Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 20, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

(2 Timothy 4:8).

For Paul, the end of his life on earth was in sight. He triumphantly proclaimed, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). He knew he was going home to heaven where desired to be with the Lord.

Paul told the Philippians, “For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart to be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:23). He loved the Lord’s coming so much because He the Lord so much. We should as well.

Paul served the Lord down to his last day on earth, his final breath. He left behind the greater part of the NT. Through the Holy Spirit, we have Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. I believe he wrote Hebrews as well.

He showed his dedication, devotion, and determination in preaching the gospel, teaching the Word, planting churches, discipling believers, and most of all being an example of Christ. His resume was long, his legacy was great.

Paul looked forward to receiving the crown of righteousness from the Lord Jesus Himself. Right down to the end he was an encourager. He wanted Timothy and all the saints to know that we who love Christ’s appearing will receive the crown of righteousness as well.

The crown of righteousness is perhaps the greatest of all the crowns. It spurs us on in hope of being in the Lord’s presence after living for the Lord and serving Him.

Have a blessed day awaiting His coming by serving for His glory. Stay and healthy.

Those who love the Lord’s coming will find the crown of righteousness very becoming.

Dean

-December 19, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation (or trials); for when he he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

(James 1:12).

We have so far we have covered the Imperishable Crown and the Crown of Rejoicing. Today we will consider the Crown of Life. Invariably, trials come into our lives to test and grow our faith in the Lord.

Men and women in the Scriptures experienced a plethora of trials. God uses our trials to test us, teach us, and train us to make us more like Christ.

To receive the Crown of Life, we must endure trials, without complaint. James 2:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all in joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

We gain so much through trials, and without them we would not grow as we should. On top of all that, the Lord promises to give us the Crown of Life. The life mentioned here is not eternal life, we already have that; this life is life in heaven. This crown will give us a greater appreciation and enjoyment of heaven.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” We share in our Lord’s sufferings and will share in His glory as well.

2 Corinthians 4:17 also says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Our trials may not seem light or momentary, but they are compared to eternity.

May the Lord help us to endure our trials with faith, trust, and thanksgiving. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Crowns befit the faithful children and servants of God.

Dean

-December 18, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

(1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

Paul greatly loved the saints and they were ever on his heart. He was especially thankful for the ones he won to Christ and discipled. They supported him throughout his ministry.

When I read Paul’s words, I thought to myself that this crown of rejoicing is the soul winner’s crown. I looked it up, and someone said the same thing. It will be a blessing to meet those we won to Christ and those we taught the Word of God to you.

Souls are the only thing we can take with us to heaven. When we get to heaven there will be a welcoming committee of those whose lives we touched.

Paul’s heart’s desire was that he could impact lives here on earth. He wrote in Colossians 1:28, “Him (i.e. Christ) we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every perfect (or complete or mature) in Christ.”

All of us want to be a blessing and an example to other brothers and sisters in Christ. People watch us and listen to us. What do they see? What do they hear? Are we consistent in our walk? Do we practice what we preach.

Let us strive to be soul winners as we travel through this world. We all have a testimony of how the Lord saved us. We need to always be ready and willing to share the gospel with those who aren’t saved.

Have a blessed day in the Lord’s work. Stay safe healthy.

When we a full of Christ, we will be joyful, thankful, and faithful.

Dean

-December 17, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

(1 Corinthians 9:25).

Paul came across many athletic contests in his missionary journeys. I believe he was impressed by the endurance, strength, and athleticism of the athletes who competed in the Games. Here in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses athletes as examples of how we should live for the Lord and serve Him.

He uses runners and boxers in particular as an object lessons for us. Athletes who compete must have self-discipline and self-control. They do so to obtain a perishable crown. They used to award the athletes who were victorious with a crown of leaves. Needless to say the leaves didn’t last very long.

Nowadays athletes win gold, silver, and bronze medals along with a nice check. Some become celebrities and often sign lucrative endorsement contacts with millions of dollars. Even so, compared to eternity, their crowns are still perishable. Not so with our crowns as Christians. Our crowns are imperishable and eternal.

In the Olympics, only one can win the prize; but in Christ we can all be victorious. Our victories are spiritual over our enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Our crowns will be awarded to us in heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ. Every believer will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, as we discussed yesterday.

Are you running with endurance the race that is set before you? To do so, we must lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus (See Hebrews 12:1-2).

Have a blessed day running the race for Jesus. Stay strong, safe, and healthy.

As the hymn writer wrote, “Until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach me Thy way.”

Dean

-December 16, 2024-

“The twenty four elders fall down before Him who sits on throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne.”

(Revelation 4:10).

Jesus was born the King of the Jews, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the King of glory. He is the only one worthy of wearing the royal crown on His head forever and ever. But from Scripture we know that we as believers we will receive crowns in heaven.

Crowns are rewards for faithful living and service for our King. The elders in our text represent all true believers throughout the ages. There are twenty four of them because there were twelve tribes of Israel and twelve disciples. John saw this vision of the throne room of heaven.

The elders cast down their crowns before the Lord’s throne saying, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11). It is only because of His grace that we will have crowns in our future. He saved us, He gave us spiritual gifts, He empowered us, He taught us. This is why we will cast down our crowns before Him. There is a fine Christian group of singers called, “Casting Crowns.”

There are five crowns in the NT that we can look forward to: the incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25); the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19); the crown of life (James 1:12); the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8); and the glory (1 Peter 5:4). Each of them have deep meaning and significance for us.

Paul taught the most detailed account of rewards in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Our works will either result in rewards or we will suffer loss; but no believer will be lost. What we do here on earth determines what we have there in heaven.

Let us labor for the Master today, with good motives and faithful service. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Crowns for the victors, crowns for the overcomers, crowns for the sufferers, crowns for the persecuted, crowns for the laborers.

Dean