Banquet With The King

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Are You Faithful in Big and Little Things?

Jesus told this story to his disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer's money. So the employer called him in and said, 'What's this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.' The manager thought to himself, 'Now what? My boss has fired me. I don't have the strength to dig ditches, and I'm too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I'll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.' So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe him?' The man replied, 'I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.' So the manager told him, 'Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.' 'And how much do you owe my employer?' he asked the next man. 'I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,' was the reply. 'Here,' the manager said, 'take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.' The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

God is faithful.
He gave us the promise of the rainbow.

Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people's things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? "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 God and be enslaved to money. The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. Then he said to them, "You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God." Luke 16:1-15 (Underlined for emphasis.)

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

The promise… You cannot serve both God and money. That is the bottom line—God needs to be first in your life...in my life. This dishonest manager was shrewd. Should he be an example for us? I don’t think so. The rich man may have admired the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd—but I for one don’t want to be like him. We are to be honest, pure, loving and faithful. That dishonest manager did not have those qualities. He certainly wasn’t honoring God…or his employer with his attitude or actions. He loved money—even money that didn’t belong to him and it got him fired. So he covered his back by cheating his boss out of even more that was due to him. What a guy! He made himself even more detestable in God’s sight, but that didn’t seem to matter. His lesson is to use the resources at hand to make friends. Is that showing love to God—to use money to win friends and influence others? Using others’ money like that manager did was a dishonest activity. It is just not right—not ethical—and God knows a person’s heart. There it is. Put God first—and the right things in life will fall in line.

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:31-34 NASB

When I first read this passage in Luke, I thought…does Jesus want us to be shrewd? No, that was not the point of His lesson. He just wants us to be faithful. Put God, not money, first in our lives. Don’t worry—be happy in your relationship, and your faithfulness to God. Nothing really “belongs” to us. Everything we have is God’s. Honor God. Use what He has given you, faithfully—in the big and little things of your life.

Prayer – Dear Lord, I want to always put You first. Guard my heart that I would seek to live an ethical life that is pleasing and honoring to You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [to Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own]. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 AMP

Happy Birthday, Joeske!

May God continue to bless you…in this coming year and always.

Love and Prayers

Portions reused from July 27, 2017, Banquet With The King blog.

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

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

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

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

Monday, November 9, 2026

Celebrate This Happy Day

Celebrate your "happy" day!

"His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'" Luke 15:31-32

Meditate. Consider that God provides everything for us.

The father pleaded with his older son that his brother had been dead and was alive again. He was lost and is found. The father wanted unity within the family. He wanted to acknowledge and celebrate the miracle of his young son’s return, although he never gave up on his younger son coming back home. Remember that he was watching, waiting, and ran to welcome his son when he saw him a long way off. Now his older son wasn’t accepting his little brother’s homecoming. Think about how he observed his father watching for his brother’s return. He didn’t have his Dad’s attention. Do you think he was already harboring feelings of jealousy? It was not evident that everything his Dad had was his, but Dad said just that. Nope, this hardworking son didn’t feel that way at all. He didn’t want to celebrate this “happy” day. Would you?

It is a happy day for the Dad, but is it for the older son? What happens to this family? Is it united? Jesus doesn’t give us a specific ending to His parable.

What do we learn about Jesus from this last portion of the Prodigal Son parable?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You don’t tell us just exactly what to do or how things end…except we know that if we believe in You, the end of our story is the beginning of forever with You. That is going to be a glorious day—not just a happy day to celebrate. Thank You—for Your obedience that allows all this to happen.

Verse of Salvation ~ We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to `! He was lost, but now he is found!'" Luke 15:32

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

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

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Squander the Money…and Then Party?

Don't let the sun go down on your anger.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.' The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!' Luke 15:25-30

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance on anger.

Imagine how the older son felt. He was dirty, dusty, and sweaty returning to the house after slaving away in the fields all day. No tractor to do his work. A shovel and a hoe were his tools. Backbreaking work since the sun came up. Now it was suppertime and he was looking forward to a nice meal. What’s going on? Music and dancing? That fragrant aroma of roasted beef. So, he asked a servant about the festivity. What? Why? Oh, my good for nothing brother who squandered his inheritance is back and Dad is throwing a gala event in his honor. Nope. I’m not going to this party! Even his Dad can’t convince him to join in the festivities. Anger is abounding in his heart. He is jealous and has felt used by his Dad. He’s been a slave—not a son. Why wasn’t he given even a goat to roast and revel with his friends? Nope. He didn’t want anything to do with this party for his Dad’s other son.

Anger. David mentioned dealing with anger by waiting, yet Paul advises us in Ephesians about dealing with anger before the sun goes down. Don’t wait—do it while it is still today.

Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Psalm 4:4

And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27

I think the Prodigal Son father wanted to see his family united—no anger, but Jesus leaves us hanging with no specific ending to the story. What do you think would actually happen? Did the older brother repent of his anger and welcome his brother home? Was the devil laughing at the situation and hoping that unity within the family would not be restored? If a similar situation happened in your family, what would be the result?

