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.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Are You Loyal?

Prayer – Lord, a friend is always loyal…so I pledge my loyalty to You…my Lord, Savior, and closest friend.

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17

Meditate. Consider friendship.

Are you a friend of God? I don’t think that God created mankind to be His “friend,” but people along the way have developed that relationship with Him. Consider Abraham, of whom God spoke in Isaiah 41:8, and also in the book of James.

Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God. James 2:21-23

Is it a personal goal for you to become a “friend of God?” Having a close relationship with anyone is what it takes to be a friend, so being close to God, you might just consider Him a friend. There is a great praise song written by Israel Houghton that declares just that. “I am a Friend of God.” You can Google it for the lyrics.

The book of James goes on to tell us what happens to those who are friends of the world, instead of God.

You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. James 4:4

The choice, as always, is for each person to make. Do you want to be a friend of God…or of the world?

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. ... Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin"? Proverbs 20:6-7, 9

Are you a friend of God? Will you be loyal to Him?

Will you cross this bridge to visit friends?
Yaquina Bay Bridge, Newport, Oregon

If a friend is coming to visit, you get ready—cleanup your house and prepare some great food. So, are you going to get ready for a visit from the greatest friend ever, Jesus Christ? What will you do to get ready? He told His followers to be ready…they don’t know the hour or the day when He will return. Be ready…and be loyal.

Verse of Salvation ~ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-12

End of February

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, February 27, 2023

What Will We Be Like?

Prayer – Lord, You are holy. We sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy—Merciful and Mighty/God in Three Persons/ Blessed Trinity.” It is almost unimaginable that we could ever be holy as You are…but nothing is impossible with You, Lord God. We’re trusting You to keep Your promise that we can be Your children, if we believe in Jesus as our Savior, and we can be holy. Thank you!

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him. Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

Meditate. How do you see God?

How do you see God? How does God see you? Does He see you as His child? Of course, if you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you are a child of God.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 1 John 5:1

There it is again…love God…and love others. That is repeated time and again. God expected the Israelites to love Him…and to love others. He wants the same thing…for all His children. That’s us.

What more could anyone want than to love and be loved? That is a basic human need. Even the toughest person deep in some dungeon prison cell has a place in his or her heart that needs to be filled with God’s love…and whether they would admit it or not—they need to love God and others.

Purity. God desires holiness for His children.

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:21-24

He expects His children—His followers—to be holy.

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

Crossing the Bridge at the
Creation Museum Gardens.
Does this show self-control?
Sure--no jumping over the rails!

Be holy for God is holy.

I’ve been trying to teach my little six-year-old granddaughter about self-control. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit and thus it is an important characteristic to have for someone who loves the Lord. She knows and loves Jesus, so striving for the virtue of self-control is a good thing. Can she cross that bridge to a relationship with the Lord that includes humble self-control? Yes, she can. Likewise, we all need to be prepared for Jesus Christ’s return by being holy—pure before the Lord. We will one day stand before the Lord, pure? What will we be like? That choice is ours to make.

Verse of Salvation ~ So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. 1 Peter 2:1-3

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Are You Stubborn?

Prayer – Lord, You are worthy of all glory and honor—not us. Help us to make good choices that bring You honor and glory.

Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. Romans 2:4-8

Meditate. Consider your actions and God’s judgment.

Path to the Holy Family Shrine
Gretna, Nebraska

Is your path wide or narrow?

For Christians the reward of perseverance…to keep on doing good…in unselfishly seeking and serving God for His glory and honor is eternal life! Selfishness has its own greedy reward and this passage tells us that the reward is wrath and indignation. Whoa! No one in their right mind seeks to get God’s wrath. Are they so blindsided by their own selfish goals that they just don’t see the road that it is leading them down? Look around you—where are you headed? Make sure that you are choosing the narrow way that is described in this passage from Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. If life is too easy and you are always getting your own way…then look again, you may be headed down the wide path.

Verse of Salvation ~ (Written by God addressing the Israelites in Jerusalem.) But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23

Revised from February 25, 2013 “Banquet With The King” blog post.

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Do You Want Your Thoughts and Plans Known by Another?

Prayer – Lord, I know You know my thoughts, dreams, and wishes. Help me to use those thoughts and plans to bring you glory!

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

Meditate. Read God’s word, listen, and discover His plans and His will.

The Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. This passage was King David’s advice to his son, Solomon. Good advice for anyone, but is nothing sacred, special…just your own? Obviously not. God knows our every thought—but He gives us free will in choosing what we think, say, and do.

Moses spoke to the children of Israel before they went into the Promised Land, encouraging them to obey, love, and follow the Lord. It is the key to their life. How about to ours? Read the verses below and then in the context of the whole chapter in Deuteronomy.

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Deuteronomy 30:19-20

To love someone, even God, you have to KNOW them. God knows you very well—all your deepest thoughts and plans. Those are something you may not have even shared with your family or best friends. But God knows. Do you know Him that well? He reveals Himself in His word. Remember, God is Love.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

This cross from Portugal is like a key.
Christ bridged the gap between
earth and Heaven when He
died on the cross.
The love Christ showed on the cross
is our key to life--everlasting salvation.

Loving God and loving others is the key to life.

