Banquet With The King: October 2026

Friday, October 2, 2026

Are You Afraid of Being Snatched Away?

Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name. But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." John 10:25-30

Meditate on God’s love—no snatching.

Sheep grazing in Israel.

Imagine yourself to be a sheep grazing peacefully in a grassy field with your shepherd watching over you. He’s not going to let any wolf, lion, or even a coyote snatch you away. He loves you and is going to keep you from harm. Well…he might eat you himself after a few years…maybe not until your lifespan is up at ten to twelve years. But until then, you are valuable to him for your wooly coat…and the love you share. Basically, it’s all about love. In Jesus flock, there is no end of life. He gives eternal life to those who follow Him. They truly belong to the Father and… No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. And, just as importantly, none of them will perish.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14

Do you feel protected? You should. I do. I know that harm can come even though I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, but spiritual harm will not happen because I belong to the Lord God Almighty. No one, nothing, can snatch me away from Him. Like the sheep, I listen to hear His voice—even the still small voice of the Holy Spirit calls to me. Do you hear it? Are you listening? Are you afraid that something will snatch you away from God?

Seek Him. Learn more about God and His love for you. It is the responsibility of each of us to develop our relationship with Him, like the sheep following the shepherd, knowing His voice.

What do you learn about Jesus from this scripture passage today?

Prayer – Lord God, thank you for Your protection and love. I am overwhelmed by the mere thought that I am important enough to You that You would protect me. No one can snatch me away from You. Amazing love…how can it be?

Verse of Salvation ~ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it 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. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

This is the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot. It is a joyful celebration of the harvest and remembrance of the Lord setting them free from the slavery of Egypt and providing for them for forty years in the desert on their way to the Promised Land (see Leviticus 23:43). There is no one particular food associated with this festive time, just seasonal fruits and vegetables. For my Small Group fellowship, I recently used zucchini and apples in this favorite apple cake recipe.

Simple Apple Cake - Variation Z

½ cup avocado oil or applesauce

2 eggs

2 cups + 2 Tbsp flour (can be whole grain and unbleached flours)

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups chopped apples and zucchini mixed – don’t peel

1½ cups sugar (less if a very sweet apple)

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

½ cup chopped pecans, optional – plus extra to sprinkle on top of cake before baking

Combine all ingredients, using one apple and whatever zucchini to total 4 cups of fruit and veggies. Pour into a 9X13-inch pan. Top with chopped nuts or decorate with whole nut pieces before baking.

Bake at 350 degrees for 65 minutes. This will store and keep fresh for a week or more.

Enjoy warm with ice cream or whipped topping.

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

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

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Chronological Walk With Jesus

Model of the Temple with Solomon's Colonnade.
Imagine walking with Jesus.
Jerusalem, Israel

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon's Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name." John 10:22-25

Meditate on believing.

Jesus did the work that His Father—our Heavenly Father—asked Him to do. He frequently prayed—probably constantly—to be sure He was doing His Father's will. So, what did He do? He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the lame to walk, and fed thousands. What were the people expecting from the Messiah?

Jesus was open and honest with those with whom He walked with at the Temple, but they didn’t believe in Him as their Messiah. Jesus is still telling us by the works He does through the Holy Spirit that He is the Messiah. Are you looking for His works? What do you see Him doing in your life and in the lives of those around you? How will you respond to Him today?

What do you learn about Jesus from this scripture today? Do you believe?

Prayer – Jesus, please continue to do Your works of healing and mercy in our lives. Thank you that You have shown mercy to our family and their neighbors during a recent fire.

Verse of Salvation ~ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Portions reused from April 22, 2014 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.