Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 23, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward Him.”

(2 Corinthians 13:4).

It is very hard to admit our weaknesses. We often try to deny them, camouflage them, or overlook them. We all want to appear strong spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The only way we can strong is in the Lord.

Jesus is our great example. He was crucified in weakness, but was raised and lives by the power of God. No one ever suffered like He suffered on the cross bearing our sins, our shame, our guilt, and our pain. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Our Savior knows what we are going through. He knows we are weak and need His strength through the power of the Holy Spirit. We must live by His power. When Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take away his thorn in the flesh, the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” Paul concluded, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Until we acknowledge our weaknesses, we will never be strong. We can’t be victorious and successful in our own strength; we just can’t make it in our own. The anonymous hymn writer wrote, “I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.”

May we seek the Lord, trust in His mighty power, and walk with Him. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

His strength comes through our weakness; for His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Dean

-September 22, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

(Song of Solomon 2:4).

Song of Solomon is filled with imagery of the love of a husband and wife. Solomon is the husband and the Shulamite is his bride. Solomon pictures Christ and the Shulamite Israel and the church.

Jesus, the heavenly Bridegroom, came down from heaven to die for us and save us from our sins. He laid down His life to give us life. Ephesians 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

Solomon brings his bride into the banqueting house, or as it can be translated, “the house of wine.” The book of Revelation speaks of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We will all celebrate it in heaven. Revelation 19:9 tells us, “Then he said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’”

And wonderfully it says, “and his banner over me is love.” There is nothing more beautiful than the love of Christ toward us. We belong to Him. Song of Solomon 2:16 says, “My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies.”

The hymn writer wrote, “Oh! I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved’s mine; He brings a poor vile sinner into His of wine. I stand upon His merit. I know no other stand, not e’en where glory dwelleth, in Immanuel’s land.”

Let us rejoice that we belong to Christ, we are His bride. May we worship Him today. Stay safe and healthy.

Our garments of salvation are pure white, there is no spot or blemish in sight; we have been washed in the blood and made righteous forever, nothing from Him and His live can sever.

Dean

-September 21, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

The book of Ecclesiastes, like the book of Proverbs, and the Song of Solomon were written by King Solomon. Ecclesiastes was written from the perspective of man’s life apart from God under the sun. He wrote, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,’ says the Preacher, ‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

No one can be truly happy, satisfied, or fulfilled outside of Christ. Peter said in Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.”

Solomon concluded, “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all… No one is saved by keeping God’s commandments but by grace through faith. No one could keep all the Ten Commandments, all the time. Only Jesus as perfect God and perfect man kept God’s laws perfectly. He died for our sins to save us from our sins.

As believers in Christ we have the power of the Holy Spirit to fear God, that is to reverence Him, and keep His commandments. Every day we should fear the Lord, honoring Him in all we say and do; and obey all His commandments joyfully from the heart.

Have blessed day fearing God and keeping His commandments. Stay safe and healthy.

There are no short cuts – fear God and obey Him.

-September 20, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

(2 Corinthians 11:3).

Paul loved the saints at Corinth so much. He cared for their souls and their spiritual well being. He taught them that our real enemy is the devil, and we must be in guard against his schemes and attacks.

Satan has been at his wicked plans since the day he was banished from heaven and took with him one third of the angels. He appeared to Eve in the garden of Eden and deceived her, tempted her, and appealed to her sinful desires.

In the Scriptures, Satan is called a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44); a murderer (John 8:44); a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8); our adversary (1 Peter 5:8); the evil one (Matthew 6:13); the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2); and an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

There are many cults and false teachers we must be on guard against by knowing and obeying God’s truth. The Bible is the sword of the Spirit. Paul was concerned that the Corinthians may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The simplicity of Christ is holding to the truth of Christ with a spiritual tenacity. The message of the gospel is simple, holy, and true. If someone says something and it doesn’t sound right and it isn’t according to Scripture, we must reject it. The safest thing is to follow the Word, live by it, and preach only from it.

The devil attacks us through our minds in subtle ways with destructive consequences. It is therefore vital that we put on the whole armor of God daily, including the helmet of salvation.

Have a blessed day maintaining the simplicity of Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

The Basics, fundamentals, foundations truths are found in the Bible; know them and stand on them.

Dean

-September 19, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”

(2 Corinthians 10:18).

What is the most important thing we can do in the Christian life? It is to please the Lord. Though it is important to please others but only if what we do is pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.

Many people in the world commend themselves, which never works. Only God is in the position of judging us and commending us. The word commend is defined as, “to praise formerly or officially; present as suitable for approval or acceptance; recommend.” The Pharisees in Jesus’ day sought to please man not God.

God knows our hearts, recognizes what we do for Him, and will reward us at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul wrote, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Are we commending ourselves or are we are we seeking the Lord’s commendation? If we are faithful in serving the Lord we will hear His words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” That will be all the commendation we need.

Have a blessed day seeking to please the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Pleasing Christ is my desire, the pursuit of which I’ll never tire.

Dean