Acceptance and Obedience

Memory Verse this week…

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." John 14:21

Acceptance and obedience. Those are two really important concepts that Jesus was teaching His disciples right after their last supper together. This was not the first time He had stressed accepting and obeying His commandments. It is an important concept in the Old Testament, too. There are promises, like wisdom, love and eternal life, linked to obeying God’s commandments.

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! Psalm 111:10

You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the LORD. Leviticus 22:31

I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, you are a great and awesome God!" Daniel 9:4

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young." Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. "There is still one thing you haven't done," he told him. "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Mark 10:17-21

Obedience to God’s commandments made Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist, righteous in God’s eyes. There must have been a high level of obedience in that whole family since Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were cousins. You can imagine the love surrounding them.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. Luke 1:6

No matter where you are from...or where you are going...
Love God and obey His commandments.
Signpost in Israel

Being obedient to God’s commands is as important today as it was during Old and New Testament biblical times. It is something we cannot ignore today.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 1 John 2:3-4

Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. 1 John 3:24

Relationships…with God the Father, Jesus Christ our Savior and the Holy Spirit…are so important. That is what knowing God is all about. Relationship. To know Him is to love Him…and to be loved by Him. There is no greater thing in the world than the love of God. I know I am loved by God. It is that acceptance by Him that makes me want to be obedient to His commandments—to His will and His ways.

Do you know and love the Lord?

Prayer ~ Jesus, I accept Your commandments and obey them because I love You. And because I love You, I know that our Father will love me…and everyone who is obedient to Your commandments. Please continue to reveal Yourself to each of us.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 102-104

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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

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An Unexpected Thief

Memory Verse this week…

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." John 14:21 NLT

Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Matthew 24:43-44

A blue door in Israel to ward off evil.
Will it keep the thieves away?

Thieves are never expected. It isn’t like they are invited over. One of my brothers’ home has been broken into several times. He has a great security system now…and since he is retired he is home more often so he has been there to prevent intruders. A couple of times people have come to his door supposedly looking for someone else—but they were really “casing the joint” to see if anyone was home. They didn’t send their colleagues in to do their “snatch and go” since someone was there…they just went on to another unsuspecting, empty home. Empty. No one home. Is your heart that way? Empty? Are you ready for Christ to return? This scripture passage tells us the Son of Man…Jesus…will come when least expected.  Will He find your heart empty of His love and grace? Who is Jesus to you?

Jesus is the Son of God…He is God incarnate. He said… "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. Believe in Jesus. He came to give His life for the salvation of all mankind.  Do you believe? Are you ready?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus—You are pure, honest, righteous, forgiving and sinless. Only You can be the Messiah—the Savior—for all mankind. Only a pure Savior could be the sacrifice for man. Thank You for being our Messiah—our Savior.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 7-10

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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Obedience is the Key

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." John 14:21 NLT

Jesus taught His disciples and followers about the importance of obedience through parables.

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. ... The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" Mark 4:10, 14-20

Have you ever considered God's Words like seeds? I see God as the farmer—the main owner of the farm—who gives his hired hands the seeds to plant. Those workers—Christians like you and me—are sprinkling—sowing—God’s Words in people's hearts.

Some is carelessly thrown onto a busy path--where people are too busy with earthly things and activities to let God's Word really grow in their hearts and lives. Satan keeps them distracted from really living their lives for Christ. There is no place for the word of God to take root and grow in their hearts.

Rocky soil--The people hearing God's Word during those times see hope--and are even joyful--but they aren't grounded in faith--they aren't seeking God with their whole heart. When they have problems they don't keep trusting God for very long.

Thorns--times of turmoil and traumatic situations and worldly desires keep the hearts of these people from growing in the Lord--fruitless.

Good soil--the hearts of those who listen and obey God's Word. They grow in God's love and grace--and share the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Many people come to know, love and grow in the Lord because of the encouragement of these people who listen and obey God. 

                           

The key is obedience. 

The focus in each case is the hearts of the people. Obedience is the key.

In the Old Testament Hosea prophesied about the harvest in relation to the hearts of the people.

I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.'  Hosea 10:12

How is your heart? Have seeds of righteousness been planted there and are you planting good seeds from God's word--His righteousness--in the hearts of others? Are you being obedient?

Prayer – Jesus—The time will come for the harvest as John wrote about in Revelation. Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, "Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe." Revelation 14:15. May the harvest be great and give glory to the Lord God Almighty.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 81, 88, 92-93

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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The Sabbath was Made to Meet the Needs of the People

Memory Verse this week…

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

A time to plant...and a time to harvest.

