Banquet With The King: July 2025

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Anne Wilson wrote the song “My Jesus” in 2022 after her brother died in a tragic auto accident. The lyrics to it include the phrase, “Let Me Tell You About My Jesus” which describes Anne’s feelings. Are you past the point of weary?/ Is your burden weighing heavy? Is it all too much to carry? / Let me tell you about my Jesus. The song goes on to tell a little about Jesus’ life, love and power. It continues with…His love is strong and His grace is free and the good news is I know that He / Can do for you what He’s done for me / Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus / And let my Jesus change your life. That the best part. Jesus can change your life. He changed mine.

I’ve thought about that song a lot since we sang it last Sunday in church. Let me tell you about my Jesus. Yes, He is “my Jesus,” my Savior and my Lord. Is He your Jesus, your Savior, and your Lord? Do you turn to Him only when you are weary…beyond tired? Do you rejoice with Him daily, and share your joys and sorrows directly with Him? Personally, I find great peace in Jesus—in talking with Him my burdens are instantly lifted. Anne Wilson doesn’t mention peace specifically—but that is my good news for you. He can do for you what He’s done for me. He’s changed my life…given me peace and strength…and He can do the same for you. Give Him a try. Then tell others about your Jesus.

Today would have been my sister, Shirley, 77^th birthday, but she was killed in a domestic violence altercation over thirty years ago. She and I accepted Jesus as our Savior about the same time…although living half-way across the United States from each other at that time. When I went to visit her, she asked me what had changed in my life…I seemed different to her. Well, let me tell you. It was Jesus who changed my life and started peeling away a critical spirit (still working with me on that!) Life is good with Jesus. I still miss my sister, but one day we will have a great reunion around a Banquet Table with Jesus. She made great Blue-Ribbon award-winning apple pies and snickerdoodle cookies were her favorite after school snack—so we made lots of those!

Do you have stories to tell about Jesus? I hope that you will say to others today and often in the coming weeks…let me tell you about my Jesus.

Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2 NASB20

Prayer – Lord Jesus, shower us with Your grace, as well as peace and strength, that we would boldly tell others about You for You are the Good News to all life itself. My we often say to others…let me tell you about my Jesus. You are my Jesus and I thank you for the peace You have given me…and the assurance that one day I will serve You in Heaven.

Meditate. Consider God’s treasure in scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Verse of Salvation ~ Guard [with greatest care]and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 2 Timothy 1:14 AMP

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Sister Shirley

Rest Well – See You Soon

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

Scripture quotations taken from tight ©he Amplified® Bible (AMP),

by the Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA.

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Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Who is Righteous?

Life-sized Replica of Noah's Ark
Ark Encounter - Kentucky

Who is righteous? God has identified several people in the Bible, including Noah, that are righteous. The Ark Encounter is an awesome replica of Noah's Ark. It is huge with massive wooden pillars inside. Built to protect God's chosen righteous people during the flood.

Do you consider yourself righteous? Righteousness is right living in a way that is acceptable to God. Faith is the evidence of things hoped for. Our faith is in Jesus Christ—our Lord and Savior. He is our hope for eternal life that begins the instant we believe in Jesus as our Lord. He wasn’t ashamed to take your sins to the cross to pay the debt for your sins.

When His disciples as Jesus about His return and the end times, He told them that it would be like in Noah’s day. What was it really like when Noah was living? People were wicked and living for their own gratification. Sounds about like our society today. People will be living day by day, doing their own thing when Jesus returns. Instead of water washing them away, their own sins will condemn them. What then? We have a choice right now—to choose to live in a way that is pleasing to God. Obedience. Obedient to God’s way of living—not ours. Noah was the only man on earth that was blameless. We can choose to be like Noah, like Jesus. Obedient and righteous. Of course, we need God’s help and direction to even do that.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? If so, are you reverently proud and honored to belong to God’s family? Are you ashamed to speak up and tell others the Good News about Christ? Are you walking in close fellowship with God?