Verse of Salvation ~ But I keep praying to you, LORD, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Psalm 69:13

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Friday, February 24, 2023

Are You Called by the Lord’s Name?

Prayer – Lord, I am seeking You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Finding You, I love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. That’s what You expect…and I want to live to please You.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Meditate. Seek Him.

Are you looking for God? Seeking Him? Do you want to be in His presence? Do you think you have to go to Asbury University to find God? The world was awakened this past week through the Holy Spirit at the Asbury University as they celebrated Jesus Christ in their lives and the greatness of God in our lives. Yesterday—the last Thursday of February—the National Collegiate Day of Prayer was celebrated at college campuses across the United States. Revival is happening in the lives of these students and the lives of those who have been touched by the Holy Spirit through this focus on God.

God has promised that as people seek Him…and that would assume that they are repentant as they seek Him…He will forgive them. Did you note that He not only promises to hear us from Heaven, but to “forgive their sins and restore their land?” Restoration of our land to Him—a revival. Claim that for your life. Praise Him. We are told in several places that if we seek God, we will find Him, including this passage from Second Chronicles. Look up these verses below and read them in the context of the chapters in which they are written.

· 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

· The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged. Psalm 69:32

· All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. Isaiah 26:9

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

· His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:27

· And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Have you ever found God without looking for Him? In cases like that, God is seeking you…and He found you! Usually we seek God—and if we are humble, honest, and diligent, we will find Him. He’s never far from us and has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. Keep looking.

Are you thirsty?
Come and drink.
God provides unfailing love.

Verses of Salvation ~ Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk--it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. Isaiah 55:1-3

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Feasting or Fasting? During this time of Lent, are you fasting? Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness fasting.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:1-4

No food for forty days! Even just a few days without food is challenging. I’ve found that doing an eighteen hour “fast” is a good way to start developing a fasting habit. Going for sixteen to eighteen hours between the last meal of the day until the first meal of the next day gets easier with each passing day. It may seem like you are just giving up breakfast—there is really only time for two meals in day when there are only a few hours additional hours for the remaining meals. You can actually eat “breakfast” foods at any time, so you don’t need to feel like you are giving up breakfast.

If you end your evening meal at six PM, then you can eat again at noon the next day, eighteen hours later. Then you can have another meal in the evening…finishing again around six PM. So, give it a try and let me know what you think. You can find more on this 18-6 intermediate fasting by Googling it on-line. Using the time when you would be eating to focus on Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you is a good way to “live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Happy Birthday, Debbie J.

May God continue to bless you with those creative gifts He has given you!

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Lent has Begun

Prayer – Lord, Lent has been celebrated for a couple of thousand years. I want to honor You Jesus more this year than in all the previous years—and to be closer to You. Open my eyes and heart that I may see You more clearly…clothing myself in Your presence. Thank you.

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:11-14

Meditate. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Lent is the forty days, minus the Sundays, prior to Resurrection Sunday. It is a time of preparation to commemorate the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time of repentance and often of giving up something or fasting to focus on Jesus and His sacrifice. The result of this sacrificial obedience on the part of the Christian is closer communion with God. Isn’t that just the relationship for which we are striving?

Jesus provides a bridge with His life--
giving people hope.
What will you do to honor Him?

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday—which was actually yesterday. What will you do for these remaining six weeks to focus on Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit’s role in your life? Some people have traditionally given up some food, like sweets or sodas, but that is generally not a spiritual component in your relationship with the Lord. Consider how you approach God on a daily basis. Do you read His word and pray? How about singing, praising, and worship? Check out your devotion to Lord. Is there any idolatry involved—are you putting anything first in your life before God?

Paul wrote to the Romans that it was time to…wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Now is certainly the time to wake up because things have changed since Paul wrote this passage. Look at the prophecies that have been written. Israel is back in their land as foretold, and tensions in the Middle East are such that we are likely to see a war with Israel and countries like Russia and Turkey. If you haven’t studied Revelation (beginning with Revelation 12) now is the time to begin. Jesus told us not to be afraid, but to be prepared. God has provided us plenty of knowledge about the future—we just have to dig into His word to understand it. This is an opportunity to know more about God and His plan for all of mankind. Obedience is the key. Jesus was obedient…will you be?

Verses of Salvation ~ While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Follow Good…Follow God

Prayer – Lord God, I know that just being good doesn’t make a person Your child—only believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior—the true Son of God allows one to be “adopted” into Your family. I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God! Thank you, Jesus for Your obedience and sacrifice

Dear friend, don't let this bad example (see verse in context of chapter) influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 3 John 1:11

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture.

Follow good…follow God. John tells us in this passage that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. Yes, the good know God and belong to Him…but are they good on their own…or are they good because they know God? That is a good question. Will they enter the Kingdom of God…will they ultimately enter Heaven…because they are good?

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God's way. For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. ... Clearly, God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God's law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God's promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. Romans 4:1-5, 13-14

Just as these Sandhill Cranes follow each
other...follow the good...follow God.
Their relationship with each other is
important.
How is your relationship with the Lord?

Being good on our own is not enough—we need faith. In that faith, we believe in God and have a relationship with Him. We cannot love Him, unless we know Him. Know Him by knowing His word—and then obediently following it. Follow the good…follow God.

Verse of Salvation ~ This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Romans 13:11

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories