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, April 30, 2024

Choose Giving

Prayer – Lord, it was written by Paul…“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35 NLT. You, Lord, were the highest example of giving. You gave more than flowers or food—You gave hope, dreams, and life to us all. Show me the gift that I can use to show love to others for You. Honoring You and them.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:6-10 NLT

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

Cut some lilacs!
They smell wonderful.
Share them with your neighbors!

Tomorrow is May Day. It is mainly a European holiday commemorating the beginning of summer though it is actually about half-way between the Spring equinox and the Summer solstice. It was a time to gather wildflowers and use them in garlands. But please don't cut wildflowers now. Let them grace our native environment.

Another fun custom is setting up a May Pole which people dance around and wrap with colorful ribbons. When we saw that May Pole dance reenacted in Leavenworth, Washington, my mother-in-law recalled fond childhood memories of that custom being repeated in the Czech community in Nebraska where she grew up. Obviously, May Day has become an American custom as well.

My daughter has used May Day for spreading joy in her neighborhood for many years. When she was about six years old she began by secretly leaving flowers on neighbors’ doorsteps early in the morning on May 1^st. It was so much fun for her and her friends that she carried on the tradition and still does it with her children in their community. Let the fun begin! Share the love and leave some flowers or blossoms from your trees on your friends or neighbors’ steps. You may find that this gift of kindness that God has given you honors Him and others.

Verse 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 NLT

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

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, April 29, 2024

Beware – You’ve Been Warned

Prayer – Lord, I hear Your voice and the warning that You’ve given. Help me to obediently do Your Father’s will. Open my eyes and heart to the options I have and guide me in an even closer relationship to You and to Our Heavenly Father.

Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' Matthew 7:21-23 NLT

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ words and listen to what He is saying.

Do you really know the Lord? Does He know you? When a relationship is established between two people, they get to know each other intimately, and they generally try to please the other person. God is certainly willing for us to get to know Him. He wants our love as much as we want His. He wants us to know more than just His name—but that is a starting place. The first of the Ten Commandments is about loving God and He promises to love those who love and obey Him.

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. Exodus 20:6 NLT

A thousand generations is a long time—at least forty thousand years. That’s our God. He is an eternal God—time is beyond Him. He created the heavens, the earth and all that is within it. So powerful—and yet He seeks out mankind—as we seek Him. In the Bible, He lets us know just what He is thinking.

For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven's Armies is his name! Amos 4:13 NLT

View at the Mt. of the Beatitudes
Presumed Site - Sermon on the Mount
Overlooking the Sea of Galilee
Israel

But there are those who just think that they know Jesus and they call out, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' but beware—Jesus’ reply to that group was…'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' Whoa! We need to take a good look at our relationship with Jesus. What will He say about our actions in this judgment day to which He refers? I’ve never performed miracles or cast out demons—but does that mean I’ve not done His Father’s will? Note that in this scripture passage in Matthew Jesus was addressing the multitude in His Sermon on the Mount which happened relatively early in His ministry. Yet He was already speaking of judgement. We will be judged for what we do—but as believers in Jesus we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven if we do the Father’s will. Good motivation for us to make good choices. Who wants to be left out of Heaven? Sounds like even those who consider themselves Christian may face eternal life outside of the Kingdom, if they are not obedient in following God’s laws. Beware—you’ve been warned.

Verse of Salvation ~ Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around him. He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people. "Bring my faithful people to me--those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices." Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. Psalm 50:3-6 NLT

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

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Sacrifices Reminded Them of Guilt

A shadow of things to come.
This sundial relies on a shadow for time.
Manito Park, Spokane, WA

Prayer – Lord Jesus, what a pure example of Holiness You’ve shown for me. Holiness is what I long for. God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. (Hebrews 10:10). I don’t think that the Heavenly Father’s will has changed for us. He still wants us to be holy by the blood that You shed, Jesus. Thank you. Purify my heart—even now—and make me holy and acceptable to the Father.