One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grain fields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, "Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?" Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions." Then Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"  Mark 2:23-28

Here are a couple of harvest scriptures from the Old Testament:

When you enter your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not carry any away in a basket. And when you enter your neighbor's field of grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not harvest it with a sickle. Deuteronomy 23:24-25

I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.' Hosea 10:12

We see other times of harvesting barley and wheat in the book of Ruth. Harvest is important—both of grain and of men. Jesus is Lord of the Harvest. One day He will come with angels of Heaven and “harvest” those who believe in Him. Remember He told His disciples…

"The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields." Matthew 9:37-38

Harvest is important. Send more workers. Workers work…even on the Sabbath.  Would that upset the Pharisee? The Sabbath was made for the people. Let them eat as needed—whether it is in the field…or around the table. Food is necessary. Food for our physical bodies and food for our spiritual souls. Are you hungry?

Prayer ~ Jesus…Give us this day our daily bread. Plant seeds of righteousness in my heart that You would harvest a crop of love.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 6

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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Anguish or Adoration?

Memory Verse this week…

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. Matthew 24:29-31

Look at the clouds of Heaven.
Watch for Christ's return.

Anguish…some translations give that word as “tribulation” –but whatever it will not be a pleasant time. Jesus was speaking to His disciples when they asked Him about the end of the age. Matthew Henry gives us insight in his commentaries that this is Jesus’ Second Coming on the clouds of heaven. He indicates that the sun, moon and stars could represent the Temple, Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. Look at the passage… And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Jesus will have great power—not little baby in a manger dependency. He will be in control with commanding authority.

There is always so much variation in prophesy. Be careful to whom you listen for advice—it is best to just trust the Lord and wait for it to happen. Listen for that blast of the trumpet…the mournful sound of the shofar. Jesus will ultimately be gathering His chosen ones from all over the world. That will be truly exciting for those who will see Him face to face and adore Him in person! The people who are left on earth after that point will be in deep mourning because they didn’t choose to follow Jesus—to believe in Him as their Savior.

Where do you stand with the Lord? Do you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for your sins, the risen Savior? If those are not your beliefs, then you may want to do some more searching of the Scriptures. Pray for wisdom and understanding.

Prayer ~ Open the eyes of those who do not know You as Lord that they would totally see You as their risen Savior…the one sacrificed for their own sins. I serve and honor You as my risen Savior. Help me to be ready to see You face to face one day when You gather Your chosen one to You.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 73, 77-78

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

We recently had a wonderful bread dipping oil with pesto at a local restaurant. It was a great quality extra virgin olive oil with pesto. Try it for yourself at home with the recipe below.

Prepare about 1/4 cup fresh pesto (or use purchased pesto) using chopped fresh basil, parsley, garlic, thyme, oregano, black pepper, rosemary, fresh ground salt and pepper, red pepper, and lemon juice in a bowl.

Add:  

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil.

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Serve with sliced baguette bread. Enjoy before or during your meal.

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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

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I AM With You Always, Even to the End of the Age

Memory Verse this week…

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

A Promise is a Promise.

God has told us over and over that He is with us and will never leave us…or forsake us.

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors. Deuteronomy 4:31 NLT

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:5

Then David continued, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly. 1 Chronicles 28:20

The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession. Psalm 94:14

When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. Isaiah 41:17

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU." Hebrews 13:5 NASB

The God of Israel is the God of the Christians. He is my God—my Lord, my Messiah, my Redeemer and Savior. Here again at the end of the book of Matthew, after His resurrection Jesus is repeating that promise. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Likewise, we need to not forsake the Lord. David shared this with his son Solomon.

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

I don’t ever want to be rejected, forsaken, or abandoned by God. Do you? Claim Jesus as your God, your Savior, your Redeemer and your Messiah…and He will be with you always, even to the end of the age. Forever.

Prayer ~ Thank You for Your promise that You will never leave us or forsake us.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3-5

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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No One Know—Except the Father

Memory Verse this week…

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

No hands...no hour or day.
Who knows? Only God the Father.

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. Matthew 24:36-39

Will you be swept away or gathered up? Swept away in your own tears for not yielding to the love of Jesus…for not submitting yourself to putting Jesus first in your life? Or gathered up into the arms of our sweet Jesus—in the air? Will that be like birds flying—or floating upwards like bubbles? Only God knows the hour or the day…but Jesus has warned to watch for signs and to be ready. What does it mean to “be ready?” Are your bags packed? Ridiculous. We won’t need to take anything with us to heaven? Jesus told the people of Judea not to turn back…not to go back to get their coats. So if you are prayed up, served well, and shared about the Kingdom of God at every opportunity…then what else can you do?

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 

Watch and wait—with no anxiety…just peace. God will do the rest.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 NASB

…May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:2-5 NASB

Prayer ~ Lord God, we don’t know the hour or the day…although some people try to calculate it from scripture. It is hidden. Help me to trust You…in Your mercy and wisdom…that I would be protected by Your power for salvation in Jesus Christ. No anxiety.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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Would You Recognize Jesus If You Saw Him?

Memory Verse this week…

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, "Stay the night with us, since it is getting late." So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! Luke 24:28-31 

Cast your net on the other side of the boat.
Sea of Galilee, Israel

Jesus blessed the bread…just like at the Last Supper, then He disappeared. His resurrected body is very unusual—and He was not always recognized. He appeared to the women at the tomb…but they didn’t recognize Him, nor did the people on the road to Emmaus. Twice without unlocking or opening a door Jesus entered the Upper Room where the disciples were gathered. They were overjoyed when they saw that it was Jesus—and He proved who He was by showing them His hands and His side (John 20). At the Sea of Galilee Jesus met Peter, Thomas, James, John, Nathanael and two other disciples who had been fishing all night, but had not caught anything. He told them to cast their net over the right side of their boat. They did as Jesus said and caught 153 large fish. These disciples then ate breakfast that Jesus had fixed—and they did not question who He was (John 21). They must have recognized Him…at least in this account John did know who He was and told Peter, who immediately swam to shore. Would you know Jesus if you saw Him?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I think I would know You if I saw You. Like the man who asked You to heal his daughter… "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24. Help me to recognize You in the actions and words of others…and help others to see You in me.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 1-2

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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START HERE – You Are a New Person

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

In Context:

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

We just experienced Resurrection Sunday yesterday…better known as Easter Sunday. Easter is really a pagan holiday and the holiday that Christians celebrate is Resurrection Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The beginning of His new life…and our new life.

Resurrection Sunday

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day." Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. Luke 24:1-9   

Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? Are you looking for someone who is dead or alive? Jesus is alive…and because He is ALIVE, one day anyone who believes in Him will also be alive forever! Eternally alive.  Believe. Are you looking for Him?  David gave this advice to his son, Solomon.

As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9 NASB

Seek God in His Word...the Bible.
Be like a workman....separating the words to understand them.

The same advice is good for us. Seek God…serve Him with your entire heart and mind. If you turn your back on Him…He will reject you. No one wants to be rejected...left behind…or unloved. Even God must be loved…as commanded through Moses and then later described in the story of the Good Samaritan. 

These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the LORD your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Deuteronomy 6:1-6

The man answered, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27

There is no other thing that is more important in life than to love God. Do you love Him and seek Him with all your heart? Are you in Christ…and becoming a new person? Have your old habits passed away?  

Prayer ~ Jesus Christ, You are my Savior and I seek You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I am a new person since I got to know You…my old ways have changed and new habits and attitudes are forming. Thank You for being my Lord and Savior.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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

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Did You Come to Serve or Be Served?

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

Read the verse in context:

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do us a favor." "What is your request?" he asked. They replied, "When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left." But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" Then Jesus told them, "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen." When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:35-45

The Empty Tomb
Jerusalem, Israel

He is Risen…He is Risen Indeed! The tomb in which they laid Him is empty.

Our Savior is Alive! Unlike other religious leaders like Buddha and Mohammad, Jesus rose from the dead. He is alive even today, seated at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. Our Savior…the Servant. Our Savior…the Savior of the World. Our Savior…the King of Kings. Will you believe? Will you worship Him?

Prayer ~ Thank You Jesus that we can believe without seeing. Thank You for granting us such faith…and for dying for our sins.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 1-4

Joyous Resurrection Sunday

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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

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Debate Work

Memory Verse of the Week ~

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58

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

For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. Exodus 31:15 NASB

Is healing “work” or would it be evil NOT to heal that poor man’s hand? Jesus was asking those Pharisees some good questions.

"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?"

Synagogue at Capernaum

Do you suppose that those very questions had already been debated among the Rabbis in an oral tradition of the Talmud? Jewish Rabbis have long debated legal issues—the Law given to Moses. According to Wikipedia (the great encyclopedia of the Internet) the Talmud was an oral tradition until after the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. So in Jesus’ time we can assume the Rabbis just debated and passed on judgments of law issues orally. Likely those Rabbis were among the Pharisees confronting Jesus in the synagogue there in Capernaum. It seems to me that those Rabbis were the evil ones…confronting Jesus and wanting to allow that man to continue his life with a handicapped hand. They knew that Jesus could heal him…but they were just looking for a way to trap Jesus with their religious traditions and standards. Were they jealous of His power? Why did they want to kill Him?

Jesus did what was right…He did His Father’s will—healing and preaching. He did what He came to do just as He told John’s disciples.

Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen-- the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'" Matthew 11:4-6

Good or Evil? What do you think? Is it wrong to help others on the Sabbath? Do you even keep a Sabbath? Is it Saturday or Sunday? What “work” do you do on that day? I personally struggle with observing a particular Sabbath day even though I  know that keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments.

But the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Exodus 20:10-11

Rest in God’s word and follow His will. Respect God and be obedient to what He expects of us—from the Old and New Testament scriptures.

-          And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. - Deuteronomy 6:5

-          Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18

-          And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." Mark 12:30-31

I think that by healing the deformed hand Jesus was  loving His neighbor as Himself. Was that good or evil? Love God and my neighbor…that is the best that I can strive to do. How about you?

Prayer ~ Jesus, I’m sorry that the Pharisee were so rude and hateful to You, but it seems they were part of God’s plan to send You to the cross. May I never forsake You…or be ashamed of You for You are worthy of my love, adoration and respect.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 121, 123-125, 128-130

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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

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Happy 11^th Birthday, Amelia

Love & Prayers…today and always

Passover Begins

Memory Verse of the Week ~

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58

This is my body...this is my blood.

Passover 2019 Begins

"As you go into the city," he (Jesus) told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'" So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there. ... As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it, for this is my body." And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:18-19, 26-30

In the Passover Seder there are four cups of wine, or juice, blessed and drank together with those at the celebration. There is a time where there are three pieces of unleavened bread put in a special bag with three sections, representing the Holy Trinity to Messianic Jews. During the Seder the matzoh in the center section of that bag, symbolizing Jesus Christ, is broken and hidden away in another part of the home. Then later after the meal the children go look for that bread wrapped in a linen cloth. It is brought back, thus resurrected, to the family table—and the child who found it is given a reward. Everyone at the table is given a small piece of that unleavened bread—that has been pierced, broken, buried, and resurrected—like Jesus—and just as Jesus blessed the unleavened bread during the Last Supper, this matzoh is blessed and eaten together with the third cup of wine (or grape juice). This is the same part of the Passover Meal in which Jesus instituted what we call Communion. He spoke of the bread as His body…broken for us, and the cup as His blood shed for us for the remission of sin.

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me." After supper he took another cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you." Luke 22:19-20   

Do this to remember me. That is what Jesus said…and this time of the Passover is the ideal time to focus on His sacrifice, His love, His promise to us and on the hope that He provides for our redemption in the future. Do you trust Jesus to keep His promise? Do you trust Him with your life—your eternal life?

 Prayer ~ Father, I thank you for giving us Your Son, Jesus Christ, to give His life for us—hanging there on the Cross. A sacrifice once for all. I trust Jesus with my eternal life and willingly and humbly take up my cross to follow Him. May all that I think, say and do bring glory and honor to Jesus…and to You.

  

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 28-31, Psalm 18

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

One of the elements of the Passover Meal is Charoset—an apple and walnut mixture that represents the mortar that held together the bricks the Israelite slaves made during their captivity in Egypt. It is a tasty mixture that is eaten with matzoh and horseradish sauce.

Charoset

2 crisp apples (1 sweet such as Gala and 1 tart such as Granny Smith), cored and finely chopped

1/2 cup walnuts, heat for a few minutes to take away the natural bitterness, then cool and chop finely

1/2 cup raisins (Optional.This is a Turkish addition to the dish.)

½ cup fresh orange juice

2 tsp honey

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1/2 tsp cinnamon, or to taste

 Dash of kosher salt, if desired

Combine the chopped nuts, apples, raisins and orange juice. Then stir in the honey, lemon zest, cinnamon, and salt. Cover and let sit for at least 4 hours. Serves 8-10.

Serve with matzo bread during the Seder and enjoy it during the meal, if desired.

© 2019 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

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

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

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