Banquet With The King

Daily Devotional focusing on spiritual "food" at the King's Banquet Table. In 2024 this blog will explore verses to meditate on as we examine our "choices" daily, pursuing a deeper relationship with God as we grow in Christian maturity. This web page has had over 230,000 page views by people in over 135 different countries who are seeking God through His Word. God has promised if you seek Him, you will find Him. May you be blessed reading Banquet With The King.

Monday, August 31, 2020

Is The Light of the World in You?

Think about this key verse in the Bible. Meditate on it today…all day.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. John 3:16-21

Is The Light of the World in You?

God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…. This is a classic cornerstone of the whole Bible. God loved. Keep reading. Those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but will have everlasting life…and the wonderful thing is there is no judgement against those who believe in Jesus. NO JUDGMENT. Did you get that? No judgment. God sent His Son as light into the world. Love Jesus…love light. Come to the light and do what God wants you to do. Others see that and will be drawn to the light…to Jesus, too. Is the light of the world in you?

I’m intrigued by the part of this scripture that says…All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. They hate the light!?! Their sins will be exposed just like energy rays of x-rays show bones in the body. Those who prefer darkness to light are those who don’t believe and will be judged—in fact they have already been judged. It has been decided where they will spend eternity and it won’t be with Jesus. Why should they be there if they don’t love Him or believe in Him as their Savior and Lord? Heaven will be a wonderful place, as a once popular children’s song says…Heaven is a Wonderful Place. Google it and check out the catchy words for yourself.

It is hard to understand WHY people choose the devil and his mocking of God’s will for our lives as they do evil things, especially when they know that they are sinning. It is not surprising that they don’t want their sin exposed. They are slinking around in the darkness trying to hide their malicious actions. Most criminal activities take place at night. That is why good people stay home at night—avoiding evil. God wants us to do what is right and good, but He allows us to make our own choices. It is part of life. We are not puppets. We don’t have to choose evil—but those who do will be judged for their actions. God sees everything.

Prayer ~ Lord God, Thank You for Your promise that those who love Jesus will not be judged. It is wonderful to have the revelation that Jesus is the light of the world and those who do what is right come to Him and are doing what You want. May more people come to know Jesus as their Savior…day by day…while there is still time.

Verses of Salvation ~ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13 CSB

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

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Sunday, August 30, 2020

False gods?

Meditate. Consider the final plague for the Egyptians to release the Israelites.

On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! Exodus 12:12

Who does God judge? Anyone He wants to judge. He is God. In these verses He is declaring that He will judge the gods of Egypt. Remember they were idol worshippers. This was the final plague that God sent on Egypt to punish them and forcing them to let the Hebrew people go.

How do you honor God?
Without the sun there is no time.
Do you have time for the Son in your life?

Do we have false gods in our lives? Some might argue that our idols are linked to our sources of entertainment, as well as the people involved in creating that entertainment—like TV, sporting events, movies and even novels. If they prevent us from honoring God…or are a substitute for God, then yes, we do have idols. What should we do about that? My best guess is to repent. We are told over and over in the Bible…repent. That means to do a turn around and head the other direction as we change our ways and let go of our “sin” or whatever we were thinking, saying, or doing that might offend the Lord. Will God execute judgment against all our false gods?

Prayer ~ May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Verse of Salvation ~ Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures foever. And say,: “Save us, god of our salvation; gather us and rescue us from the nations so that we may give thanks to your holy name and rejoice in your praise. 1 Chronicles 16:33-35 CSB

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Saturday, August 29, 2020

Judgment in Plagues

Meditate.

Therefore, say to the people of Israel: 'I am the LORD. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. Exodus 6:6

A few months ago our Bible Study Group read a verse that got us thinking about judgment. Who has to go through judgment? Are there different times and forms of judgment? Who does the judging? In the next couple of week we are going to look at “judgment” and see what God has to say to us.