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, "You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, 'Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.'" First, Christ said, "You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them" (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:1-10 NLT

Meditate. Consider God.

Jesus Christ was speaking when He said that He Himself came to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin, since that was the Father’s will. The Scripture passage that He was referring to was Psalm 40:5-8.

O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart." Psalm 40:5-8 NLT

Jesus was happy to do just what our Heavenly Father wanted Him to do and He ultimately did it willingly and obediently. When it comes to doing something difficult—are we obedient to the Father? Were we obedient to our own earthly fathers? Several years ago, my mother informed me I was a rebellious kid. What? I thought I was an obedient, people pleasing kid, although I do remember a few sullen teenage days. I didn’t run with the wrong crowd, smoke, or drink. I got good grades. In my sophomore and junior years of High School I got up early every morning and went to my Uncle’s farm to change irrigation sprinklers. Then after school in my junior and senior years I did the accounts receivable bookkeeping for my Dad’s electrical business, to earn money for college. What did I do that was so wrong? I guess it was my attitude. Attitude is the key in relationships. I sacrificed my time…but that wasn’t enough. I needed to sacrifice my attitude.

Although Jesus spent a lot of His time with friends, like His disciples and other followers, He was often helping individuals by healing them physically and spiritually. His attitude was sacrificial towards mankind even before He died on the cross. What do we spend our time doing? God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. How are we doing with accepting that holy sacrifice? Does His sacrifice remind us of our guilt? Jesus said…

"The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!" Mark 1:15 NLT

Verse of Salvation ~ Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you." 1 Chronicles 16:35 NLT

Have you prepared your tax forms? Today is the day!

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.comGa

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Fruit of Spirit

Prayer – Lord, help me to grow in maturity and with Your grace to be filled more each day with the fruit of the Spirit. Produce that fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in my life—that I may honor and serve You more diligently.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! - Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture.

God has given us everything…and certainly more than we deserve. Feast on His words today and grow closer to Him in your relationship with Him. Relationships are what life is all about—that is what is important. Strive to maintain an ever growing and more deeply loving connection with God and with others. His words are more powerful and convincing than anything I could ever say on my own.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11 NLT

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the LORD's blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. Psalm 24:1-6 NLT

Everything belongs to God—yet He has given man free will to make choices about his own life. We make those choices every day—all throughout the day—hundreds of choices. Today…will you choose to allow God to guide your life—to have a good relationship with Him—and to allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with the fruit of the Spirit?

Verse of Salvation ~ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11 NLT

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, April 26, 2024

Fruit of Spirit – Self-Control

Prayer – Lord, I feel like I’m bouncing around like Tiger. Give me self-control of my attitude and actions that in all things that I think, say, do, and eat, I would be pleasing to You.

Meditate. Self-control—how, when, where, and why.

Self-control is…self-discipline, willpower, restraint, and obedience. According to Strong’s concordance it is the ability to master one’s desires and passions.

Is the wall to your heart and life broken down?

A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Proverbs 25:28 NLT

No self-control in a person’s mind lets in evil thoughts and that begins the downward spiral to destruction. Satan would be happy about that—probably laughing his head off at the stupidity of that person. When the walls of purity are broken down, in dance the hobgoblins and just revolting, disgusting thoughts.

I’ve tried to emphasize with my grandchildren from time to time how important self-control is. It can begin with a simple bouncing of one’s foot. Control that foot bouncing and you are beginning to control thoughts and actions overall. That is a glorious action. Self-control. A smile and a praise can go a long way to ensuring that that action doesn’t occur again! That mastery of one’s desires and passions needs to begin as a small child. Teenagers and adults who have no self-control may not be able to control their sexual desires. God wants us to be in control of that area of our lives…or rather He wants us to submit to His expectations which is maintaining purity. Remember that Jesus said to think of breaking one of the Ten Commandments is to do that. Don’t kill, commit adultery, lie, covet, or steal. Can you do that?