The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the LORD said, "I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them." But Noah found favor with the LORD. This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. Genesis 6:5-9

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 24:37-39

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You saved Noah and his family—preserving the human race You created. Thank you for giving us another chance. As we look to the future, we gratefully anticipate Your return and our rescue.

Meditate on blamelessness.

Verse of Salvation ~ 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. It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:6-7

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

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Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Make Me…Willing to Obey?

Obedience to God's plan.
Listen and Obey.

Make me willing to obey you. Make me. God doesn’t force us to do anything. We are not His puppets. He has given us free will and the ability to make our own choices in life. Choices can be selfish…just for our own benefit…or to please the Lord. We can always ask for His help and guidance—knowing that He loves us and wants the best for us. The choices we make impact our family, friends, work associates and neighbors…sometimes even strangers. Choose wisely.

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

Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose. Psalm 25:12

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

Willing to obey you. Obedience involves a surrender of our will, of being willing to submit to another’s will, whether it is obedience to the Lord God Himself or to a covenant made between two people and God—as in marriage vows. Love, honor and obey. Not everyone uses that phrase in their exchange of wedding vows, but it is a pledge to honor God as well as the other person. Honor God by honoring and obeying His commandments. No adultery…no lies. God expects us to obey…but it is by faith that we are saved.

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. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. Romans 4:13-16

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. Hebrews 5:7-8

During His last supper with His disciples, Jesus reminded them about His love and the obedience that He desired from them.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:9-14

Are you willing to obey? I choose, once again, today to serve God…and to obey His word to the best of my ability. I’m not perfect…just wanting to please the Lord in all that I think, say and do.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:10-12

Prayer – Lord, help me—as well as my family, friends and neighbors to be willing to be obedient and to love each other…as You love each of us.

Meditate on obedience.

Verse of Salvation ~ It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:7

Recycled and revised from July 26, 2019 Banquet With The King blog.

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

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Monday, July 28, 2025

Are You Stubborn? Are You Living for Yourself?

Wild donkey
Near Yuma, Arizona
Are you stubborn like this beast?

Stubborn. Unyielding, obstinate, unreasonable, unchanging attitude, or refusing to learn from mistakes. You may think of stubborn as a donkey or a four-year-old kid, but adults and teens can have stubborn personalities, too. Paul warns us that a day is coming when God’s anger and righteous judgement will be pronounced by what people have done. Our rewards will be given or withheld because of our actions. But remember that we are saved from our sins by God’s grace, not by what we do. Our salvation doesn’t depend on our goodness but on our humble submission and repentance. Jesus paid the price for our sins—no goodness could wipe those away or cancel them out. He is the way, the truth, and the life for those seeking eternal life. I think the natural response to receiving eternal life is gratitude to Jesus and it is reflected in good or righteous actions by the believers living to serve the Lord and others, not themselves.

Paul also advises that those who refuse to obey God’s truth, but choose to live wickedly, will face trouble and disaster because of their evil ways. Glory, honor, and peace will be bestowed on those who do good. Which will you choose? Are you stubborn? Are you living for yourself?

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. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:5-11

Prayer – Lord, just as You had Solomon write, “people who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.” Proverbs 28:13-14 I know I’ve sinned and fallen short of Your glory, forgive me, and cover me with Your grace and peace. Thank you for not showing favoritism, but treating Jews and Gentiles the same as we enter yo

Meditate. Read God’s word, listen and obey.

Verse of Salvation ~ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9

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

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

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Sunday, July 27, 2025

How Can You Condemn Others?

Do you really want everyone to be the same?
Are you critical of others?
Love one another.

How can you condemn others? Paul asks the Christians in Rome just the same thing that I was thinking when I read passage from Romans 1:24-32. How can we condemn others? Everyone sins. The problem is we that we shouldn’t judge others, but we are quick to pass judgment on anyone who doesn’t meet our perception of God’s standards or is just not towing the line. That’s the line we’ve mentally drawn in the sand. God is the one to evaluate people’s motives and actions. Listen to what God advised us through Paul’s writing. When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. What would be our punishment for the “wicked” things we’ve done? It is God’s choice—and being banished from His heavenly new Jerusalem would be a terrible consequence to pay for not being compassionate, considerate, and obedient to the Lord. God is wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient with us—so we need to be like that with others, no matter what we perceive their sin to be.

Think about Paul’s statement: Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? God’s kindness should humble us to the point that we turn from our sins. Jesus reminds us that we need to forgive others since God has forgiven us.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

Personally, God’s kindness means a lot to me. I certainly don’t want to make Him angry or have to face the brutal punishment of which I am deserving. I’ll think twice before I pass judgment or criticize others. How about you? Can you condemn others?

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? 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? Romans 2:1-4

Prayer – Holy Spirit, help me to make allowance for other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends me. I recall, the Lord forgave me, so I must forgive other…from Colossians 3:13.

Meditate. Consider Jesus' compassionate teachings in scripture.

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

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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Saturday, July 26, 2025

How Long Does God’s Anger Last?

How long does God’s anger last? David acknowledges God’s deliverance from his past sin. He declared, from his experience, that…His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! God is forgiving to those who repent—who are willing to admit that they have sinned. We all fall short of the glory of God.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Romans 3:23

For me, another key verse in this focus passage below is:

What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave? Can my dust praise you? Can it tell of your faithfulness? Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me.

God doesn’t really need us…although in our finite minds, we may think that He can’t exist without us. Truth is that He does want a relationship with us…but He wants us to be pure and that begins with repenting—turning away from our sinful nature. He is merciful. He accepts us as we are…but He wants us to change. David recognized this in his life…and he changed. We can do the same. Looking back over my life…I can note that because of my relationship with the Lord, I have changed. I am repentant daily…and I not only seek to please the Lord, but I am excited about seeing Him working in my life. I am clothed in joy…and am dancing in my heart because of His love for me…and His love flowing through me to others. I may still experience some mourning—some sadness over losses…but I am content with the life and certainly overwhelmed with the abundance which God has provided to me and my family. God’s anger didn’t last long for David…and it has not lasted long for me.

Do you feel that God is angry with you? Cry out to Him for mercy…just as David did. Hopefully you’ll find that God’s anger doesn’t last long. His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Joy comes in the morning. Are you ready for that?

Joy comes in the morning!

I will exalt you, LORD, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. When I was prosperous, I said, "Nothing can stop me now!" Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying, "What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave? Can my dust praise you? Can it tell of your faithfulness? Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD." You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalm 30:1-12

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

Prayer – Lord, open my eyes and my heart to understanding Your word, and following Your ways. Thank you for all that You have done...and will do for me. I praise You for Your love and mercy.

Verse of Salvation ~ Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the LORD? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me. Isaiah 45:21

Reused and recycled from September 6, 2022, Banquet With The King blog.

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

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Friday, July 25, 2025

God Abandoned Them—Who? You? Me?

Difference in flowers.
Difference in people.
Choose wisely.

Look at this list in the scripture passage below. At first. I thought it was only about the homosexual relations that are offensive to God, but look closer. It started out by turning away from God’s plan for men and women sexually and then their lives becoming full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. If we have these feelings or thoughts of greed, hatred, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip it is the same as committing that very sin, as Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5). Do we do those same things? Envy. Gossip. Any other offensive sins? Are we any “better” than those whom God has abandoned? Consider what God wrote through the prophet Ezekiel.

If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. Ezekiel 3:20

There is hope, as Paul wrote to the church at Philippi about God making us righteous through faith in Christ. He is our hope. Don’t let others influence you to do stupid things and turn your back on God.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that IDi could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. Philippians 3:8-9

The choice is ours. Follow God’s plan for salvation from our sins and live a righteous life worthy of Him…or choose our own selfish desires and be abandoned by God.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:24-32

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, thank you that You have promised to never abandon me. Holy Spirit, please help me, my family and friends to choose wisely that we would serve You and honor You in all that we think, say, and do. To God be the glory.

Meditate. Consider obedience to God’s word.

Verse of Salvation ~ Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Stay hydrated. The intense rays of the sunshine can quickly dehydrate us—especially small children and older adults. I aim for about twelve glasses of water a day. How about 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

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories