Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 22, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

(Matthew 1:21).

This verse is one of my favorite Christmas verses. Of course, there are many great ones. This particular verse was spoken by an angel, most likely Gabriel, to Joseph in a dream. The angel tells a troubled Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the baby in her womb is of the Holy Sprit and is the Messiah.

Jesus was no ordinary, average Jewish boy—He was and is the Son of the living God. The name Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation.” His life and mission is summarized in this one statement, “for He will save His people from their sins.” He did just that. He became the Savior of the world, our Savior, my personal Savior.

When the angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, they said in Luke 2:11, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” These simple shepherds were the first to hear of our Savior’s birth. They were also the first ones to see the Baby Jesus and were the first missionaries who shared the glad tidings with others.

Later, when Jesus was in His earthly ministry, He visited Samaria and spoke to the woman at the well. She shared with the townsfolk what He had said to her. They made the wonderful discovery for themselves and said to them woman, “…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.”

Have you met the Savior? Have you received Him into your heart? Do you know Him or just know about Him? A savior is one who saves someone. There is a rescue, a deliverance from some danger or calamity. Jesus saved us from our sins by dying in our place on the cross, and nailing our sins to the cross.

Peter said in Acts 5:30-31, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging Him on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be a Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Have a wonderful Lord’s worshiping our Savior. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus is my Savior forever and ever; I am His saved one, and He will leave me never.

Dean

-December 20, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

(1 Peter 5:4).

Today is the fifth and final crown of believers in Christ. As we have seen there is the Imperishable Crown, the Crown of Rejoicing, the Crown of Life, the Crown of Righteousness, and today we will study the Crown of Glory.

I trust that these meditations have been helpful and encouraging to everyone. I know I have been blessed by them. One day when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will receive our crowns and rewards from our Lord Jesus Christ, whom Peter calls the Chief Shepherd. Our Savior is the threefold Shepherd: the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us the sheep (John 10:11); the Great Shepherd who was raised from the dead, having shed His blood (Hebrews 13:20-21); and the Chief Shepherd who will come again (1 Peter 5:4).

When someone is a chief, he is the head, the leader, the man in charge. 1 Peter 2:25 says of Jesus, “For you were like sheep going astray, but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

When Jesus appears, He will come with His rewards with Him. Near the end of Revelation 22, Jesus tells John, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).

The Crown of Glory is for the faithful elders in our local churches who shepherd the flock. Jesus told Peter in John 21:15-17, “Feed My lambs” (v. 15); “Tend My sheep” (v.16); and “Feed My sheep” (v. 17). Peter carried on this work the rest of his life with love, compassion, joy, and patience.

The leaders of the local church are elders (in the spiritual work) and deacons in the physical work). It is a great work, especially by the elders who teach, counsel, encourage, discipline, reprove, and rebuke. They will have to give an account of their ministry. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey those who rule (or lead you), and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”’

Jesus is the Shepherd, the elders are under shepherds. It is a huge responsibility that carries with it tremendous accountability. Though this crown is for elders, we should all strive to be faithful to our Chief Shepherd in all that we do and say.

Have a blessed day following our Shepherd and helping others in their walk. Stay safe and healthy.

Faithful service today, leads to future rewards in glory.

Dean

-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