Purity begins with self-control. What is your choice for that characteristic?

Verse of Salvation ~ 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. 1 Peter 1:13 NLT

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Pure food—like pure thoughts, words, and actions—take some choices and discipline. What’s really pure? You could choose pure water. Our bodies need daily hydration to maintain healthy functions. Don’t choose water whose purity is questionable for the sake of being cheap. The best costs no more. I was doing a day hike at Mt. Rainier once years ago and was astonished at people drinking from a dirty little stream alongside the path. It was a warm day and most of the hikers didn’t have any water with them so they chose to drink what looked like good water. They would pay for that later. Water may look good, but it can harbor germs, bacteria, and viruses just from environmental sources. How many wild animals or birds drank from, pooped in, or maybe died in that same little bubbling brook upstream? Do you really want to share their pathogens that could cause giardia and horrid episodes of watery diarrhea? That diarrhea could result in life-threatening dehydration.

It’s good to always take your own drinking water when hiking or even walking on a warm day. If you are going to be in a remote or wilderness area then take along some iodine tablets or a water purifying drinking straw. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Purity is a valuable commodity.

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, April 25, 2024

Fruit of Spirit – Gentleness

Prayer – Lord, I want to be known as a gentle person. Mold me and make me into one who is not only reverent to You, but compassionate and caring for Your followers, helping those who are lost to find You amidst this chaotic life that is spinning around us.

Meditate. Consider the quality of gentleness.

Gentleness is considered meekness, mild disposition, and humility. That is a humbling thought. We all need to be humble before the Lord—the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. Jesus was such a humble, gentle, and compassionate person. Except for the time He “cleansed” the Temple of the moneychangers, we don’t see Him raising His voice or His hand to anyone. Well, he may have raised His voice to some of the Pharisees with the words He had for them…but we don’t see that recorded in any of the Gospels.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 NLT

Don't cast your pearls before swine.
Nor rely on jewelry
...to show your gentle spirit.
Just humbly submit to the Lord.

Peter gives us an insightful comment on women’s beauty associated with a gentle spirit.

Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT

This gentle spirit is also described in the wife of noble character in Proverbs 31 who is wise and kind.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. Proverbs 31:25-26 NLT

All Christians are to be ready to give a gentle and respectful explanation for the hope that they have in Christ Jesus as their Savior.

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 1 Peter 3:13-17 NLT (Underlined for emphasis.)

Can you gently tell others about your hope in Christ?

Verse of Salvation ~ (Read in context of Chapters Five and Six of Hebrews.) Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:9-12 NLT

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, April 24, 2024

Fruit of Spirit – Faithfulness

Prayer – And may we be completely faithful to You, oh LORD our God. May we always obey Your decrees and commands, just as we choose to do today. As paraphrased from 1 Kings 8:61 NLT.

Meditate. Faithfulness.

God had promised to walk by Moses and show him His goodness. As He had said, He showed Moses his glorious presence.

Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, "Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations." Exodus 34:5-7 NLT

God is faithful to keep His promises—and He expects those who love and follow Him to do the same. Faithfulness is reliability, stability, truthfulness, and certainty. As the Hebrew people got near to the time for them to cross into the Promised Land, Moses explained once again to them about God’s faithfulness and love.

Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT

We can count on God. Can He count on us? We all have decisions to make.

Model of the Temple in Jerusalem
Israel

When Solomon dedicated the Temple he had built for the Lord God, he prayed that the people would be faithful to God.

And may you be completely faithful to the LORD our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today. 1 Kings 8:61 NLT

May that be our prayer today, too. Complete faithfulness to the Lord is attainable as we submit ourselves to the Lord—seeking to know Him more fully, just as Moses did. That submission is by choice. Choose your action of faithful submission today.

Verse of Salvation ~ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT

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