November 30 - Looking Ahead to Pruning Time

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:1-8 

We live in wine country in the Northwest—there are 40,000 acres of vineyards with over 140 wineries here in Washington State. With that many acres of grapes there is a lot of pruning that happens in late winter, just before spring. Some of the vines die off in the winter and others are just not in the optimum growth pattern for producing lots of fruit, so the grape growers or their workers prune the vines. The growers look for the best balance between vegetative growth and fruit. The pruner selects the best vertical branch and ties it up, training it, while he removes the weaker, lateral and dead branches. Lateral branches tend to just grow leaves, not much fruit. That pruning is just what God does with us. Those that aren’t seeking Him or growing upright would be cut off from a relationship with Jesus. Once the branches are cut off they are discarded—Jesus tells us they are thrown into the fire and burned up. That would be casting them into Hell. Hmm. What do you want to be? Pruned to produce more fruit or cut off completely and sent to Hell?  

Once again—ASK! Jesus is telling His disciples to ask for whatever they want. There are at least 44 times that the word “ask” is used in the gospels (NASB version). Here are a couple of those verses. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13 Ask away—that your needs may be met and that you would be closer to Jesus—to know Him more deeply. 

Jesus is always pointing us to glorifying God. That is His aim and focus. How do we glorify God?  …and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME." - Romans 15:9 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever. Psalm 86:12 These verses tell us that we glorify God by praising Him, by giving thanks, by singing…in addition I think that we glorify Him in our obedience, by the way we live, act and speak that gives Him honor. When we study (not just read) His word, meditate on it and pray, we also glorify God.

How do you personally glorify God? 

Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. (Matthew 6:9-13) May You be glorified in all that we do, say and think—for You are worthy of all glory and honor. Amen.    

Happy Birthday  - to my Heavenly niece, Vicki—who would have been 37 years old today.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 29 – Don’t Let Your Heart Be Troubled

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. "You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.”  John 14:27-31

I was worried…and afraid. I was in labor and the doctor had just told me that I was going to have a baby girl. That was what he had guessed just a week earlier—that was in the days before ultrasounds. When he examined me during my labor, he knew I was having a girl because she was breach. Now a nurse was prepping me for a possible cesarean—a C-section—a knife slicing into my fat belly. My husband was in the waiting room but I was half a world away from my mother. Who was going to take care of the baby and me if I had to have a C-section? Certainly not my husband—he was too busy with his job. I pleaded with God to let this baby be born naturally—Oh, don’t let them slice me open. Then God gave me His peace—don’t let your heart be troubled or afraid. No Fear! It was 1975 and my husband was stationed in Okinawa. We were there just a month before our daughter was born during a typhoon—naturally without a C-section. I was able to take care of our first precious little baby—and all was well—at peace. 

God is good—all the time! That time in Okinawa I felt real fear. There were other times when we lived there that I felt real fear—like when we almost drove off of a cliff because the road just ended without any warning signs. We had to push the car back onto the road. No fear. Prayer is powerful. God is always with us—but that time I thought we might be leaving and going to the Father. He had other things for us to do—and still does. We rejoice because we know that Jesus is with the Father—and hears our prayers. We look forward to the day that He will come back to get us and we will have a banquet with Him in Heaven. In the mean time we feast on His words and know we need to tell others about Jesus. How about you? Are you sharing with others how Jesus has touched your life in ways that give you peace? Don’t let your heart be troubled—but do share your life with others. Gather them into a spiritual banquet with you. 

Dear Jesus—give us your peace. Help us help others that they can experience life without fear. No Fear! Just precious peace flowing into our hearts and out to others.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 28 – Where Did I Leave My Keys?

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:22-26 

If I could just remember…. How many times have you said that to yourself? As we get older it seems to be a phrase that is heard more often with friends and family, too. There are just so many brain synapse to connect with within our brains—and as we get older there are more memories that need to be accessed. It is truly a comforting thought that the Holy Spirit will teach us and help us remember Jesus words—I’ve experienced that. Somehow the scripture comes to life more if it can be applied to everyday situations—life today. One of our associate pastors was great at memorizing entire Psalms—and it was so beautiful and inspiring to hear him recite those Psalms. I felt like I was doing great just to remember Psalm 1 that I memorized for Confirmation Class when I was in the seventh grade. Of course I also know the 23^rd Psalm—or at least I thought I did. A few years ago I recited it…and discovered that I was leaving out a verse. There are only six verses—so leaving one out is critical. Now I can easily recall those six verses correctly. I challenge myself to say it frequently—and meditate on the meaning of the words as I say it. It has a lot to say—and is so comforting. There are so many promises from God in those six little verses. He provides for us and will never leave us.

A friend of mine is amazing with scripture memory and it is the Holy Spirit that helps her. She encourages many people to “hide God’s word in their hearts.” That is what scripture memorization is all about. I’ve had a difficult time with memorization—although I can remember birthdates and phone numbers from ages ago! Now if I could just remember where I left my keys?! 

Holy Spirit—fill me with Jesus’ words that I would not only remember them, but apply them to my life…and share them with others around me.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 27 – Keeping Commandments

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." John 14:15-21 

Keep my commandments. There are at least 14 verses that tell us to keep God’s commandments. An early one is found in Exodus 20:5-6, “You shall not worship them (idols) or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” What a promise—He will show lovingkindnesss to those who love Him and keep His commandments. Why is it so hard for us humans to do this? Our very nature allows for sin to creep in. We get our eyes off God, onto idols like money, TV, or sports heroes. We might treat our parents poorly—not honoring them as we should or we start “wanting” what someone else has—coveting their stuff. Pretty soon we’ve broken all ten of the commandments—if not actually, then just in our hearts and minds. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that to think about adultery is to commit it—that goes for each of the other nine commandments.  

I know Jesus as my savior, but I need that other Helper—the Holy Spirit to help keep me in line, focused on God’s commandments. The Holy Spirit is the one who prompts me to do right—who checks my thought life and leads me in the path of righteousness—for God’s sake. That is from Psalm 23—once again the Holy Spirit is in action helping me recall some great scripture and applying it to my life. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Psalm 23:3. Does the Holy Spirit do that for you? Have you been “filled” with the Holy Spirit? If not, ask, and you will receive. And your heart will be filled to overflowing with a peace and love that just flows out to others. Amazing and wonderful. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness—and all these things will be added to your life. Paraphrase of Matthew 6:33. 

Dear Jesus—I love you and am trying to keep Your commandments. Continue to guide me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I would have Your peace, joy , and love flowing through me to others around me.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 26 – ASK

"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14 

This is the ultimate “gimme” opportunity! Whatever! Are you sure, Lord? Whatever!?! Wait this has to be something that will glorify You. It can’t be…gimme a new Mercedes Benz or a cabin in the mountains…or a condo in Hawaii and free air travel there for the rest of my life! Those things wouldn’t glorify You. But please give saving faith to my neighbor and ease the pain in my aunt’s hip and my granddaughters’ legs. It is our human nature to want things—but to want things that give glory to God we have to think a bit. Consider what you would want Jesus to do for you. Would it bring glory and honor to Him? 

Ask away…this is the time of the year that everyone wants things for themselves and others. There are so many in need. It reminds me of when Mary poured the oil from the alabaster jar over Jesus feet and some of the disciples criticized her for it. Jesus said to leave her alone and then He said, "For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." John 12:8. We do have Jesus with us now…in the form of the Holy Spirit, living in our hearts, if we have accepted Him as our Savior. Ask away…for things that will glorify God the Father through Jesus…salvation of family and friends, help for the poor, healing for the sick and ailing, grace for each of us to live the way He wants us to, and power to overcome the evil around us. Those are things that are worthy of Him. He wants us to be specific in our prayers. As you consider what to pray for, search the scriptures and pray those scriptures back to the Lord. That alone gives Him glory. Here’s an example: Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6. And…I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake. Philemon 1:6   

Heavenly Father…You are worthy of our praise…our glory and honor. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, and for all that You have provided and done for us. Specifically I thank you for my salvation, and for the salvation of my husband, daughter, son, and their spouses. Please do touch my granddaughters’ bodies and allow them to be free of arthritis pain. Touch my aunt’s hip and give her a joyous pain free day even though it is cold and wintery today. I love you, Lord. There are so many needs…please especially grant wisdom in the hearts of our nation’s leaders. May You shower us all with Your peace, joy and love as we seek and serve You. I ask these things in Jesus precious and holy name. Amen.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 25 - An Obedient Son Prays

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” John 14:7-12 

“If you knew me…” Jesus said that to the Jews (John 8:19) and now He is saying the same thing to His disciples. You would think that after about three years together that the disciples would know who Jesus was. Knowing Jesus is knowing the Father. Like Father, Like Son. Jesus speaks what His Father tells to say. He is an obedient Son. Do you speak what pleases your father and mother? Do your children speak what you would have them say? Have you taught them to be polite and obedient? Children must be taught to be obedient—they don’t just do it on their own. One instruction in the Bible says…Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1. Also read 2 Corinthians 10 for a discussion of obedience and disobedience. It is best to consider scripture in the context it is written, rather than pulling out a verse, or part of a verse, that has a particular word or phrase in it.  

Jesus says for us to believe in Him and in the works, the miracles, that He did, we will be able to do, too. I haven’t calmed a storm, raised any lame, given sight to any blind, or raised anyone from the dead. Is my faith not strong enough—or have I just not asked? Jesus tells us in Luke 11:9 (and Matthew 7:7) "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” So, we need to ask, believing, that miracles will be done IN JESUS’ NAME. In John 14:14, Jesus said, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” We certainly cannot do them on our own.  

Last July when it was hot I was watching my three year old grandson play in his backyard. I had just given him a drink of water and he was standing on the back porch. He looked up at the sky and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Give us some wind!” I asked him if he was praying to God and he nodded. So I said, “You can whisper and Jesus can hear you.” So he whispered, “Please, Jesus, give us some wind.” I didn’t want him to be disappointed if God didn’t answer his prayer, so I said, “Isaac, sometimes we don’t always get a quick answer from God—He hears us, but He may not want to answer our prayer right away—He has lots of prayers to answer.” Well, I no sooner had stopped speaking than we could see the leaves in the trees in the neighbor’s yard moving gently—and then right over the fence came the breeze, rustling the leaves on the trees in Isaac’s yard. Oh my—that kid has the power of prayer! I turned to him and said, “Well, Isaac, what do you say to Jesus?” He just nodded and said, “Thank-you Jesus.” And then he went on playing, refreshed by the gentle breeze that was cooling him off a bit. 

Ask and you will receive. Believe with the faith like a child.

Thank You Jesus for hearing our prayers. We believe in You.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 24 - The Reason for the Season

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:5-6 

The Way. The Truth. The Life.

Truth be told Jesus is the only way to Heaven—to eternal life on the positive side of things. Jesus is our Way. Our way to eternal life. Our way to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, as listed in Galatians 5:22-23. 

Jesus is the truth—the epitome of honesty. He never told a lie. He offers us truth. He offers us life—with Him, eternally. 

Peace is special at this time of the year. Peace in the world and peace in our hearts. This is the season of unmet expectations—may God give you the grace to look past disappointments and keep your eyes on Jesus—the reason for the season that begins right after Thanksgiving—the Christmas Season. Jesus came to show us The Way, The Truth, and The Life. To share Himself with the world.  

Thank you Jesus for opening our eyes to see You for You are The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 23 - A Mansion in the Sky for You

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going."

John 14:1-4

 

A mansion in the sky just for you. Some translations of the Bible translate this passage as “dwelling places”, others translate it as mansion…or as many rooms. At any rate Jesus has gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us…so that we can go to where He is. I love this passage—I blogged it May 30^th. Jesus promised that He would prepare a place for us. In the Hebrew custom, when a couple became engaged, the bridegroom would add a room onto his father’s home. Their marriage would not happen until the father said that the dwelling place was ready for the new couple. It couldn’t just be thrown together. It had to be well constructed and approved by the father. He was like the building inspector—no shabby construction project on his family home. When everything was in order the father would send for the bride from her father’s home and for the wedding guests. When they arrived at the bridegroom’s home, a weeklong marriage party would begin. A feast with the groom and bride.

 

All we can be assured of is that when the time is right, when our new home is ready, God the Father will send His Son to get us (the bride—His church) and take us there to His heavenly home. Then we will have a feast at the King’s Banquet Table with the King of Kings providing a bountiful meal fit for His bride. No Thanksgiving leftovers for this feast. Spiritually we can feast on the King’s word everyday—and it is as great a banquet as we could ever want to feast upon. We just have to open our Bibles, read, and open our hearts and minds to a real communion with God. Focus on Him. Don’t have anxiety or let yourself be upset, troubled. God can give you His peace and a home in Heaven, just for you. How good can that be?

 

I dream about that room or mansion that Jesus is preparing for me. How about you…is a mansion in the sky in your dreams?

 

Dear Jesus—I put my trust in you so that my heart is not troubled. I believe in You—and in God the Father. I am so excited that You are preparing a “home” for me in Heaven—what is it like? Wood floors or plush carpet? Can You have the walls painted a nice mocha color—or will they all be brilliant, pure white—or like a rainbow, changing throughout the day? There are so many possibilities—and You are so creative. I trust that whatever my new home is going to be, it will be perfect.  

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 22 - A Rooster for Thanksgiving?

Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later." Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.” John 13:31-38

 

Another denial of Christ? You’d not expect Peter to be one to deny Jesus—but Jesus predicted that he would and he did. That was before he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Have you ever denied Jesus? Think about it. If you don’t stand up for Jesus or Christian values are you denying Jesus? Jesus made an earlier statement that addressed that, “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:33.

 

Love God, love one another. Likewise if we love Jesus, love God, then we will love one another—and following Jesus’ teachings…Love our enemies from Luke 6:31-33. "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” These red letter words of Jesus’ are a good thing to think about—to meditate on this day that we pause to remember our grateful we are for the freedom and prosperity of our nation. So on this Thanksgiving Day, for what are you thankful? What do you love? Who do you love?

