Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-May 18, 2025-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Then said to them, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up His cross daily, and follow Me.’”

(Luke 9:23).

Jesus suffered and died on the cross; the instrument of death brought us life. It has been called the “The Old Rugged Cross.”

As believers we are called on to take up our cross and follow Christ. C.H. Spurgeon once said, “There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.” Are we willing to take up our cross daily?

Sometimes our crosses seem too heavy to bear, but God gives us grace. Our cross is a cross of suffering, pain, sorrow, and affliction. Paul had his thorn in the flesh and bore hardship, privation, and persecution.

I have a plaque in my home called, “The Shortened Cross,” which has the following words: “A pilgrim was making his way to the Promised Land. He was carrying his Master’s cross, a burden he cheerfully accepted. Becoming weary, the pilgrim paused to rest. As he basked in the sunlight, he watched a woodsman nearby hew a tree in the forest. ‘Good friend,’ called the pilgrim, may I use your axe to shorten my cross? As I journey, it grows heavier.’ ‘Indeed,’ cried the woodsman, and without hesitation, he obliged.

The pilgrim travelled on, making much progress. The cross was shorter now, and his burden lighter. In no time at all, the Promised Land was in sight. Drawing near, he saw that a deep gulf separated him from the glories beyond. He would use the cross to span the divide.

Though he struggled mightily to span the divide with the cross, it fell short by the very amount he had removed. Suddenly, with tears streaming down his face, he awoke; it had been a dream. Clutching the cross to his breast, the pilgrim pressed on. The cross was just as heavy, but its burden lighter.”

Our cross may seem too heavy for us, but it is just the right size and weight for us. Have a blessed day bearing your cross. Stay safe and healthy.

A different cross would never due, for the one you bear is just for you.

Dean

-May 17, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”

(Psalm 56:3).

Trusting Jesus is such a simple and beautiful thing. Though the concept is not complex nor difficult to understand, putting it into practice is another story. The more we fear, the more we need to trust in Jesus.

Did you ever know notice how easy things are when we aren’t under pressure and everything is going well? It is much harder to trust when things are hard, going against us, and things seem to be impossible. This is really where our trust is tested.

I lead the singing at our church and it is a great blessing and responsibility. I get to choose what congregational hymn we will sing at our Sunday morning service. I love to sing hymns, and there are quite a few of them on trusting God.

The hymn writer Louisa M. R. Stead wrote a wonderful hymn entitled, “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” The fourth stanza says, “I’m so glad I learned to trust Him, precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that He is with me, He’ll be with me to the end.” The chorus says, Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!”

We can trust Jesus because He is perfectly trustworthy; He is in complete control; and He loves us with an everlasting love. He has never failed us nor will He ever fail us. Trusting Jesus is a lifelong lesson we learn and grow in.

Have a blessed day trusting Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Pastor Jaime Cranston said, “We don’t need more from Jesus, we need more of Jesus.”

Dean

-May 16, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statues.”

(Psalm 119:71).

Growing up I remember hearing the phrase often, “It is good for you.” Whether it is taking medicine, getting a shot, going to the dentist, eating vegetables, or any number of things. At the time, good the furthest thing on our minds.

For us as believers, affliction is good for us. The definition of affliction is, “a cause of persistent pain or distress; great suffering. Things things rarely seem good or pleasant at the time. Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Whether trials, afflictions, or chastening, they are good for us spiritually. God loves us and they are a definite indication of God’s love. James 1:2-3 tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Though it not easy, we must make the conscious effort to count it all joy and thank the Lord for what He brings into our lives. The Psalmist also wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67).

So the next time you hear, It is good for you,” you can think what the Scripture says, “It is for my own good,” and we can remember the word that says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Have a blessed day trusting in Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In whatever you face, trust in Jesus for His sufficient grace. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-May 15, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well.’”

(John 5:6).

Jesus came to the Pool of Bethesda where people gathered to be healed of their infirmities. An angel would come at a certain time and stir up the water. The first person who stepped into the water was immediately healed. Others would have to come back next time.

Jesus met there a crippled or paralyzed man who had been in this condition thirty-eight long years. Imagine thirty-eight years! Thirty-eight long years of suffering and with no one to help him into the water. There would always be someone stepping in front of him.

At first glance, the question Jesus asked him seemed so obvious. He asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” To a certain degree it was obvious, but Jesus wanted this man to desire His healing.

Sometimes people don’t want anyone’s help, which is always hard for me to believe. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we have a big homeless problem. There are many reasons why people live on the streets, some out of necessity, but many more by choice. The latter group refuse any shelter or help. They don’t want to work or be responsible or accountable to anyone.

This man had no issue in seeking Jesus’ assistance. Jesus was his only help, his only hope. Jesus told him, “Rise, take your bed and walk.” Immediately he did and was healed.

Jesus has the desire to heal, answer, and help us if we are willing to come to him. Jesus never turned anyone away who sincerely came to Him.

As believers we sometimes stay in the same condition for weeks, months, or years. We may try to change, try to do it in our own strength, but it never works. We can’t conquer addictions, habits, fears, or anything else apart from Jesus.

What is your need? Jesus already knows about it, but He wants you to tell him about. We can’t be helped until we recognize and acknowledge our need. He alone can give the answer or solution we desperately need.

Have a blessed day looking to Jesus for everything. Stay safe and healthy.

Let’s go to the One who can help us, and wants to help us.

Dean

-May 14, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed is the Christ, the Savior of the world.’”

(John 4:42).

When speaking to people who are unsure of our credibility, we may say, “Don’t just believe me?” It simply implies that the person should check it out for themselves.

Here in John 4 we have the story of the Samaritan woman at well whom Jesus saved. She was so excited to tell the whole town of Sychar about Jesus. As a result many came to Christ and believed in Him.

John 4:39 says, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’” There were still many others who came to faith by hearing Jesus themselves.

Each person has to choose to believe in Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior. There were those who said, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

This passage teaches us that people respond to the gospel differently; there are those who respond to Christ the first time we share Him and based on our witness and testimony; then there others who take a little longer to be convicted and come to the Savior. Each one must see their need of Christ and make a personal decision to receive Him.

We sow the seed of the gospel, God alone brings about results for His glory. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Have a blessed day being a bright testimony and witness for Christ, pointing people to Him. Stay safe and healthy.

All are affected, but not all believe; but all who believe are transformed by the power of the gospel.

Dean