Banquet With The King

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Blessed? Rejoice and Be Glad

Gate at the Mount of Beatitudes
Israel

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:1-12 ESV

Church of the Beatitudes
Looking towards the Sea of Galilee
Israel

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He began to teach them, saying,

"Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].

Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God's grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].

Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed [joyful, nourished by God's goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.

Blessed [content, sheltered by God's promises] are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed [anticipating God's presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.

Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God's favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.

Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God's love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].

Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God's goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me.

Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:1-12 AMP

Meditate on being blessed.

Blessed. Happy. Content. Satisfied. Honored. Spiritually alive. Spiritually calm. What an extensive list of synonyms for “blessed” that are enumerated with the Amplified translation. Read that again a couple of times and contemplate all of those words for being blessed. What rings true for you? Are you feeling blessed or in need of God’s blessing? Jesus proclaimed these Beatitudes in His Sermon on the Mount on the hillside above the Sea of Galilee.

Rejoice and be glad. David wrote about rejoicing in the Lord in several of the Psalms.

I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7 NLT

So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! Psalm 32:11 NLT

Rejoice and be glad. God is giving us an amazing opportunity to know Him and to be blessed—no matter in what state we find ourselves.

Poor in spirit.

Mourning.

Meek.

Hungry for righteousness.

Merciful.

Pure in heart.

Peacemakers.

Persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Reviled.

God is with everyone—and blesses those who seek and serve Him. Jesus was offering comfort to those thousands who came to hear Him teach on that mountainside. He wasn’t just talking to His disciples—but to all who would hear Him, even us today as we read His words again. Blessings on you.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, Thank You for making it clear in these simple statements that God cares about mankind, no matter what their condition is.

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted! Psalm 18:46 NLT

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

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

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

Friday, April 10, 2026

Choosing His Disciples

Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them "Sons of Thunder"), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Mark 3:13-19

Meditate on discipleship.

Jesus had many followers, but it was time to choose those He wanted to teach most—to be His closest students. He was the Rabbi. To begin this process, He spent some time in prayer, seeking guidance from His heavenly Father. A good example for all of us when we have a big or any decision to make. This is recorded in the book of Luke. Jesus spent all night praying! When was the last time you spent an extended time praying? Have you ever prayed all night? A Psalmist describes praying all night.

I pray all night long.

I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Psalm 77:1-3

One day, soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak, he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter's brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Luke 6:12-16 (Underlined for emphasis.)

This list of chosen disciples is also found in Matthew 10:1-4. Chosen. Specifically selected, probably by God the Father Himself. I imagine that Jesus and the Father went through the list, and knowing the future, picked the ones who would have the most impact on the future of the ministry. Interestingly, there were two Simons, two Jameses, and two Judases. Common names for that time period. We get to know only a few of them personally through later scripture and through their historical accounts. Simon Peter becomes a leader after Jesus ascends into heaven, and he is filled with the Holy Spirit. John is known to have lived the longest, and is the author of the books of John, the epistles 1, 2, and 3 John, and Revelation. He was said to have been the only disciple who was not martyred. Of course, as noted, Judas Iscariot was the one who betrayed Jesus, thus humiliating himself and committing suicide. Such a poor choice. We all have choices to make throughout life.

Jesus continues to choose His disciples every day. Those responding to His call follow Him, just as the original twelve did. Follow Jesus. Seek Him. Learn about His mercy and grace for your life. Are you His disciple?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I hear You calling, “Follow Me,” and I am eager to know You more. Like Peter in the Garden, I can’t always stay awake to pray for even an hour. I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be bold for You. Please give me strength and a new awareness of what You are doing in and through my life. From Psalm 25:4-5 Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.

Verse of Salvation ~ In that very hour He was overjoyed and rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and He said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things [relating to salvation] from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants [the childlike and untaught]. Yes, Father, for this way was [Your gracious will and choice, and was] well-pleasing in Your sight. Luke 10:21 AMP

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

There are seven healing foods of Israel, including wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey or dates. This is identified in Deuteronomy when the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land.

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. Deuteronomy 8:7-8

In the Torah, wheat represents peace, wealth, and tranquility. Although wheat causes gluten problems for many people today, it has been known since Bible times to contain an abundance of health benefits. Is it that the grain was purer then, so it didn’t cause inflammation? There are different benefits to the various forms of wheat, like grain, wheatgrass, or flour, due to different amounts of protein, and particular vitamins and enzymes at different stages of growth of the grain kernels. Medically, wheat properties include improving digestion and circulation. It raises iron levels in the blood, while strengthening the heart, purifying the blood, strengthening the brain, and sharpening mental activity.