Consider this scripture today. God was speaking to Moses giving him instructions for the Hebrew people as they were slaves in Egypt and God was preparing to set them free. These were His chosen people and He had a plan to take that nation back to His Promised Land. He is going to pronounce judgment on Egypt—great acts of judgment—in order to convince Pharaoh to set them free. God is all powerful. He could have just snatched them from Egypt and established them in Israel—but He doesn’t work that way. There were lessons to be learned and opportunities for the Hebrew people and the Egyptians to learn about God, His power and His protection. What a great promise for that nation of Israel! God had made a covenant with Abraham and now He was fulfilling it by taking His people back to the land He had given to Abraham. One way to demonstrate His power was to cast ten plagues on the Egyptians, beginning with turning the water of the Nile River into blood. Can you name the ten plagues that God sent on the Egyptians? It is a good challenge for your kiddos or grandkids to learn and recite the plagues. Read about them in Exodus 12. Those plagues were:

Blood
Frogs
Lice
Flies
Pestilence
Boils
Hail
Locusts
Darkness
Death of the Firstborn
In His mercy God spared the Israelites from the first nine plagues. Then the tenth plague struck all the land of Egypt, as well as the Israelites. But once again God spared them by creating the Passover, allowing the angel of death to Passover those who had the lamb’s blood on their doorposts. To this day Jews celebrate the Passover on the first month of the year at twilight on the fourteenth day of the month. That day is not in what we know as January, but in month of Nisan, beginning the Jewish New Year, which is about four months later and is marked by the moons so it doesn’t always fall on the same day.

Think about how God knows everything you do. There is a coming judgment. Are you concerned enough about that judgment to make choices today that are pleasing to God so that you are on His good side—so that He will give you a way of escape, rescuing you from eternity in hell?

Prayer ~ Lord, just as You rescued the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt, rescue us from the things that enslave us…attitudes, prejudices, covetousness, poverty, an overabundance of stuff, waywardness, jealousy, physical illness, mental illness, self-centeredness or whatever takes our eyes off You. You put a judgment on the Egyptians for their treatment of the Israelites—should we expect anything less today? By Your grace and mercy give us wisdom and understanding that we would prepare our hearts and minds to be pleasing to You in all that we think, say and do.

Verse of Salvation ~ With your faithful love, you will lead the people you have redeemed; you will guide them to your holy dwelling with your strength. Exodus 15:13 CSB

Lego creation by Isaac Hunacek.
Pharaoh's army starting into the Red Sea. following the Israelites.
Soon it will be Glub-glub for them.

Moses and the Israelites sang this verse as part of a song of praise to the Lord after they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground and He saved them from Pharaoh’s army.

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Friday, August 28, 2020

What Fruit Comes from the Tree of Life?

Meditate.

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7

Through the Apostle John Jesus is telling the people at the church of Ephesus and all Christians throughout time to listen up. Here what the Holy Spirit is saying. Remember that Jesus said the Father would send the Holy Spirit to help us recall who Jesus is, what He taught and what He did.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit), whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26 KJV (King James Version, KJV, is in the public domain.)

But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. John 15:26

The victorious ones are those who believe—all believers. Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the risen Christ, the one who came to save you and me from our sins? I do. That Tree of Life in the Paradise of God gives those who believe—the victorious ones—fruit that will allow them to live forever.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, Thank You once again for Your love and sacrificial obedience to our Heavenly Father. I am listening to the Holy Spirit. Please give me wisdom and understanding that I may apply Your words to my life.

Verse of Salvation ~ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19 KJV

That one man was Adam—disobeying God in the Garden of Eden. The obedient one was Jesus Christ who obediently went to the cross, dying there for everyone’s sins so that they could be made right with God…righteous.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

God told Adam that he should not eat of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17) that stood in the middle of the Garden of Eden. What do you think the fruit was that Adam and Eve were tempted by and ate (Genesis 3:3)? It is often depicted as an apple, although I’ve heard it suggested that it was a pomegranate or even a fig. They did make themselves garments of fig leaves to hide their nakedness. Apple and pomegranate leaves are pretty small from which to make coverings. They would have been sewing for hours!

So if it was a fig tree that gave the Knowledge of Good and Evil, what type of fruit tree will the Tree of Life be? Revelation 22:2 gives us an interesting clue.

Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leave of the tree are for healing the nation, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of god and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will worship him. Revelation 22:1-3 CSB

Twelve fruits. Those will be interesting trees if all the fruits grow on the same tree. With God all things are possible. So each month there will be another fruit from the Tree of Life. Life giving fruit. What a bountiful harvest—and will that be part of the Banquet that we will have with the King?

Consider all the fruits that are ripening now. Are there twelve that grow on trees? Of course melons grow on a vine and blueberries on a bush, so we can’t count those. Within each type of fruit there are infinite varieties available. Although not all are in the harvesting state right now, some of the fruits that come to my mind are the usual apples, oranges, bananas, mangos, figs, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, pomegranates, dates, and cherries. That’s twelve different ones and we haven’t even considered the crosses like pluots. What is your favorite fruit? Do you prefer it fresh, raw and alone or combined in a fruit salad? Or do you prefer your fruit roasted, or baked into a pie or cobbler? We are so blessed by God to have so many fruits available to us. Enjoy some fresh fruit today and Thank God for the abundance that He provides.

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Thursday, August 27, 2020

Does God Live in You?

Meditate.

All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 1 John 4:15

What does it look like to have God live in you?
A butterfly signifies New Life.
May your life be renewed and refreshed in God's love.

Does God live in you? It is your choice. He doesn’t push His way into our lives. We have been given the information about Jesus, about God, and even about the Holy Spirit. Now it is up to us. Choose wisely. The location of your life for an eternity depends on your choice.

Prayer ~ Lord, just as Joshua said…I choose You. “But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15. Thank you for being my Lord and Savior.

Verse of Salvation ~ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

That “eternity in the human heart” will be salvation to those who believe. Can you believe in Jesus as your Savior. Even though He was sinless, Jesus took the punishment of the cross for your sins…and for my sins.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Confess Your Sin and Have Hope

Meditate today as you walk.

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Can we hide any sin? Certainly not from God. He sees, hears and knows everything! We might feel like we can “hide” mistakes or sins from others with whom we associate…family or friends. When was the last time that you broke one of the Ten Commandments? Did you covet something that is not yours? That is still one of the big Ten. That is probably one of my biggies. There is not much that I “want” in life—in fact I’d like to get rid of stuff! I’d just like to have less and have it organized. That is probably what I covet most…organization and a simplified life. So now I’m not “concealing” this sin. You all have heard or read my confession. Will God be merciful to me for that? I can only hope.

Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, "I am slipping!" but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:17-19

The Lord gives me hope. How about you?

The Holy Spirit gives us Hope,
living in us to remind us of Jesus' teaching.
Helping us to obey His commandments.

Prayer ~ I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Verses of Salvation ~ Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Psalm 79:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9

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Tuesday, August 25, 2020

What Did Your Tongue Just Say?

Meditate. Consider the words you speak.

If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. James 1:26

When I was hiking recently I stopped to adjust the tongue of my shoe. Then I thought about the tongue in my mouth. Did it need “adjusting” too? How about a spiritual adjustment? What we say can have such an impact for good or bad on the person with whom we are speaking. Have you said anything lately that you just wish you hadn’t said? Sometimes it is more the way it is said than the actual words that are expressed. My husband is a bit hard of hearing and sometimes I feel like I am yelling at him—and the words just seem harsh at a higher volume. There are many verses dealing with the tongue. Here are just a few.

A psalm of David. I said to myself, "I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me." Psalm 39:1

Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. Proverbs 13:3

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21

Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble. Proverbs 21:23

For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.'" Romans 14:11

For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 1 Peter 3:10

The verse from Proverbs 21:23 is a good one for me to remember. I need to keep my mouth shut, and …stay out of trouble. If I just keep my mouth shut, I won’t offend anyone. But then again, will they be offended if I don’t speak? Ugh. I don’t want to live to please others…I just want to please the Lord. It is such a delicate balance. In pleasing others, am I pleasing the Lord? In pleasing the Lord, am I pleasing others?

I know that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. For me, I want to bow my knee and speak words of praise and adoration daily, now. Why wait until He returns? Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Are you willing to show Him praise everyday by bowing your knee and speaking words of praise to Him?

Prayer ~ Hallelujah Lord Jesus! You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I praise Your Holy Name today…and always. Please Lord, give me wisdom that I would live to please You…and encourage others to do the same.

