Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 7, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

(1 Timothy 2:5-6).

This world was in a heap of trouble, sin abounded everywhere, people were lost without God and with hope in this world. We needed a Savior, a Redeemer, a Reconciler, a Mediator.

Jesus came down from heaven to bring us to God in heaven. He was the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins on the cross. Someone likened it to Jesus taking our hand and God’s hand and bringing the two together. God didn’t to be reconciled to us, we needed to be reconciled to Him.

The word mediator is defined as, “a person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement; a go-between.” Jesus bore our sins on the cross so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Thus Jesus is the Mediator of a better covenant. Hebrews 9:15 says, “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Let us rejoice this Christmas that Jesus was born for the ministry of reconciliation. He gave Himself for His church, that we might be holy and blameless, without spot or blemish. Through faith in Jesus and work on the cross we are now sons of God.

Have a blessed day sharing the good news of glad tidings and great joy. Stay safe and healthy.

Where would we be without Jesus; praise God our eternity is secure.

Dean

-December 6, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

(John 1:14).

The incarnation is one of the most amazing occurrences in the Bible. The word incarnation is defined as, “a person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit, or abstract quality.”

The only true incarnation in the history of the world is found in person of Jesus Christ our Lord. Just think, God became flesh to dwell among us. At Christmas we remember the birth of our Savior in Bethlehem’s manger. He existed as perfect God and perfect Man.

He grew from a tiny baby to a child; from a child to an adolescent; from an adolescent to a man. He went about doing good, proclaiming the message of salvation, healing, helping, and doing the will of the Father. His primary mission though was to die on the cross for our sins, to rise again, and ascend back to heaven.

Paul speaking of Jesus coming into the world, wrote in Philippians 2:6-7, “who being in the form of God, did not consider it to be robbery (or something to be held onto) to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

God created man in His own image; when Christ came as God manifested in the flesh, God took on our image, yet with sin. No Hollywood writer could conceive such a story. Only God in His infinite wisdom could do such a miraculous work.

I think of the story of the man who knew that a flood was coming and would sweep away the ants. He felt compassion on them and wondered how he could help them. He decided to become an ant to save the ants. It serves to illustrate God’s love, mercy, compassion, and grace to us His lost creatures.

Let us this Christmas season, reflect on the coming of Christ into the world to save us and give us eternal life. Have a blessed day being servants to help others to come to Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus came down in order to raise us up; He died that might live.

Dean

-December 5, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“In Him was life, and the light was the light of men”

(John 1:4).

Jesus is the Light of the world. His very presence illuminated the darkness. Jesus said in John 8:12, “…I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Light was created by God and His glory, and for mankind. Imagine how dark this earth was before creation. Through Jesus we are the children of light.

Jesus is not only the light, but He is also the life. He came down from heaven to save us from our sins and bring us new life in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.”

In the wonderful Christmas hymn, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” Charles Wesley wrote in the third verse, “Hail! the heavenly-born Prince of of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, glory to the new-born King.”

Have a blessed day as we prepare for Christmas Day. Stay safe and healthy.

We live the life Christ in the light of Christ.

Dean

-December 4, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

(Hebrews 12:14).

Peace is not only something we get, but something we give. It is way of life in the way we treat people. We must choose peace over conflict.

Jesus calls us to be peacemakers. He said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” Peacemaking isn’t easy to do. We must love the sinner but hate the sin. We can’t compromise the truth of God’s Word just to keep the peace.

The writer of Hebrews combines these two elements: peace and holiness. We can’t control how others act and respond to us, but we should do our best to diffuse volatile situations. Paul said in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

David spoke this same truth in Psalm 34:14, “Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.” David did his best to seek and pursue peace with King Saul, even to the point of sparing his life on two different occasions. But as much he tried, Saul hardened his heart and continued to seek to kill him.

We love peace. It is a fruit of the Spirit that can have a powerful effect on people. We must seek and pursue it with all our hearts. When we respond in love as Christ would, the results are usually good. Because we have Christ, the Prince of Peace, we can live in peace in a world of chaos, confusion, and conflict.

Have a blessed day pursuing peace, and practicing it with others. Stay safe and healthy.

Pursue peace passionately and you’ll make a difference eternally.

Dean

-December 3, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

(John 14:27).

Yesterday we considered peace with God that we have at the moment we receive Christ as Lord and Savior. What a great peace that is, but in addition, we also have peace in every circumstance and situation.

Jesus spoke of peace as a gift that He leaves with us and gives to us. His peace is unlike any other peace in this world. Peace in the world is at best temporary, fragile, and superficial; the peace that God gives us is deep, abiding, and eternal.

We often note the distinction between peace with God and the peace of God. The former comes as a result of our salvation; the latter comes through prayer and thanksgiving. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

In a troubled and turbulent world, it is so encouraging to have this peace to face whatever may arise in our lives. How does God give us such wonderful peace? It simply comes through a close relationship with the Father through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. He uses His Word, prayer, and our fellow believers to encourage and comfort us.

Jesus tells us not to be troubled or be afraid for He will be with us always. He will never leave us or forsake us. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You.” To have that perfect peace, we need to focus our minds not Christ, not on our circumstances.

Have a blessed day of perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. Stay safe and healthy in the arms of Jesus.

You don’t have to be perfect or have perfect circumstances to have perfect peace; you just need a perfect Savior and a surrendered heart.

Dean