To sprout wheat, soak wheat berries 8-12 hours, then rinse and drain twice a day for 1-4 days until tiny sprouts appear. Sprouts can be eaten as soon as the roots appear, or you can wait and let the sprouts grow taller. As the green shoots appear, the vitamin levels increase. Eating about one tablespoon of the sprouts a day, chewing them well, is a good amount to start. The sprouted grain can also be juiced, added to salads, or even to bread dough. It is a diverse and wholesome food.

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

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

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, April 9, 2026

Who is the Hope of All the World?

But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world." Matthew 12:15-21

Meditate on Hope.

The Sea of Galilee
People came there with hope...
that Jesus could heal them.

What does it mean to you to have hope? This passage mentions scripture found in Isaiah 42:1-4, where it predicts that even the name of Jesus will be the hope of all the world. Hope. We all need something for which to look forward—to give us encouragement. As more people heard about the miracles Jesus had performed, they came to Him from all over the Holy Land. This same portion of His ministry is reported in the books of Luke (Luke 6:17-19) and Mark, which lists the areas from which the crowds traveled to see Him.

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him. Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready, so the crowd would not crush him. He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, "You are the Son of God!" But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was. Mark 3:7-12

Marvelous miracles were performed that were both physical and spiritual healings. Here, even the spirits were told not to tell who He was. Throughout His ministry, it was notable that He didn’t want people to declare who had healed them. Already the Pharisees were plotting to kill Him, and He didn’t need more publicity.

How far would you travel to have a faith healer heal you? In that era, it took days to travel by foot or even by donkey. It was about 70 miles from Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee, 50 miles from Sidon to Capernaum, and a considerable distance from the southern end of Israel at Idumea to Capernaum. A journey to see Jesus would take those folks several days. It’s a big deal for us to just cross the Cascade Mountains on a six-lane freeway in about four hours to go to Seattle to see a specialist, although many people make that trek regularly, even in snowy weather. There is hope with a special doctor. That is what people had in Jesus. Hope. Touch Him and be healed. He was the hope of Israel, and today He still provides hope for all the world. Hope in eternal life with Him—in Heaven. Is your hope in Jesus?

What do we learn about Jesus in these passages about His healing the crowds? He was still mercifully compassionate. Can you imagine how it felt to have all those people pushing and shoving to get close enough to Jesus to touch Him? He wanted to remain private—no evil spirits or people speaking about Him, who He was, and about His power.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, we know that we are told over and over throughout the Bible by Moses, David, Solomon, Paul, Luke, others, and by You, that those who seek God will find Him. I am seeking You, and I know that You will reveal more about Yourself as I study Your words and spend time with You. Thank you.

Verse of Salvation ~ So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 1 Peter 1:13-15 (Underlined for emphasis.)

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

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Hold Out Your Hand

Time...for healing, for good deeds?
Time for a miracle.

Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone." Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus. Mark 3:1-6

Meditate.

This scripture passage describing this Sabbath healing by Jesus is also found in Matthew 12:9-14 and Luke 6:6-11. Read all of them for a deeper understanding of this miracle. It may not have been on the same Sabbath day as when Jesus and His disciples harvested a few heads of wheat and ate them.

Jesus mercifully noticed and healed the deformed hand of a man, who was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Again, it was the Sabbath, and the Pharisees were trying to enforce the “no work on the Sabbath” law. Jesus just simply asked them if the law permitted good deeds on the Sabbath, but the Pharisees refused to answer. They didn’t want Jesus to be successful, but they knew that He had miraculously healed other people. Basically, they were jealous of His abilities. They weren’t healing people who were lame, had deformed hands, or even just a fever. Jesus told this man to hold out your hand. It was healed. Made perfect just as Jesus created it. Jesus rejected the Pharisees in anger and disappointment because they rejected His desire to perform miracles, and to do God’s will. Jesus’ attitude is similar to the words of James. Do you think the Pharisees would accept that?

If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 3:13-17

James speaks of mercy and good deeds. Those were qualities that Jesus was portraying with this gentleman who needed his hand healed. Would you want the Pharisees to be responsible for healing you? What was wrong with them that they couldn’t want the best—the healing of this man’s hand? They were already wanting to destroy Jesus and His ministry.

What do we learn about Jesus in this passage of scripture? He continues to be merciful. He is not only not intimidated by the Pharisees, but He is angry and feels sorry for them as they reject the idea of healing on the Sabbath.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for the mercy You showed to this man and to all of us. Thanks also for just showing us Your strength

Verse of Salvation ~ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. Titus 2:11-13

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, April 7, 2026

Are You Hungry?

Are you hungry for fresh grain?

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath." Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!" Matthew 12:1-8 (Underlined emphasis mine.)

Meditate on hunger—spiritual and physical. Read the passage three times.

Continuing on in the study of Jesus chronologically in the Gospels. This scripture from Matthew 12:1-8 is also found in Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5.

