Banquet With The King

Friday, June 7, 2024

Divide Up the Word of God

Prayer – Lord, teach me to know Your word, to apply it to my life, and to share it with others.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15-16 NKJV

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 2 Timothy 2:15-16 NLT (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. What does it mean to “divide the word of truth?”

What does it mean to “divide the word of truth?” The Strongs concordance gives the phrase of “rightly dividing” G3718 Biblical usage as “to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly.” As a person divides the word, they study it. Paul was encouraging his student Timothy to study God’s word—which at the time that this letter was written, about 66 AD, was only the Old Testament. Study the Old Testament and see parallels in the New Testament…or study the Old Testament and see it revealed in the New Testament.

Studying and knowing God’s word is an essential part Christian growth and life. The reason it is essential is so that the word of God can be “correctly explained” or taught. Jesus said to do just that.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 NLT

Teach. How will anyone know unless they are taught? It is each person’s choice. Study God’s word. Apply it to their life…and teach Jesus’ commands to others. Can you do that?

Verse of Salvation ~ Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5 NLT

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

The Friday before my birthday…hmmm. What shall we eat? Baja Fish Tacos are a favorite. I just ate that during a wonderful lunch with a friend at a local restaurant, The Dovetail Joint in Richland. The fish was a huge portion of cod, deep-fried on a slice of provolone cheese, with a great chili aioli sauce, tomatillos, slivers of red cabbage and queso cotija served on a house made corn tortilla. Yum. It was so good. I’ll be back another day. Do you enjoy fish tacos? I certainly delight in them. Would you choose to have Fish Tacos on your birthday?

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

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Choose to Agree and Mature

Prayer – Lord, I hear You telling us to agree with other Christians. I don’t have any problem with that…but it seems like so many people just can’t seem to agree with others. They want things their way. I’m not really involved in many church leadership roles right now—so I don’t see all that is going on at that level. Having been deeply past, it is odd to sit back and generally just observe. Lord, I ask that You guide those who are making decisions, not only in my church, but all across the nation and around the world that we would keep our eyes focused on You and on opportunities to serve You.

For the LORD
is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.
Psalm 113:4 NLT

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Philippians 3:15-21 NLT

Meditate. Consider spiritual maturity.

Is your god your appetite? Sometimes I just live to eat…and eat to live. Just as Paul was describing in this letter to the Philippians, there is so much more to life than what is right before us. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we became citizens of Heaven. Personally, I am eagerly waiting for His return—but I do feel a burden that I need to share Christ with others while there is still time. Do I need to head for the local parks where the homeless hang out and take along food and water and gospel tracts for them? What should I be doing? How can I serve or minister to my neighbors next door…or down the street? I am eager to go to Heaven, but I want to take as many people with me as possible.

Changed bodies! What a glorious sight that will be. Paul writes more about this transformation to the church at Corinth and to the followers in Galatia.

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. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 NLT

It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. Galatians 6:15-16 NLT

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT

Rejoice in this new life that Christ has given us. Choose to know more of Christ each day—growing deeper in your relationship with Him—becoming spiritually mature.

Verse of Salvation ~ Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:7-10 NLT

Happy Birthday, Dear Harriett! Happy Birthday to 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

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Do You Know Christ? Does He Know You?

Prayer – Lord, I look forward to a glorious resurrection—much like Yours. I’m waiting patiently. I’ve always thought that Your return and calling Your believers to heaven would happen in my lifetime…but I’ve been waiting now for over fifty years…and it hasn’t happened. Still I’m pressing on to the goal of perfection and of a home in Heaven with You…and a billion other Christians! What a glorious place that will be! Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Meditate. Consider the resurrection experience of Jesus Christ…and what yours will be like one day.

The Empty Garden Tomb
Jerusalem, Israel

Are you really ready to experience the resurrection from the dead? Can you forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead? What does lie ahead? Consider what Jesus went through for you…and then after three days in the tomb, He was resurrected. He has promised that you will be resurrected, too, just like He was. We will become perfect and ready to serve Christ as kings and priests in His Kingdom. Do you know Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords—in your own life? Does He see you as an obedient servant—one who will serve one day in His Kingdom?

In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray…thy Kingdom come, thy will be done. Are you spiritually ready for God’s Kingdom to come…for you to go where He wants you to go to serve Him? Be ready, for we don’t know the hour or the day that He wants us to serve Him…or to go to be with Him in Heaven.

Verses of Salvation ~ And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT

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

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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

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Are You Ever at a Loss for Words?

Prayer – Lord, I am at a loss for words. Speak for me, Holy Spirit—for You know just what to say. Thank you.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 NKJV

If you have no words...
Don't crow--just listen.

Meditate. Is this a time to listen and not speak?

Are you ever at a loss for words when you are praying? Is your burden so great that you just can’t speak? No words can express your grief, sadness, loss, insecurity or anxiety. The Holy Spirit has your back. He will stand up before our Heavenly Father and tell it like it is in your heart and soul. His words may sound like groanings—but they express just how you feel…and relieve that burden. Can you just feel it lifting from your shoulders? When we are weak and burdened, the Holy Spirit helps us.

Look at the verses prior to our focus Scripture today. Remember it is good to study God’s words in context. Paul was writing about lots of groaning going on in this portion of Scripture.

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) Romans 8:18-25

When you are weak…pray if you can. If not, know that the Holy Spirit will groan for you.

It is exciting that this Scripture above also tells us that all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Yes. I am sitting on the edge of my chair…waiting! I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior…but there are others that claim Jesus as their Savior, yet they wonder, may I say question or have doubts, about whether God will choose to take them to Heaven. Paul states here that we have this hope…we got it when we were saved. Now we must just wait patiently and confidently for Christ’s return. The longer it takes, the more I feel like groaning, but I’m trusting in God. He has a plan and only He knows when He will send Jesus back for His church. Come quickly Jesus.

Where will you be going when Christ returns for His church? If Jesus is your Savior, you can be assured that you will be going home to Heaven…along with several million other Christians. Christ told His followers to “be ready.” Are you ready? The choice is yours.

Verse of Salvation ~ How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the weak! Job 26:2

Are you helping others by bringing them the Good News about Jesus Christ?

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, June 3, 2024

Are You Tired?

Prayer – Lord, I need a rest after my “restful” vacation! Renew, refresh, and give me rest for my body, mind, and soul.

Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.' " Exodus 16:23 NKJV

Meditate. Consider the rest you need daily.

Our bodies need rest every day…every night. God made us that way—and we need a special rest on the Sabbath day. God even instructed the Israelites through Moses to prepare their meals for the Sabbath ahead of time so that there was no work to be done on the Sabbath. Do we follow that pattern today? I don’t, but I think I’ll start doing that more often. Yesterday, on the traditional Christian Sabbath, we went out for lunch. That is sort of awkward. Do those who prepare and serve our food at a restaurant on a Sunday take another day off for their Sabbath? I always hope so!

After a month long “vacation” with family to celebrate our grandson’s graduation from High School, Junior College, and his Eagle Scout award, as well as a trip to the famous Happy Place amusement park for four days of fun, I’m ready for some extra rest. It is well known that most people need at least eight hours sleep every night for their bodies to function at their best. I’ve gotten to the point where a little afternoon snooze is always welcome—but I feel a little guilty using the best part of the day to drift off into a restful bliss. Those hours of sunshine when I could be walking, doing yardwork or even kayaking are wasted with dreaming. There is value in rest—so take it. I’m hoping to “catch up” on my rest and get back into my normal busy groove, refreshed soon. Here’s some parting wisdom for the day about resting without fear—that would be refreshing.

Jellyfish
Do they ever rest?

My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:21-26 NLT

Choose for yourself to rest--and the Lord will bless you.

Verse of Salvation ~ What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people. Psalm 116:12-14 NKJV

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, June 2, 2024

Are You Still Here? Where Else Would I Be?

Prayer ~ Lord, You have promised to never leave me or forsake me…and I have promised You that I will never leave You or forsake You. That gives me so much hope, assurance, snd security in my relationship with You. Relationship. That is what life and hope is all about in the spiritual realm.

The Spirit gives life and hope.
To us…and to Israel.
Read Isaiah 41.
Wind blows…the flag furls.

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. John 3:1-9

Meditate on the words that Jesus spoke.

The wind blows wherever it wants. Whether it is a gentle breeze or a fierce destructive tornado, the wind does blow at the speed, force, and direction that it wants to go. Sure there are some reasons we have wind—heat temperature on the earth—on land and water—rising and falling create air currents, but we have little control over that.

Spiritually, how are we like the wind? It has been said that the Holy Spirit—as He breathed breathe into Adam— was like the wind. Air—oxygen—is necessary for life. Spiritual breath is necessary, too, just as Jesus told Nicodemus…you must be born again.

I cherish God’s promises.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

We don’t have to be afraid when we know God is with us. We don’t have to ask if He is still here. Yes. He is with us. Where else would He be. Are you choosing to be with Him?

Salvation Verse ~ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Romans 5:3-6

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

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

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

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Heading Home - Where are You Going?

Prayer – Lord, my heart is not at all troubled because I am looking forward to being “at home” —in Your Father’s house someday…forever with You! I have faith in You that You will keep Your promise. Come quickly, Lord.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8

Meditate. Consider “Where is Home?”

Where is home—where are you going? Abraham went where God told him to go without knowing where he was going. He acted in faith. Jesus had promised us a home in heaven…in His Father’s house.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1-3

We know that Jesus is in Heaven—seated at God’s right hand—the favored place. See Like 22:69 and Hebrews 1:3. Where is your favorite place? Are you looking forward to going to Heaven—the new and eternal home for all believers.

Verse 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. y

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