Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 26, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ‘This is the first and great commandment. The second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

(Matthew 22:37-39).

One of the Pharisees, a lawyer, asked Jesus, testing Him, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ This man thought He would confound Jesus. After all, there are so many commandments in the Scripture even beyond the Ten Commandments. Jesus gave the perfect answer. In another account of this incident in Mark, this man agrees with Jesus and says that these two commandments are more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus told him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). After this no one dared ask Him any more questions.

Jesus quoted what is known in the Hebrew as the Shema as the greatest of all and the second is like it, of loving one’s neighbor as oneself. These two commandments summarize the whole law. This is not to say that all commandments are important, for they are, but these two are the greatest.

To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind is extremely challenging to all of us. We are to love Him as He loves us. How do we show our love for Him? Jesus gave the answer in John 15:9-10, “As My Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” There are a definite link between love and obedience. Jesus also said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” As followers of Christ we must love Him with all the fabric of our being.

The second commandment is like the first: to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we love God whom we have not seen, we must also love others whom we have seen. In another passage in Luke, a man asked him, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. The lesson of the parable is that a neighbor is anyone in need. In the story, a priest and a Levite both see a man who was robbed and beaten on the side of the road half dead, they both passed by without stopping to help him. Only a Samaritan stopped, helped him, and took him to an inn for further care, rest, and recovery.

To love someone is not just to say it, although that is important, but even more importantly, we must show it. Love must be in action. 1 John 3:18 says, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” Loving others is one of the best ways to introduce people to Jesus. People want to see that we really care for them.

Have a blessed day. May the Lord help us to love God and our neighbor. Stay safe and healthy.

In His eternal love,

Dean

-February 25, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

(Matthew 24:6-8).

Jesus speaks to His disciples about the end times. Today’s text reminds us of what is going on in Ukraine. We are watching a war right before our eyes. First, there was a rumor of war, now it is a full blown war between Russia and Ukraine. The war in Vietnam was the first war that was shown daily on TV. This current war is the same way. We are seeing events that will lead up to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All these signs that Jesus speaks of have been happening, and they have been increasing in frequency. There have been famines in certain countries where starvation is prevalent; pestilences, such as Covid-19 and other plagues; and earthquakes all over the world. The prophecies are being fulfilled right in front of us. These are the beginnings of sorrows. Only the Father knows the day and the hour of Jesus’ coming.

Jesus warned us, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). We as believers should be living holy lives and serving our Lord. Peter wrote in speaking of the last days, “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11)?

John also made it clear how best to prepare for the Lord’s coming. 1 John 2:28 says, “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” It is so important to be right with God, living fully for Him, and serving Him. We want to be found faithful when He comes. It is time to return to the Lord. Repentance always precedes revival. So instead of being troubled by today’s current events, let us rejoice in the Lord’s soon coming and point people to Jesus.

Have a blessed day living holy, godly lives that please the Lord. Let us pray for the situation in Ukraine. Stay safe and healthy.

In His will,

Dean

-February 24, 2022-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“Jesus answered and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3).

“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:7).

Nicodemus was a very prominent member of the seventy member Jewish Sanhedrin. He was one of the most respected and knowledgeable men in all Israel in the days of Jesus. He had heard many amazing things about Jesus and was anxious to meet with him. He came at night, not wanting to be seen by anyone. Nearly every member of the Council rejected Jesus and did not believe in Him.

John describes Nicodemus as, “a man of the Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews.” Jesus described him as, “the teacher of Israel.”‘Nicodemus recognized Jesus as, “a Rabbi, a teacher come from God, than can do signs.” Jesus did not want to simply have a theological discussion or debate with him, but rather cared for his soul and wanted him to be saved. This is a great lesson for us as evangelists: don’t engage in arguments with those we share with, but rather share the gospel and give testimony of how we got saved.

Jesus told him, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He also said, “you must be born again.” The term is used twice here in our text. Peter also mentions it in 1 Peter 1:23. It is another term for being saved. Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be born of water, a symbol of the Word of God, and of the Spirit. It is also known the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

Everyone must choose to be saved by believing in Jesus and receiving Him as Lord and Savior. We become part of the family of God by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts a person of sin, shows him his need of Christ, opens his heart and mind, and makes him a new creation in Christ. Each person must be born again, born from above. Have you been born again? If not, or you are not sure, please receive Him today. The sinners prayer is simple: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me and come into my heart; take control of my life and change me. In Jesus name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, tell someone. Go to a Bible believing church. It is so exciting and encouraging to be born again. Only God can change lives. For that are already born again, rejoice and give thanks.

Have a blessed day rejoicing in being a child of God, born from above. Stay safe and healthy.

In His love, grace, and truth,

Dean

-February 23, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“And another also said. ‘Lord, I follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven.’”

(Luke 9:61-62).

At first glance, it didn’t seem an unreasonable request by the would be disciple of Jesus. He said wanted to say goodbye to those at his house before embarking on a life of discipleship and service. But Jesus knows the heart and the motives of everyone. Disciples must be fully committed, dedicated, and devoted. The devil does his utmost to keep that from happening.

There can be no halfway or part time disciples. You can’t start well and then quit when the going gets tough. This is what happened with John Mark who was serving with Paul and Barnabas. He left them and the work of the Lord and went back to Jerusalem. We don’t know why. Paul didn’t want to give him a second chance but Barnabas did. This led to a rift between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas took Mark and headed for Crete to serve the Lord, and Paul took Silas and went out on further missionary journeys. Later, Paul found Mark to be useful for the Lord’s work and requested that he join them.

In the OT, we have the example of Lot’s wife. The angels brought Lot, his wife, and his two daughters out of Sodom and Gomorrah just before God’s judgment fell on those cities. On the way out, Lot’s wife looked backed and became a pillar of salt. We can’t look back but must go straight ahead for the Lord. Jesus likens discipleship to plowing a field. The moment you look back the row you are plowing won’t be straight. It takes concentration, hardwork, and effort. The time to rest is when the work is done. The servants of the Lord never retire, but keep going until the Lord calls us home.

It is both a privilege and blessing to serve the Lord as His disciples. We may get tired in the work, but we don’t get tired of the work. We must keep pressing on until the end. There are many hindrances, oppositions, and distractions that we must overcome. The unknown hymn writer wrote, “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me. No turning back. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow. No turning back. Will you decide now to follow Jesus? No turning back.

May the Lord help us to be fit for the kingdom of God, fit for the Master’s use. Let’s keep plowing for Jesus until He comes or calls us home in death whichever comes first. There is no better work to do, and no better boss to work for.

Have a blessed day serving Jesus, no looking back or turning back. Stay safe and healthy.

In the Master’s service,

Dean

-February 22, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the Lord.”

(Deuteronomy 1:36).

As we have mentioned before, only Caleb and Joshua of the twelve spies that Moses sent out to check out the land of Canaan, returned with a good report. God was displeased with the other ten and they all died at one time. The other men who left Egypt and did not believe died during the journey in the wilderness.

Because of his faith and godly example, Caleb and his family received their blessed portion in the Promised Land. The Lord specifically says, “…because he wholly followed the Lord.” The word wholly is defined as, “entirely; fully; totally; completely.” We might say that he followed the Lord 100%. The most apt scriptural expression would be that he did not turn to the left or right. He was right in the center of God’s will. He was fully obedient to the Lord with loyalty and faithfulness.

Because he followed the Lord wholly, two things happened: his family followed his example and were blessed also, and the Lord rewarded him with a good portion in the Promised Land. This is a great lesson for us to follow the Lord fully, no turning back. We can’t be half-hearted or double minded. We have to be all in for the Lord.

The name Caleb means dog. We all know how loyal dogs are, and Caleb was certainly that and more. You could always count on him. Other dentitions of his name are: faithful, whole-hearted, bold, brave, and devoted to God. May the Lord to help us to follow the Lord wholly.

Have a blessed day following the Lord today. Stay safe and healthy.

In His service,

Dean