Jesus has healed sick and lame people. Now, it is still the Sabbath as He and a few of His hungry disciples are walking through a ripe grainfield. The logical thing is to pluck a few kernels of wheat, rub off the chaff, and eat the grain. I would. Those fresh morsels can be tasty. Chew them up well, and they are actually nutritious. Those Pharisees called that little harvesting the disciples did, work! Work on the Sabbath was forbidden. It was considered breaking the Law. Did the Pharisees acknowledge that David and his troops broke the law when they ate the consecrated bread?

Since there was no other food available, the priest gave him (David) the holy bread—the Bread of the Presence that was placed before the LORD in the Tabernacle. It had just been replaced that day with fresh bread. 1 Samuel 21:6

David and his hungry men ate the sacred bread from the altar. Jesus and His disciples ate grain on a sacred day. There’s no record of the Pharisees’ response to Jesus’ defense. What do you think they said to Jesus? They didn’t recognize that He was the Son of Man, the Lord. If they’d only known. At this point, Jesus quoted an Old Testament passage with which the Pharisees were likely familiar.

O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?" asks the LORD. "For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight. I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light. I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust. Hosea 6:4-7 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Show love or mercy. That is just what Jesus was teaching people to do. To love God and to love others. Love is merciful. He goes on to heal on the Sabbath. Keep reading. Can’t you just feel the anger rising in the Pharisees? Were they even listening to Him when He said, "For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"?

Jesus’ disciples were physically hungry as they walked through that field. Were the Pharisees actually spiritually hungry and just not aware? Are you ever spiritually hungry, but just ignore it? The best cure for spiritual hunger is digging into God’s word. Where do you start? How about any one of the Gospels? Matthew was written by a Jew for the Jews, whereas Mark and Luke were written mainly for the Gentiles. John is more distinctively theological. Your choice. It is best to pray for insight and understanding before you read the scripture passage, and then dig in and see what God is trying to teach you. Your spiritual hunger will be satisfied.

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture today? Jesus was merciful to His companions. He didn’t stop them from harvesting and eating the grain. He likely joined them. The Pharisees were in His face with “keeping the law,” but He defended the need to satisfy physical hunger. Jesus was declaring Himself “Lord of the Sabbath,” but the Pharisees didn’t listen. Were the disciples listening—or just hungry?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for satisfying my physical hunger with the bounty of food that You provide. I am continually amazed at the variety of foods that You’ve created. It’s time to start gardening—so I am also grateful for the seeds to grow these great plants that we will harvest later. Spiritual hunger is easily—but often humbly—satiated by Your living word. It’s new every morning and You speak clearly throughout the Bible with a freshness that is exciting. Thank you for providing Your guidance, wisdom, and understanding.

Verse of Salvation ~ He was saying to them, "The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Luke 10:2 AMP

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

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

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, April 6, 2026

Searching for God’s Will?

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. John 5:25-45 ESV

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Jewish tradition, based on scripture (Deut. 19:15), requires that two witnesses testify before the conviction of an accused person. Here in the passage for today, Jesus was saying that He alone couldn’t testify about Himself—two others had to testify about Him. He goes on to tell about two who are His witnesses, John the Baptist and His Heavenly Father. In addition, His own works were His testimony.

Jesus was a man of integrity. He didn’t boast about what He could do or about what He had already done (healing sick and lame people), but insisted that He couldn’t do anything on His own. He was seeking God’s will.

So what is God’s will? In John 4:34, Jesus explained:

My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. John 4:34

Additionally, in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prayed…Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. I know several people who have really struggled with “knowing God’s will for their lives.” I remember spending a considerable amount of time searching the scriptures myself wanting to understand what it was that God wanted me to do. What was God’s will for my life? I think God’s direction in Paul’s letter to the Romans provides us with a good answer.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) Underlined for emphasis.

That is stated pretty plainly—that which is good, acceptable and perfect. That takes me back to one of my favorite verses:

Search for the Truth in your life.
Seek God and you will find Him.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 (NASB)

Think about good things—and you’ll do what is right and is God’s will. This scripture may not give specifics…like what to do for a specific career or spouse, but general guidance on the way to live to please God. Feast on those words today.

What do we learn about Jesus from today’s passage? Jesus lived to please the Father, to do just what the Father wanted Him to do. He was pointing people to God the Father as the source of our hope, not to Moses on whom the Jews wanted to focus their loyalty. That is good advice for us today, too. Seek God and you will find Him.

Prayer – Dear Jesus—I believe you are who you said you are…the Son of God—and you are God. Your testimony is true. Help me to continue to seek God’s will and to focus on the good, acceptable, and perfect—the God things.

Verse of Salvation ~ And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28

Portions reused from October 10, 2012, Banquet With The King blog.

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

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®,

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