Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-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

-December 15, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

(Luke 2:26).

One of the most beautiful stories of Christmas was the story of Simeon. God had promised Him through the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until his eyes saw the Messiah.

Simeon was one of the Jews who was waiting for the consolation of Israel. While others around him knew that Messiah would come, but it wasn’t on their minds in their daily lives. Simeon on the other hand, lived it day by day. He waited with faith and anticipation.

The Scriptures do not tell us his age, but by this time he was old. I am sure his faith was tested with each passing year. Still, he clung to God’s promise with tenacity and faith. There may have been others around him who told him the odds were stacked against him.

Waiting is never easy, but it sure pays off. It makes the result so much more satisfying. Psalm 27:14 may have been Simeon’s life verse. David wrote, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord.” The word wait can be translated from the Hebrew as, “Wait in faith.” That is exactly what it takes: FAITH.

Simeon was in the temple when Mary and Joseph brought in the eight day old Baby Jesus. He immediately recognized Him as the Messiah. His prayers were answered, God’s promise was fulfilled. There was no luck or chance involved.

May we rejoice at Jesus’ coming into the world to save us. As believers we are now waiting for Him to come and take us home to glory in heaven. There are many things that we wait in faith for. God is always faithful. The wait may be long, but the results are fantastic.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

The wait is always worth it when God provides the results.

Dean

-December 14, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.”

Today is the last of our studies on this deep and encouraging verse. The phrase today is, “received up in glory.” This refers to Jesus’ departure from this world back to heaven.

Mark and Luke both spoke of Jesus’ ascension up into heaven. Luke 24:50-51 says, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.” It must have been a very moving experience for the disciples. Luke also wrote in Acts 1:9, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

Mark wrote in his gospel, “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). This is where Jesus is sitting right now at the right hand of God.

Jesus was received up in glory. It is interesting to note that when Jesus was born, He came down and humbled Himself to become a baby born in a manger; when He ascended back to heaven, He did so as the risen Savior, the Lord of all, the King of glory. He will come a second time to rule and reign over the earth.

May we pause to reflect on who Jesus was and is. His birth was His arrival and entrance into the world; and departure out of this world was crowned with glory. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

From the cradle to the cross, from the cross, to the tomb, from the tomb to the resurrection and from the resurrection to the ascension. He lives forever!

Dean

-December 13, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.”

(1 Timothy 3:16).

Today is the fifth day on this tremendous verse. Each of the descriptions of Christ by Paul adds to the chorus of praise of to our Lord Jesus Christ. From His birth to His life, to His character, to His ministry, to His death, to His resurrection, to His ascension, to enthronement in glory at the Father’s right hand.

The phrase of the day is, “believed on in the world.” Jesus commissioned the disciples in Mark 16:15-16, “…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

The Apostle John’s main purpose in writing the Gospel of John is found in John 20:30-31, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Do you believe on Jesus and in Jesus? This belief goes far beyond mere intellectual ascent; it is a belief of the soul and spirit. It is not just knowing about Christ, it is knowing Christ. It is about trusting Him for salvation and for everything in God’s plan for your life and future.

Believing in Jesus is the only way to be saved and have eternal life. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. All other ways end in spiritual and eternal death and separation from God.

Believing in Jesus is life changing. Our faith in Christ should be growing daily through the trials we experience in our daily lives. Have a blessed day believing in Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”

Dean