan, in the days of Joshua, was overcome by the same things. Joshua 7:20-21 says, “And Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: when I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them.’” This also shows the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. He was the one responsible for Israel’s defeat at the first battle of Ai. Achan along with his wife, children, and his livestock, were all stoned to death.

It should be a stern warning to us today just how evil, wicked, sinful, and destructive the world is especially for the child of God. Just as Eve and Achan fell into sin and it took them down, so it can happen to us. Instead we should do the will of God and abide forever. Let us love God and not this world!

Have a blessed day being on guard against the world and doing the will of God. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

– November 11, 2020-

Good morning, happy Wednesday, happy Veteran’s Day,

-Thank God For Our Veterans-

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”’

(Psalm 144:1).

Veteran’s Day traces it roots all the way back to the armistice ending WWI at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. WWI was called the war to end all wars. Sadly, we have fought so many wars since then, including WWII. We owe a great debt to every man and woman who have served our country in the military. They have fought to preserve and protect our freedom.

Though I have not served in the military myself, I have the highest respect for those who did. My father who was a WWII veteran. My two great uncles were veterans of WWI and WWII respectively. Whenever I see a man or woman in uniform, I always thank them for their service. We have several men and women in our church who have served our country. One gentleman just passed away at the end of 2019. As we age as a nation, there are fewer veterans from WWI and WWII. That being said we have a number of newer veterans from the Iraq wars and the war in Afghanistan, as well as the Korean War and the war in Vietnam. Many died and many returned home wounded, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Those facing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) suffer greatly.

Far too many of our veterans have committed suicide and are homeless on our streets with substance abuse problems. Those who served us need our help so badly in so many ways. With COVID-19 our celebration of Veteran’s Day will be virtual this year. The President will continue the fine tradition of laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C.

David was a shepherd boy/musician turned soldier and eventually king over Judah and then all Israel. He fought many battles in many wars for the Lord and His people and was victorious in every one of them. He was undefeated not because he was a great warrior, soldier, and commander, though he was, but he was victorious and successful because of the Lord. He prayed before each battle for the Lord’s direction and help, and he gave all the glory to the Lord for his victories.

His words in our text today are so encouraging, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my fingers for battle.” David looked to the Lord and thanked Him. He also wrote in Psalm 18:34, “He teaches my hands to make war, so I can bend a bow of bronze.” He And exclaimed in 2 Samuel 22:30, “For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.”

We as believers are soldiers for Christ. We fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. We must put on the whole armor of God as Paul taught us in Ephesians 6:10-18. Paul told Timothy, “You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself in the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). We are in a spiritual battle every day of our lives until we go home to heaven.

Let us remember and honor our veterans today, pray for those who are serving now, and fight the spiritual battles as soldiers of Jesus Christ. We have a lot to be grateful for and to be proud of.

Have a blessed Veteran’s Day honoring our veterans and fighting the good fight of faith. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

–

-November 10, 2020-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-God’s Power And Faithfulness In Nature-

“God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.”

(Job 37:5-6).

These words spoken by a young man Elihu to Job are a real blessing. God is the Creator of all things in the universe. He not only made everything, He sustains everything by His power. He created the heavens and the earth and He holds all things together. If He withdrew His hand the whole universe it would be destroyed.

Paul writing of the Lord Jesus Christ said, “He is the image of the invisible God, and the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:15-16).

In our text today, we see the power, care, and faithfulness of God on full display in nature for all to see and hear. There are four things to consider: thunder, great things, snow, and rain. Our God is a mighty God!

• God thunders marvelously with His voice – Thunder is so powerful as it rumbles. First comes the flashes of lightning, then the peels of thunder. It always reminds me of God’s voice, which in Scripture, is likened to thunder. John wrote in Revelation 14:2, “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder.” In John 12:29, when the Father spoke to the Son, it says, “Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to Him.’” God’s voice is so powerful!

• He does great things which we cannot comprehend – God’s ways are beyond our comprehension. He is great and glorious in His character and in all He does. Paul wrote in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” The psalmist wrote in Psalm 126:3, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.” We can never praise and thank Him enough!

• For He says to the snow, ‘Fall in the earth.’ – The beautiful white snow comes from the Lord. It comes in the winter and is sight to behold. God gives us four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. God’s promise is found in Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” God is faithful to us in all seasons. His goodness and mercy is so wonderful at all times!

• Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength – God is so great and sends His rain to grow our crops and put food on our tables. We need rain so badly for so many things. In a few days we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday of November. We will pause to thank God for all He has given to us. We as believers know that we should thank Him every day.

So, let us remember today, everything we have comes from the Lord. Whether thunder and lightning, snow or rain, and everything else. 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” (James 1:17).

Have a blessed and bountiful day thanking God for all He has given us. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean