Banquet With The King

Friday, December 12, 2025

Are You Fooling Yourself?

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:8-10

Meditate. Are you fooling yourself?

Do you claim you have no sin? John tells us that if we assert that, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. This takes us to more questions, what is “living in the truth?” Who or what is truth?

Jesus stated…"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus is truth. He does not lie. He lived and still humbly lives a pure and honest life, dedicated to our Heavenly Father. When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, He lives in us. That gives us the possibility of living in the truth. It is our choice.

Again, if we say we have no sin, we are calling God a liar, but He cannot lie. (See Numbers 23:19.) Do you have room for God in your heart? Can you give Him your heart—your desires? Are you just too busy, or do you have time in your life every day for Jesus, for God? You’ve likely heard about the importance of reading your Bible daily, of taking time to meditate on His word, and of praying several times a day.

What does it mean to “confess our sins?” To confess our sins is to agree with God that we have sinned. We are living in a way that separates us from the love of God. Whatever that is, is sin. (See the December 10, 2025, Banquet With the King blog.) If we confess our sins, it is washed away. We get a clean slate—a do-over. It is a 180 degree turn—going back the other way. What a privilege. God has promised that He will forgive us—and make us clean—as white as snow. Pure white snow is strikingly beautiful. God is faithful to those who believe in Him. He wipes daway wickedness and the very sins that separate us from Him. That is how great is that? God is great. He is good. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Is He the way that you are choosing to live?

Prayer ~ Lord – Thank you for all that You do for each of us—providing safety, health, and all that we need—food, shelter, companionship, knowledge, and love. I choose You. You are the living hope for me…for all mankind.

Meditate. Consider God’s word and what He is saying. Don’t fool yourself.

Verse of Salvation ~ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Are you ready for a Christmas meal or for a holiday cookie exchange? In a recent discussion with an acquaintance from another country, she said that although they went out to a nice restaurant for Thanksgiving, she would be cooking a traditional holiday meal from their culture for friends, along with special beverages, music, and dancing. What fun! They really know how to party!

Our own early Christmas celebration this weekend will be to go to our granddaughter’s first orchestra concert, eat at a special restaurant (sushi or Italian—not just hamburgers), and see the local display of Christmas lights. We’ll also attend—and be part of—our church musical on Sunday, followed by a homemade Greek meal featuring gyros, and the opening our Snowmen gifts. The Snowmen gifts are similar to those Jesus was given at His birth—not gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but clothes, books, and a toy or game. It is a fun way to package up the presents.

One of my highlights of our Christmas celebration always is the singing of a few carols, particularly the Friendly Beasts using animal puppets that I made forty some years ago. The song focuses on the gifts given to Jesus—the Holy Child. What gift will you give Jesus this year? Just some sugar cookies…or your own heart and life?

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Your Sins Have Been Forgiven Through Jesus

I am writing to you who are God's children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. I have written to you who are God's children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God's word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one. Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:12-17

God is love. He forgives sins. My Mother taught me that God is love. I just took her word for it…and then one day I read it for myself in the Bible. Oh. That was where she got that. She didn’t make it up. It was from God Himself. Actually, John wrote about it in a couple of different verses.

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16

When my daughter was in about the first grade, Lisa was in a “Psalty” musical at the Sheppard AFB Chapel and sang a song that comes from 1 John 4:7-8, in the King James Version. It has a catchy tune that I still remember…so does Lisa, who has taught it to her own kiddos.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 KJV

When we love the world as well as the fame and fortune it offers instead of God…then we lose out on the love of God the Father. We can’t serve both.

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13

You choose. Which will it be…money or God?

Prayer – Thank you, God, for this lesson. You are love. I choose You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Happy Birthday, Diana - Blessing of Health and Strength...Today and Always

Reused from April 7, 2019

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Is Sin Really So Bad?

Meditate. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Is sin really so bad? What do you think? What is sin? It can be considered an immoral act against a divine law. Sin is mentioned in more than 450 scripture passages in the New Living Translation of the Bible. God told Cain that he needed to adjust his attitude. He had a fallen countenance (Genesis 4:3-8). God gives Cain some wise advice concerning dealing with sin: you must subdue it and be its master. But if you know the story—you know that sin won the battle and Cain killed his brother, Abel.