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory (salvation). This is my God, and I will praise him—my father's God, and I will exalt him! Exodus 15:2

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Monday, August 24, 2020

Who Do You Help and Defend?

Meditate. What can you do for the Lord today?

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17

Fight for those who can’t defend themselves. It isn’t hard to find oppressed these days, but it is harder to help them. Just who are these “oppressed” people? I imagine that they are ones without jobs and coming to the end of their resources for food and housing; those who are stressed by this whole COVID pandemic. Besides praying, one way to help them is just to give money to food banks so that they have resources to provide food for the needy and oppressed. Now that thrift stores are opening up again and taking donations, we can give out of the abundance of our closets and cupboards. I know some people who have spent their time of isolation doing lots of spring cleaning. Others have moved and so they have downsized their belongings. They have lots of bags and boxes of wealth that were just waiting to be redistributed. Remember that verse about not storing up things here on earth? Well, as we look to the future, we know that we won’t need a bunch of wealth here on earth. Store up your treasures in heaven where moths and rust won’t affect it.

Wisdom from God's Word is the key.
What are you learning today?
How are you applying it to your life?

Learn to do good. Where can we do that? I think that the best place from which to gain wisdom and understanding…learning is the Bible. There are 102 verses that focus on “do good” in the Old and New Testament. Here are a few that tell us to do good.

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James 2:14-17

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Psalm 34:14

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! Luke 6: 33

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. Proverbs 4:7

This verse below is more specific…care for orphans and widows.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27

Refuse to let the world corrupt you. That is a good and challenging thing to do. Refuse corruption. We are about to have a major election of our nation’s leaders. Don’t let anyone “sway” your opinion or corrupt you into thinking who is the best candidate. Think for yourself. In choosing wisely, you are seeking justice for our nation. Your vote and your opinion matter.

Of course, the thing that matters most in life is “Who is Jesus to you?” Is He your Lord and Savior? Can you admit that like everyone, you are a sinner according to Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23? Do you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead, Romans 10:9-10? Can you call on the name of the Lord and be saved, Romans 10:13?

We don’t know the hour or the day when Christ will return for His church, we just know that He will. Will you be ready then by receiving Him now?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I am privileged to call You my Savior and my Lord. Thank you for Your sacrifice on the cross for my sins. You died so that I might live. I am eternally grateful.

Verses of Salvation ~ Jesus said…"The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." John 10:17-18

Jesus sacrificed His life voluntarily for us, so that we can be saved from the punishment of our sins. Accept His gift of salvation while there is still time.

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Sunday, August 23, 2020

Are You Dreaming of a New Normal?

Meditate and consider if you are listening to the Spirit.

Come sit in the shade of this tree with me.
Dream. Have hope.
God has not abandoned us.
Somewhere in the land of Israel.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

What should I do now? Dream on. Dreams are important. I think we have to dream to have hope. Dream and plan. Giving up hope and dreams is discouraging. Discouraging to the dreamer and to those around them. Even dreams deferred may dissuade hope. God gives us hope—He is our hope.

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

What do you want your “New Normal” to look like? Ideally we wouldn’t have to wear masks…and we’d be able to see everyone’s smiling faces. But we need to be realistic…that is not going to happen any time soon. Get your supply of masks—disposable paper and fabric—on hand. Keep some disposable gloves handy as well as disinfecting wipes. Yup! Those will be part of our “New Normal” as well as social distancing. Let us continue to hope and dream that we will get to see family and friends often face to face. Don’t let your heart get sick and don’t be depressed. I heard recently on a late night radio program that a study was done where people were told to smile…and they actually felt better—happier. Smile. Smile. Smile.

A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:13

For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

Choose to be happy…to have a glad heart, but I don’t think that our goal in life needs to be happiness. We can be content just as Paul wrote to the church at Philippi.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Paul was an amazing apostle. He lived as a good example for us all, but there was no greater example than Christ Himself. What did Jesus Christ do when He needed something? He asked our Heavenly Father, who provided for Him and for others for whom Jesus was praying. Think about how Jesus fed the 5,000 men and their families. God is compassionate. There is always hope. On these last hot summer days, it may be time to go sit under a nice shady tree…a tree of life and take time to thank God for the hope that you have in Him.

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, thank you. My hope is in You, Lord. Even when I feel discouraged, disappointed, dissolutioned, despondent, or dejected, You are here with me. My hope is in You, Lord. I will keep dreaming—knowing that You have provided the Tree of Life—hope everlasting. I rest in You. My hope is in You, Lord. Creator of Heaven and Earth…and me.

Verse of Salvation ~ I long for your salvation; I put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:81

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Saturday, August 22, 2020

Don't Be So Surprised!

Meditate.

And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice--the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. John 5:25-30

People who died before the time of Christ will have a chance to learn about Him. Note the truly important sentence in this passage: And those who listen will live. LISTEN. LIVE. We don’t have to be dead to hear that or to respond to it. Actually, the dead could be those who are spiritually dead. Consider that. Are you in that category?

It is possible that everyone will live forever…just some in God’s presence…and some without God. Paul gives believers some transformational hope.

Tombs at the Mt. of Olives
Israel

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

What a hope we have in Jesus! Believe in Him and there will be no judgment for you. Listen for that trumpet. It may or may not happen in our lifetime—but Jesus told us to be ready.

You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Luke 12:40

Are you ready? How can you apply this to your life?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I am excited about Your return someday because through Your obedience and sacrifice on the cross You have given us victory over sin and death. You are awesome. Thank You.

Verses of Salvation ~ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:3-5

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Friday, August 21, 2020

Is Someone at Your Door?

Meditate as you prepare to eat another meal. Would you like to have Jesus be your guest?

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20

What would you fix for dinner if Jesus came to visit you? This reminds me of when Martha invited Jesus and the disciples to her home for a time of fellowship and dinner. Her family and friends were there and she was preparing a big feast.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Someone once suggested that this scripture was saying one dish…like a casserole…was all that was necessary to eat for the meal. But that was clearly not what Jesus was saying. One thing—His teaching—was the only thing to be concerned about. It was likely that at this time He had already fed the 5,000 men (Luke 9:12-17) and the 4,000 men (Mark 8:1-9) so if Jesus had wanted to He could easily have fed everyone at Martha’s home and everyone knew it. But that was not His intent. He wanted Martha to realize the value of His teaching and focus on that, not the business of preparing a big meal. No worries. No anxiety.

Jesus wants the same for us today. No worries. No anxiety. Just focus on Him and His teachings. Share His love with those around you as you open the door of your heart and let Jesus in, not just for supper, but for 24/7 time with you daily. Can you open the door to your heart and life as Jesus is standing there knocking on it?

Prayer ~ Jesus, thank you for not giving up on me. You keep knocking at the door to my heart and life. Right now I open that door and welcome You into my life.

Verses of Salvation ~ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What would you fix for dinner if Jesus came to visit you? Make it a simple meal so you have plenty of time to focus on His teaching and fellowship. With fresh tomatoes available, and possible in abundance in your garden, consider creating a fresh tomato pie for supper.

Tomato Pie - Fresh from the garden & oven

Fresh Tomato Pie

1 nine-inch pie shell, baked
1½ lbs fresh tomatoes, sliced in 1/4” rounds
½ small sweet onion, chopped
4 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
½ cup mayonnaise
2 cups cheddar cheese (or mixture of cheeses of your choice) grated
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
8 large basil leaves, chopped or thinly sliced, plus more for garnish if desired
Salt and pepper – grind fresh

Be sure to bake the pie crust at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until browned. Allow to cool.

Slice tomatoes, sprinkle lightly with salt and allow to sit for ½ - 1 hour for the water to come out to the tomatoes. You may place them in a colander to drain or simply arrange slices on paper towels. Drain well before use.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place chopped onion on pie crust. Top with about half of the well-drained tomatoes. Sprinkle with half of the basil. Top with the bacon and then the remaining tomatoes and basil. Add some fresh ground pepper. Mix the mayo with half of the cheddar cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Place the cheese mixture on top of the tomatoes. Top with the last cup of grated cheese. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired. Enjoy with some fresh sliced cucumbers or a fresh garden salad. Leftovers are good cold.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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