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage in the Prodigal Son story?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, our Father God is like that father in this parable. He is a peacemaker, always wanting His children to get along, to accept each other no matter what their sins, faults, or circumstances. Help us to be willing to cast off any anger we feel and welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ into our hearts and our homes. You’ve already paid the price of our sins—let unity reign in our lives.

Verse of Salvation ~ Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12

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

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

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Let the Party Begin!

Dancing in the streets.
Jerusalem, Israel

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.' But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began. Luke 15:20-24

Meditate on this scripture and celebrating.

He was lost—and he’s come home! What joy filled that father’s heart! That father ran! He had to pull up his long robe and tuck it into the belt at his waist in order to run. Most rich farmers wouldn’t be so undignified as to adjust their expensive robe and run—but this father did. Notice that he was watching and waiting for his son. He probably had spent many days standing at the end of the road just watching, anticipating his son’s return. Look, I see him! He’s here! He’s home! The father was overjoyed! The lost is found!

Give my son some new, clean clothes, the best robe in the house, a gold ring worthy of him, and a good pair of sandals. Kill the fattened calf! Call in all the neighbors, friends, and family. Let the celebrating begin!

In this era, it wasn’t common to have beef every day or even every week. The farmer would fatten up a calf for a special occasion or festival. That was the calf the father told his servants to prepare for a “Welcome Home” feast. They probably had a big spread of other foods, like breads, along with hummus, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as dried fruits. Food, music, and probably dancing were important parts of the festivity. Can you imagine the joyous celebration?

Have you ever felt like this father receiving his prodigal son home? Maybe a friend or relative came to know the Lord, or returned to a devoted Christian life, after a time of rebellion.

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage from the Prodigal Son parable?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I want to be like the father of the Prodigal Son—always watching and willing to welcome back into the fold anyone who strays away. Strays? No, this prodigal son deliberately and rebelliously left the farm. I am willing to accept and embrace those who fall away and then return. In fact, I will rejoice with You and the angels in Heaven when one sinner repents… In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away! Luke 15:7. Let there be joy in the house of the Lord!

Verse of Salvation ~ For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4 NKJV

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

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

Friday, November 6, 2026

Came to His Senses

Headed Home to the Promised Land.
I've come to my senses.

When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."' Luke 15:17-19

Meditate. Consider the reaction of the Prodigal Son.

The young man came to his senses. He decided to go back to his father…to become the Prodigal Son. He had to get to the point of feeling like he was dying of hunger and knew that his father provided well for his servants—he could become that. A hired servant for his father. He wouldn’t be hungry any longer. No more slopping the hogs. Yes. He would go home and humble himself. He would repent of his sin and ask for forgiveness…and a job.

Isn’t that just what each of us needs to do with our Heavenly Father? Be humble and repent of our sins. Maybe we haven’t asked for our worldly inheritance and then foolishly spent it, but we still have mistakes in our lives that we need to fess up to and want to go “home” which will ultimately be our Heavenly Home with the Lord. Yes. We can identify with this Prodigal Son. We may not feel like we are deserving or worthy of God’s love. But He is willing to accept anyone who accepts Him as Lord. Let’s all turn towards home and seek our Heavenly Father.

What do we learn about Jesus from this portion of the parable of the Prodigal Son?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You were never like the Prodigal Son. You were obedient and devoted to our Father. I am a little like that rebellious Prodigal Son. I want to do things my way…and then I come to my senses and realize that my way is not Your way. Forgive me for being stubborn.

Verse of Salvation ~ (Jesus speaking to those who listened to His parables and didn’t understand.) Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. John 10:9

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What do you want to eat when you are “dying of hunger?” What is your go-to food? How about a traditional BLT, bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, or macaroni and cheese? My husband might ask for a McDonald’s fishwich sandwich or maybe just a big hotdog with onions at Costco. These are all fast-food items. When you are dying of hunger, you want something fast. I’m sure that the Prodigal Son didn’t have that option. Fast food restaurants began with White Castle in 1921, although even quick meals were served to travelers and workers during the Roman era, so fast food options have been around for ages.

Really hungry? I might settle for a bowl of oatmeal with a banana or a couple of handfuls of blueberries. That is pretty quick, and easy, as well as satisfying and nutritious. Of course, the ultimate comfort food maybe pizza! This is especially true for a Friday. What can be better than pizza and a movie? Maybe just a charcuterie board enjoyed while visiting with friends? Even if you are really hungry it is a satisfying meal. What needs to be included on such a board or tray? It used to be considered an antipasto tray. All the ingredients are cold—so no heating is involved.

Ingredients to consider:

Sliced meats (1/4 lb per person or more)

Variety of cheeses

Mixed Olives

Mixed nuts

Dried fruits

Fresh fruits, like grapes, sliced apples or oranges

Fresh veggies, like cucumbers, celery, peppers, small tomatoes, mushrooms

Baguette or specialty breads, sliced

Tasty crackers

½ cup honey

½ cup mustard

½ cup veggie dip

Fresh herbs like rosemary or basil for fragrance – add at the last minute

Put all the ingredients on a tray in a festive, artistic arrangement—but be sure to separate the moist foods from the dry ones to prevent soggy bread or cracker issues. Enjoy with friends or family for a simple supper. Serve with your favorite hot or cold beverages.

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

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

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Pack Up and Move

The Prodigal Son...
his money was wasted...
and he was alone in a famine.

A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. Luke 15:13-16

Meditate.

God often uses famines. Pack up and move before the famine. It didn’t matter where this young man was, there was a famine in the land. The Prodigal Son was on his own since he’d received his inheritance and spent it on wild living. Now there was a famine and his job taking care of dirty pigs was hardly a good job for a young Jewish boy. Pigs were considered unclean and Jews would never eat them. Yet, right now he’d like to eat the food he was feeding to those beasts. Ah, just a corn cob or pea pod. He was so hungry that he was starving. No one shared with him. Famine or not, you’d think someone would offer him a meal…or even scrap of food. Nope! He had no money, no food, no friends. He had greedily spent his inheritance. That was inheritance for which he didn’t want to wait. Give it to me now, he had demanded of his father.

Then he (Jesus) said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15

What did greed get this young man? Nothing. He had a short time to enjoy his inheritance, and then it was gone. Now hunger has overtaken his life. He has no money and is working for probably a pittance. What would they pay someone to feed pigs? He has no home, no food, no money. He has left his family and his friends have left him. Alone.

What do we learn about Jesus from this portion of the Prodigal Son parable?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, help me to consider options…and not be greedy. You were such a good example—always enjoying a good meal when offered to You—but never greedy.

Verse of Salvation ~ (Part of Jonah’s prayer from inside the great fish.) But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone. Jonah 2:9

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

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

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Before You Die

Like the butterfly...
the young son thought he'd start a new life.

Meditate. Look at the story of the Prodigal Son more closely.

Did this man have any daughters—only two sons? Was that younger son greedy? He wanted his inheritance…now. No waiting. Daddy loved his sons…so he paid up. Usually, an inheritance wasn’t given to the sons until after the father died, yet this father was willing to give his son just what he wanted. Did he give everything to these two young men? Daughters were not generally given an inheritance as the sons were. What financing was he using to continue to run his farm? Did he give the younger son his inheritance and withhold the older son’s inheritance until that older son asked for it, or until he himself died? If so, Dad would have a financial basis for paying all his servants and running the farm. Lots of questions for Dad or our storyteller, Jesus.

The younger son didn’t waste time getting off that farm and heading for what he thought was greener grass in a country far away. He couldn’t wait to spend his cash. Frivolous living. He probably instantly had friends…until the money ran out. He wasted his money. Wasted. What was he going to do?

What do we learn about Jesus as He begins this story of the Prodigal Son?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, give us wisdom to apply Your parable to our lives. Lord God, I see You as the Father willing to give the son whatever he asked for. Help us not be like that son, squandering Your wealth on vain living. May we honor You in everything we do.

Verse of Salvation…or loss of salvation ~ They were always greedy and never satisfied. Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about. Job 20:20

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

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

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Who is The Prodigal Son?

Have you ever fed a pig?

To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."' So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.' But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began. Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 'Your brother is back,' he was told, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.' The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, 'All these years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!' His father said to him, 'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'" Luke 15:11-32

Meditate. Consider this story of The Prodigal Son.

A few years ago, I read the book The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming by Henri J.M. Nouwen, a priest from the Netherlands, who vividly describes both sons and their relationship to their father in Jesus’ parable known as the Prodigal Son, depicted in the painting by Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal Son. Rembrandt painted his rendition of the story in about 1667. Nouwen viewed the painting in Saint Petersburg, Russia in the Hermitage Museum and wrote about his deep connection with the artwork in 1992. In his book, Nouwen clearly conveys the feelings of the father, the wayward son who has returned home willing to be a slave, and the older, loyal yet jealous son who has remained with his father on the family farm. In the Prodigal Son story as told by Jesus it is often interpreted that the father is God the Father, welcoming home his son whom He thought was lost, who is throwing a big celebration to rejoice at His son’s return. He draws the older son into the story—reaching out to encourage him to take part in the celebration. That’s how it is with God—He reaches out to all His sons and daughters. He tells us, you are mine—let’s rejoice and celebrate. It is such an awesome story when you dig into the meaning behind just the basic storyline and visualize the father embracing His sons. Can you interpret it as both were lost and now are found? With which of the characters in the story do you identify? The younger son, the older son, or perhaps the father? As you look at the growth in your spiritual life, can you see yourself in each of these characters? At any rate, let’s celebrate. We were lost, and now we are found!

What do we learn about Jesus from this parable?

Prayer – Holy Spirit—we rejoice that we have returned to our Heavenly Father…and to You. Please continue to guide and direct us in that whatever we think, say, and do would be acceptable to You. Direct us moment by moment to make choices that keep us on the straight and narrow path that would continually lead us to You.

Verse of Salvation ~ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when He adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:15-17

Portions are reused from June 19, 2015, 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.