Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

November 10, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

(1 Peter 1:22).

The Holy Spirit sanctifies us in the truth of God’s Word. Only God can transform a life. Once we were darkness, now we are light; once we were lost, now we are found; once we were hopeless, now we have hope; once we were separated from God, now we are brought near by the blood of Christ.

Our souls were once sinful and impure, but now we are purified and washed in the water of the Word. Psalm 119:9 asks, “How can a young man cleanse his way?” He answers the question, “By taking heed according to Your word.”

Nowadays, we want things purified: food, water, air, and everything else. The best purification is that of the soul, for it results in obedience to God and sincere and fervent love for one another. The Holy Spirit purifies us at conversion and makes us holy in God’s sight. He then enables us to live holy lives.

The positional leads to the practical. Through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to live lives pleasing to Him. When Peter speaks of sincere love, he means unhypocritical love. Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. It is a deep, unselfish, sacrificial love. It is Agape love, God’s love. Love gives all and asks for nothing in return.

When Christians love one another, the world takes notice. It makes a huge impact for Christ. More souls are won by love than any other way.

Have a blessed day obeying the Lord and loving one another. Stay safe and healthy.

Christ makes a permanent, eternal change in our lives, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

Dean

-November 9, 2024

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’”

(Luke 5:4).

Jesus had just been teaching from one of Simon’s boat’s on the Lake of Gennesaret (also known as the Sea of Galilee). Prior to this Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who were partners in the fishing business, had toiled all night and caught nothing.

Jesus told Peter, “Launch out into the deep…” The first step in Peter’s obedience was to get up and going. Faith and obedience go together. Sometimes in life, just showing up is a key to victory. Jesus called him to go out into the deep waters. We often would rather wade in the kiddie pool rather in the swim in deep end of the pool in our faith and walk with the Lord.

The Lord Jesus also urged Peter to let down the his nets for a catch. Peter was reluctant at first, but quickly obeyed. The problem was Jesus said nets, Peter let down just one net.

The catch was do plentiful, that the net started to break, Peter’s partners helped him gather all the fish. Had Peter let down all his nets, there wouldn’t been a broken net. We are so like Peter, we have faith, but it is little faith.

Have a blessed day launching out into the deep and casting all nets of faith. Stay and healthy.

When we have a big God, we need a big faith.

Dean

-November 8, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

(Hebrews 4:15).

We all have weaknesses, sins, flaws, and shortcomings. There are trials and temptations everywhere everyday. We can face them all by the grace of God. We have a Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, who intercedes for us.

Jesus sympathizes and empathizes with us; He feels for us and with us. He knows what we are going through, especially because He went through the full range of human emotions while here on earth. He knows how to comfort, encourage, and strengthen us, just when we need it most.

In particular, He was tempted by the devil, yet He never sinned nor could He sin; He felt pain in the beatings He received and the agony He went through on the cross; He felt sorrow, weeping on at least three occasions; He experienced homelessness, and had but one outer garment; He was tired, hungry, and thirsty.

Our Savior is thus able to feel with us in what we are going through. He knows, He cares, He loves. He is our shoulder to cry on, and desires that we cast all our burdens on Him. He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.

The anonymous hymn writer wrote, “Our Great High Priest is sitting at God’s right hand above, for us His hands uplifting, in sympathy and love: Whilst here below, in weakness, we onward speed our way; In sorrow oft and sickness, we sigh, and groan, and pray.”

May we draw near to Jesus and tell Him all about our troubles. He will always listen, feel with us, and help through them. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Run to the One who really knows how you feel, and you will feel His presence and His power.

Dean

-November 7, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 2:16).

God is so great, so amazing, so wonderful; no one knows more and cares more than He does. Paul asks the question, “For who knows the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? Then he gives the answer, “But we have the mind of Christ.” It is a done deal, case closed.

We as human beings tend to second guess each other all the time. The problem is when we second guess the Lord. The Lord is perfect; He never fails, He never makes a mistake.

We are so blessed to have Christ and His mind in us. Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). His mind is the exact opposite of the world’s. We can know and do His will. The more we pray and read His Word, the more His thoughts flow to us and through us,

Have a blessed day spending time with Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

With the mind of Christ we can live the life of Christ.

Dean

-November 6, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past in the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”

(Hebrews 1:1-2).

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. To the believer, there is no sweeter, richer, or more precious name than the name of Jesus.

God sent His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners, and to make us children of God. The message of salvation through faith in Christ is still be preached all over the world.

In times past God spoke at various times and various ways through the fathers and the prophets. It was God’s revelation through dreams and visions. Jesus came to fulfill every prophesy pointing to His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection, and Second Coming.

We are living in what is called the Age of Grace, the Church Age, and the Last Days. The latter term is so indicative that Christ’s coming is very near. The signs of the times are everywhere, all over the world. The clock is ticking, time is running short.

The NT tells us of exactly what will happen and we are seeing it with our own eyes. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1, “But know this, that in the last days perilous (or times of stress) will come.” He describes people who are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

Paul’s description fits our world, our society to a tee. Only the gospel can transform sinners into saints. These last days, as bad as they are, are exciting to see God working to save souls and awaken His people to action. God always has the last word. Christ will come, will reign, and we will reign with Him.

What can we do in these last days? We should live for Christ, serve Him, and proclaim the gospel.

Have a blessed day walking with Christ and pointing people to Him. Stay safe and healthy.

God has spoken by His Son and there are souls to be won.

Dean