Banquet With The King

Monday, November 2, 2026

Can You Rejoice? The Lost Has Been Found!

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." Luke 15:8-10

Meditate. Consider Rejoicing.

Imagine with me a story about The Lost Coin.

Knock – Knock – Knock

Rhoda, would you like to come over for some mint tea? Grandma Anna is brewing a fresh pot.

“No. No. I can’t come over now. I lost one of my silver coins,” cried Rhoda, nearly in tears.

“I must find it so I can pay my family’s Temple tax. I know I had ten coins and now I only have nine other coins,” thought Rhoda.

I’ll count them again.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Oh, where is that tenth coin?

I’ll count them again. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

The tenth coin is lost.

Light your lamp!

Sweep your house!

It is not around the bed.

It is not under the bed.

Sweep under the low table.

No coin under here.

It did not fall…into my water pot.

Shine your lamp here.

Not with the pomegranates.

Sweep around these cushions.

There it is! We found my lost coin!

Thank you for helping me!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9, 10! I have all ten coins!

Celebrate with me!

Rejoice!

I must tell all my family, neighbors, and friends!

The Lost Coin has been FOUND!

Have you ever felt sad, discouraged, or overwhelmed over losing something precious to you? This coin was for a necessary Temple tax for Rhoda’s family. Sure, she had nine other coins, but this one was a special Temple Tax coin. Maybe she would have to spend more than she had budgeted for if she had to replace it? Maybe she was living in fear of what her husband or father would say if she didn’t find that coin? No one wants to be called “irresponsible,” “careless,” or “negligent,” which is what they might accuse her of if she didn’t find that coin. Do you think she might have prayed, “O Lord God, please help me find my lost coin”? What a kind neighbor to help her, suggesting what to do and where to look. Rhoda was really happy—joyful over finding her lost coin. She wanted to celebrate! Would you join her along with her family, neighbors, and friends in commemorating the event?

Look at this story again. If the “lost” thing were a person instead of a coin, how would you feel? What do you think Jesus would do in this situation? What do we learn about Jesus from this parable?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I want to see people as You do—the lost and the found. Show me where I can best serve You and rejoice over finding the lost.

Verse of Salvation ~ In that day the people will proclaim, "This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!" Isaiah 25:9

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Rejoice with Me

Meditate on something lost and something found.

Lost and Found! I lost a key. Pray.
Do you know someone who is lost?

Just like the woman in Jesus’ parables about lost and found things who lost a coin, I recently lost something… it was just a key, but a very special one. One of my granddaughters lost her glasses. Hmmm. Keep them on your face, sweetie—even if you are hot and sweaty! You don’t know how important something is until you have lost it! Now what? Pray. Jesus promised that whatever we ask for in His name, we would receive. The things that are important aren’t material things, but people.

Those whose souls are lost are like the lost coin…or the lost sheep. They can be found, but someone has to care about them…and to care enough to search for them. They need to see Jesus—who can be seen in the actions of Christians living for Jesus, as we are directed to do. Love everyone.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 2 Peter 1:3-9 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Love God. Love others. Those are the greatest commands. How does one show the greatest love to lost people? They can be “found” by learning about Jesus, His sacrifice for the sins of mankind, and His resurrection. He is God--He will provide. Hopefully, they will repent of their sin. Then let us rejoice!

What do you learn about Jesus associated with this Scripture passage today?

Prayer – Lord God, I once was lost, but now am found. Help me to find things I’ve lost—they are distracting me from the real job at hand…telling others the Good News about Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Save the lost sheep…the lost souls.

Verse of Salvation ~ But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Parts reused from June 11, 2022, 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.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Are You Like a Lost Sheep?

Sheep in Israel.
The shepherd is out looking for the lost one.

So Jesus told them this story: "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' 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 15:3-7

Meditate on sheep and The Shepherd.

Read Psalm 119, where you will find a comforting plea that David made to the Lord.

I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands. Psalm 119:176

Find me! Do you sometimes feel like a lost sheep, too? More is written by the prophet Ezekiel about lost sheep, the Israelites, God’s chosen people. God will care for His sheep. As believers, we are now part of His flock, too.

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn't search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD. ... For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. Ezekiel 34:8-9, 11-15

The Israelites are compared with sheep in the prophesies from God through Jeremiah.

My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains. They have lost their way and can't remember how to get back to the sheepfold. ... The Israelites are like sheep that have been scattered by lions. First the king of Assyria ate them up. Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon cracked their bones. Jeremiah 50:6, 17

God is pictured as the great shepherd in the well-known Psalm 23.

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Consider this parable that Jesus told in today’s focus scripture about a lost sheep and the importance of that one sheep to the shepherd. He looks until He finds it. God sees each of us as that one sheep…at some point in our lives. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. This story is repeated in Matthew.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14

Are you ever like that lost sheep? Do you need God to find you? Call out to Him. If you seek Him, you will find Him. David wisely wrote to his son, Solomon, about seeking God. I take this to heart because it is such good advice.

And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9

What do we learn about Jesus in this Scripture passage today?

Prayer – Lord, I am seeking You, while I can find You. I’m calling on You now while You are near. From Isaiah 55:6. You are my shepherd…I am following You. Lead me in Your way…everlasting. Thank You. I praise You.

Verses of Salvation ~ The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The LORD gives his people strength. He is a safe fortress for his anointed king. Save your people! Bless Israel, your special possession. Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever. Psalm 28:7-9

Portions of this are reused from June 27, 2021, 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

Friday, October 30, 2026

Moan and Groan?

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! Luke 15:1-2

Meditate on with whom you eat…and if you feel like complaining.

Moan and groan. Do those Pharisees ever say anything nice about anyone? We always read about them complaining about Jesus and His disciples. Jesus eating with sinners, healing on the Sabbath, and the disciples working by picking wheat heads to eat on the Sabbath. Were the Pharisees sinless? Hardly. Everyone sins…just as was written the prophet Jeremiah. (Underlined for emphasis.)

LORD, we confess our wickedness and that of our ancestors, too. We all have sinned against you. Jeremiah 14:20

Even before that, at the time of Samual, the Israelites recognized that they sinned against God.

Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, "If you want to return to the LORD with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the LORD and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines." So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the LORD. Then Samuel told them, "Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you." So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the LORD. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the LORD. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel's judge.) 1 Samuel 7:3-6

Only the Old Testament was written at the time of Jesus and the Pharisees knew God’s word, including these passages. We all have sinned against you. (Speaking to the Lord.) Later, Paul wrote something very similar to the church at Rome, that is included in the New Testament.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:22-24

Knowing that everyone…that means all people…have sinned against God. They knew it in Samuel’s time…and throughout Jewish history. Those tax collectors and sinners listening to Jesus teach learned that they could be forgiven, and now we know today that we are sinners, too, and can be forgiven. But do we admit it? That is the first step in recognizing Jesus as Lord. I am a sinner…all people sin. God allowed the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, to completely and forever remove our sin…as we confess it before Him. God is faithful to forgive us. Have you ever asked Him to forgive you?

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage today?

Prayer – Lord God, I know that You have forgiven me for the sins I have committed…yesterday, today, and even tomorrow. Thank you that You have cleansed my heart and made it white as snow—pure. I praise You.

Verse of Salvation ~ For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26

No swine on my plate tonight!
"Pig" created by Liberty.
Too cute to eat!

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What did Jesus eat as He ate with those tax collectors and sinners? Likely beef, since at banquets we hear that command to “kill the fatted calf” so there would be meat at the celebration. It could have been sheep or goat. It may be more noteworthy to ask what did Jesus not eat?! Jesus and other Jews did not eat pork. They were commanded by God not to eat swine.

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. "Of all the land animals, these are the ones you may use for food. ... The pig has evenly split hooves but does not chew the cud, so it is unclean. You may not eat the meat of these animals or even touch their carcasses. They are ceremonially unclean for you.” Leviticus 11:1-2, 7-8

Additionally, God was protecting His people when He commanded them not to eat of the fat of those animals. The fat was for the Lord, but also, the fat contained toxins which would be harmful to people.

The priest must present part of this offering as a special gift to the LORD. This includes all the fat around the internal organs, ... and the priest will burn them on the altar. It is a special gift of food, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. All the fat belongs to the LORD. "You must never eat any fat or blood. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation, wherever you live." Leviticus 3:14, 16-17

So—what’s on your plate today? Not fat!

Comments? Please write them below.

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, October 29, 2026

Be Salty—Provide Some Flavor to Relationships

Are you as salty as the ocean?
Pacific Ocean on the Oregon Coast.

"Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!" Luke 14:34-35

Meditate on saltiness.

Flavor. Without flavor, food just doesn’t have any appeal. The smells of food cooking—sometimes even just fresh and raw—are enticing and stimulating to our taste buds. Does your mouth water just to think about, smell, or see some appealing foods?

Jesus told his followers in His Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, Mark 9, and Luke 14, that they are the salt of the earth. In the Luke passage, it likens the flavorful salt to be even worthless for the trash. Both the focus scripture and this Matthew passage ask the same question. Can you make salt that has lost its flavor salty again?

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. Matthew 5:13

If a person spiritually loses their “flavor,” taste, or interest, how can they regain their spiritual flavor? Have they turned their back on Christianity and rejected Jesus? Jesus is teaching that people need to listen—use their ears—and understand that it is nearly impossible to get salty again—so don’t get into that position. Be flavorful to the world. Are you providing some zest, tang, piquancy to the world?

What do you learn about Jesus from this scripture today that you can apply to your relationship with Him?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, help me to give to those around me—the world—an enthusiasm that engages their spiritual appetite to want to know more about 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

Portions of this devotional are reused from November 28, 2025, 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.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

What Are You Willing To Give Up?

Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:31-33

Don't be a pig. Let go of your stuff.
Put Jesus first in your life.
Follow Him.

Meditate. What have you got to lose?

Jesus told His disciples and other followers that they had to give up everything to follow Him. Everything. Peter, James, John and Andrew gave up their fishing…fish, nets, boats, life at the Sea of Galilee…to follow Jesus when He called to them…“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19. Note that James and John even left their father, Zebedee, to follow Jesus. Do you think that they counted the cost like those kings about to go to battle? Did they stop to figure out how much income they would lose? I don’t think so. The Rabbi was calling them to come…whereas usually the disciple asks the Rabbi if he can follow. Big switch. They gave up everything…can we do the same? What do I need to “give up” to follow Jesus? What do you need to give up to follow Jesus?

What do we learn about Jesus from this Scripture passage today?

Prayer – Jesus, I hear You calling, “Follow Me….” Are you asking me to do what You asked the religious leader who came to You asking what he must do to inherit eternal life? You answered… "There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Luke 18:22. You are my treasure in heaven. Whatever it takes…I will follow You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1

Portions of today’s devotion recycled from August 10, 2017, 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.