 

Dear Jesus- Thank you for the privilege of living here in the United State, and more importantly thank you for all that You have done for me…and for all of mankind. May more people seek You, live by Your commandments and love one another.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone - Happy Birthday, Barry!

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 21 – Betrayal?

When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking." He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus then answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, "Buy the things we have need of for the feast"; or else, that he should give something to the poor. So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. John 13:21-30  

One of you will betray me—do it quickly. Imagine how Jesus must have felt. He knew that Judas was going to betray Him…and now the time had come. They were in the midst of the last supper—dipping the bread. Now we take Communion, in memory of Jesus and His Last Supper, as described in 1 Corinthians 11.

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. - 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

We remember that He sacrificed His life for our spiritual souls. He gave His body and His blood. Take care when you take communion that you consider your relationship with Jesus, and with your fellowman. To not be “right” with Jesus when taking communion, we betray Him. Teach that to your children—teach them well. Relationships are what life is all about.   

Jesus—Thank You for being willing to die for us, Lord. As we remember You, we humbly acknowledge that we don’t meet your standards. Forgive us. Renew us.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 20 – Receiving

"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.' From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." John 13:16-20  

A slave or servant—that is us—is not greater than his Master—that is Jesus. Did Judas see himself as more important than Jesus? He was the one Jesus was referring to as lifting his heal against Him (Psalm 41:9). Judas was willing to betray Jesus—to be paid money to lead the Roman soldiers to take Him prisoner. Judas was greedy. Pure and simple greedy. Greed is an ugly thing. It is a selfish attitude. This is just the opposite of what Jesus had just spent almost three years teaching. Put others first; love your enemies; love your neighbor as yourself. None of those teachings of Jesus say to put yourself and your interests ahead of others. That would be selfish, greedy. 

So Jesus goes on to encourage His chosen ones, His disciples—as well as ministers and missionaries now—that those who receive, welcome or accept them, accept Jesus and thus the Heavenly Father, too. What a comforting thought for that means those people will have the eternal life that Jesus taught about earlier. Life forever with Jesus and His Father…our Father. Personally, I welcome even just the thought of that—eternity in Heaven. It is beyond what I can truly grasp—but I know that it will be a goodness beyond my imagination and I long to be in Heaven—forever—with other believers and with Jesus, feasting at His table. Revelation 7:16 tells us that…they (those who come to know Jesus during the Tribulation) will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore…. This tells us that some people are going to suffer with great hunger and thirst during the Tribulation—but once they get to Heaven, no more hunger and thirst. God will be generous and merciful—no one in Heaven will ever be hungry or thirsty. 

Jesus—Thank You that You provide food for everyone in Heaven. Since You have so generously provided for us, please provide for those who are hungry, spiritually and physically, during this holiday season.

 

Happy Birthday, Sylvia!

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

November 19 – Wash One Another’s Feet

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter." Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean." So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." - John 13:1-15 

I gave you an example. Jesus whole life was an example…but here He was being a servant. Just think how dirty the disciples’ feet may have been. They wore sandals and the roads were dusty, not paved streets. Grimy feet. Jesus knelt before each one of them washing their crusty dusty feet and drying them with the towel he had wrapped around Himself. Having your respected teacher and Lord wash your feet was a humbling experience. Do you think Jesus visited with them while He washed their feet? “So how’s your day going…Matthew? How’s that ingrown toenail, Bartholomew?” With the possibility of humiliation you can see why Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus explained that to be part of Him—to be part of His group—His extended family…one must allow themselves to be washed. To be washed by His blood in forgiveness—to be buried with Him, as in baptism. But those teachings were yet to come. 

Now Jesus knew that one of His disciples was going to betray Him...and He knew just who it was. But it was necessary for this betrayal to happen for Him to make His way to the cross, to provide for the sacrifice of the sins of mankind. Part of His Father’s plan, that He must humble Himself obediently to be this sacrifice. One man to die for all.

Jesus said we should be servants to others. What are you doing today to be a servant? It is easiest to do things for ourselves…then for our family…and friends. That is a good place to start. Then we can reach out and help others in our neighborhood, community, and then into all the world. Sound familiar? Jesus commanded us to make disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20.  It is easy to find ways to serve others at this holiday time of the year when there are lots of needs and baskets to fill. Consider local needs and opportunities to give. Adopt a family for Thanksgiving or Christmas through a local service agency. Provide a gift at a Giving Tree. Donate food to a local food pantry. Volunteer at community food banks, crises center, or at building projects (Habitat for Humanity). How can you be a servant to others? 

Dear Jesus—help us to be like You—to have a servant heart and attitude.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).