You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master. Genesis 4:7

Sin was not previously specifically described or defined, but we can infer that God had already explained His preferences to the family of Adam and Eve. That first sin likely was not Cain, but occurred when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s “rule” and ate the fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Sin is sin. Sin is disobedience. In the Strongs Lexicon, #H2403 is also referred to as the sin sacrifice, punishment, or purifying as purification of sins. Throughout the Bible, sin is described or its qualities annotated.

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34

Jesus proclaimed that not believing in Him as the Son of God…as God…as the sacrifice for sin, is the true sin. This is reiterated throughout the New Testament.

The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me. John 16:9

Everyone who sins is breaking God's law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 1 John 3:4-6

Breaking God’s law is probably the best definition of sin. God gave the specific Ten Commandments to the Hebrew people shortly after their Exodus from Egypt. Those Ten Commandments cover all human interactions with God and with others, so the Ten Commandments were summarized into two elements. Love God. Love others as you love yourself. To break one is to break them all. The commandments also can be considered literally or at an emotional or spiritual level. Jesus said to think them was to sin. Hmmm. That’s serious.

When asked by her son, John, Susanna Wesley gave a long, but definitive definition of sin.“Whatever weakens your reasoning, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away your relish for spiritual things, in short, if anything increases the authority of the flesh over the spirit, that to you becomes sin, however good it is in itself.” That is pretty clear. Anything that comes between you and God is sin.

So, is sin really bad? Being separated from God is not good…especially when you consider it on an eternal level. The choice is yours. What do you think?

Prayer – Lord, please show me if I am headed down the wrong path—sinning against You. I don’t want to willfully sin and displease You.

Verse of Salvation ~ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Is There Birth to Sin in Your Life?

God listens from Heaven.
Have your sins cut you off from God?

Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption. No one cares about being fair and honest. The people's lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin. Isaiah 59:1-4

Meditate. Read God’s word, hear, and listen to what He is saying.

Read those verses in Isaiah again. God listens—but do we? When people sin, they cut themselves off from God. Consider His purity as God turns away and won’t listen anymore to the murderers and those with dirty, sinful hands. No wonder Moms are always telling their kids to wash their hands! No…I realize that it is a germ thing that makes parents so intent on children continually washing their hands. Dirty hands and nails harbor bacteria and viruses that can develop into nasty colds, flu, and other diseases like COVID that can be debilitating or even deadly. Those “dirty hands” are not necessarily sinful.

Isaiah was concerned that no one cares about being fair and honest. Look around you—is the world any different now? The lives of most people—at least in the United States—center around “me”—what I want or need. Does it take an evil deed to get whatever that person wants? Those evil deeds may begin with a lie or bad language. A little evil gives way for more and jails are full of people doing those evil deeds. Those evil deeds are sinful in God’s eyes, so after He has tried to save mankind and they resist His efforts, He looks away. Who wants to be rejected by God? The sinful, prideful, arrogant, evil people of the world.

Prayer – Lord, Thank You for caring. Please forgive me for harboring the sin of ___________________ in my life. I confessed that I wasn’t ready to forgive another person, but through others, You intervened—and the forgiven offense vanished. Life is complicated—but with wise choices, we can live to please You. Jesus, You made the ultimate choice to be the sacrifice for our sins, but Hallelujah, You were resurrected. Death is admirable—it was necessary to destroy sin—but we can rejoice that You were raised from the dead. I look forward to that for me, too, and for all those who believe in You and serve You.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, December 8, 2025

Ultimate Domestic Violence – 36 years later

Jeremiah, say to the people, 'This is what the LORD says: "'When people fall down, don't they get up again? When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don't hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, "What a terrible thing I have done"? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! ' " Jeremiah 8:4-6

Meditate on these words of God to the prophet Jeremiah.

…why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? What a good question. Why don’t people change? Why don’t they choose to do what is good, true, right beautiful? Doesn’t their conscience bother them? Just as this scripture passage asks—why don’t they say "What a terrible thing I have done?" They just keep on sinning—with no remorse, sorry, or regret. But this didn’t just happen. It has been going on for a life-time. Each choice someone makes takes them on the right or wrong path.

Shirley & Bob
Anne & Vicki

My sister, Shirley, married her college sweetheart, Ron, and they began what they hoped would be a life of bliss. But it wasn’t. Almost twenty years later they divorced. On December 8, 1989, Ron chose to murder Shirley, and their two daughter, Vicki and Anne, and Shirley’s new husband, Bob, and then himself. The ultimate act of domestic abuse. Death. No remorse. No regret. Just going down a self-destructive path away from God. Ron was not a believer. Shirley was. She made a wrong choice when she became “yoked” to a non-believer, unknowingly “teamed up” with a wicked partner.

Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Be careful with whom you associate. Teach your children and grandchildren to choose their friends, and one day possibly, their spouse, carefully. Time may be short. We never know how much time we have left here on earth—but it is important to influence others for the Lord—to share the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah, our Savior. We need to take “the light of the world” to others, but not necessarily to team up for the rest of our days with them.

Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, helped the lame to walk, raised the dead, and fed the hungry. We should do the same. He was sinless. He did choose a couple of friends who betrayed and denied Him, but He always chose obedience to His Father, even when it took Him to the cross. That is what makes Him my Savior…our Savior.

Prayer – Lord, just as Joshua spoke to the Israelites…But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15. I choose to serve You, Lord. I choose to repent daily and turn from my sinful ways. I choose holiness…to serve You.

Verse of Salvation ~ For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

Reused from August 17, 2020, Banquet With The King blog.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Blooming Desert

The LORD will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air. Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. Isaiah 51:3-4

Meditate. Consider God’s insight with scripture.

Date palm trees in Israel.

Have you been to Israel? Their deserts are blooming. Land that was not productive has become an oasis—growing date trees and numerous crops that support the growing economy of the nation. It is an amazing country. Much of the farmland is in kibbutz with people working together—combined efforts and talents—to raise irrigated crops that thrive like Eden—or what we imagine that Eden was like.

God wants the people of Israel to listen to Him…and to hear what He has declared to guide the Israelites with His law. Jesus, as God incarnate, lived in Israel and declared Himself to be a light to the world. Did people listen to Him and hear what He said?

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12

No groping around in the dark—spiritually—for those who believe that Jesus is the Messiah—the long awaited Savior—providing eternal life to all. Joy and gladness to those hearing and listening to God’s message—in Israel and around the world.

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, thank you for being our Savior, for being a willing sacrifice for our sins—for the sins of the whole world. It would be marvelous if everyone could listen and hear the truth—You are the light of the world. May those who see the blooming desert, believe that You are their Messiah. Joy to the world.

Verse of Salvation ~ Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Isaiah 51:6

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Do You Hear God? Do You Hear Others?

You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don't really listen. Isaiah 42:20

Meditate. Are you listening or hearing?

Do you have ears to hear?
Are you stubbornly NOT listening?

Have you ever looked at something and just not seen it? Have you ever heard someone speak and just found yourself not processing what they said? Are you even listening? I thought it was maybe just a senior moment thing…but I’ve noticed that it happens with younger people…even teens or kids, too. Isaiah asks if people see and know what is right, but just don’t do it. That happens. Years ago I recall a step-mom who lived next door complained and shook her head at her new teenager step-kids who would walk right by a scrap piece of paper on the floor and just ignore it, several times. They didn’t even see it. She expected them to automatically pick it up. Is that what God expects of us? Are we ignoring what He has right before us? We can see or hear, but we’re not observing or listening. What would motivate us to engage with our surroundings—with the people that are around us—so that we see and hear and really act on those things—especially on the expectations of the Lord?

What does He expect of us? As the prophet Micah wrote:

…O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

So, what will you do? You know what is right. You love mercy shown to you…can you show mercy to others? Are you walking humbly with God? Are you staying close to the Lord in your relationship with Him? Consider what Solomon wrote in Proverbs.

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Wisdom is always good. Wisdom was with God at the beginning. Here are a few verses that we can read in a chapter that covers the qualities of wisdom.

Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. ... I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. ... The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. ... And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it. Proverbs 8:6-9, 12, 22, 31-33

God has provided His wisdom for us to follow—and those who do are blessed. Life may not be easy, always fun, or exciting—but it is the wise thing to do. Seek wisdom. That is an easy thing for us to do when we have Bibles accessible, but not everyone does. Pray for those in countries that are persecuted. Cover them with blessings that they may have opportunities to share God’s words with others. Do you share Jesus’ teaching and encouraging scripture with others?

Prayer ~ Lord, give me wisdom to know when to speak up for You. Help me see opportunities to listen to others and really hear what they are saying…and share Your compassion and love.

Verse of Salvation ~ Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories