Banquet With The King

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

How to…Accept Christ as My Savior

Prayer – Lord, there are people out there who don’t know You as their Savior…or are still hesitating to take that important step. Give them the courage to seek You first in their lives. I’m grateful that I did—but most of all grateful that You loved our Heavenly Father enough to be totally obedient to Him—and to give your life for us. Thank you.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

Meditate. Think about God’s love.

Crucifixion Sculpture
Holy Sepulchre Church.
Jerusalem, Israel

Consider the ABC’s of salvation. A simple method for taking steps to recognize and accept Jesus as your Savior. He went to the cross to redeem us from our sins.

A – Acknowledge or Admit that you are a sinner.

No one is righteous—not even one. Romans 3:10

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

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

B – Believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10

C – Call on the Name of the Lord

Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Romans 10:13

It looks too straightforward, too easy, but don’t wait. It is worthwhile considering its life changing effect. That “saving” means to be “saved from your sins” and given the promise of eternal life with God—in Heaven! A much better place to be than an eternity away from the presence of God—in darkness, hell, or a Lake of Fire. Make your decision to believe in Jesus…in God… today. Life is short…we don’t know when our time will be up…or when the Lord will return for His church.

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

For additional scripture encouragement read the April 30, 2020 Banquet With The King blog.

Banquet With The King: This is Better Than a Great Discount Coupon…While There is Time (kingstablefeast.blogspot.com)

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, November 6, 2023

What Should We Do?

Prayer – Lord, I need Your inspiration to guide me as to “what to do” on a daily basis while life goes on and we wait for Your return. Your return for believers. Whether it is today or a thousand years from now—I don’t just want to sit and watch the latest Middle East war unfolding before our very eyes on YouTube videos. I want to do what You want me to do—to honor You.

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 2 Corinthians 1:12

Meditate. Consider what God expects of us as faithful followers.

Before Jesus came to earth as a human being it was prophesied just what He would do. Take a look at this passage from Isaiah. Jesus gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, healed the lame, healed the lepers, and cast out demons. He gave the Jews their Promised Land which has become a great agriculture area. He even ministers to us today around the world. No fear for those who draw near to Him.

Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there. Isaiah 35:4-8

Are you a faithful follower?
Who or what are you following?

So, what would He have us do while we wait on Him for His return? Our relationship to God is of upmost importance. How can we develop that relationship…and walk in faithfulness? First, you must be a believer in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Savior. He’s already given His earthly life—taking your sins and mine upon His perfect self to the cross to die a brutal death. Now, we need to do more than sit back and wait for Him to redeem us. Here's a start of a good "Do List" for those like me who like to make lists and prioritize just what actions I need to take.

1. Decide to put God first in your life. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

2. Read your Bible—get to know God more intimately every day.

3. Pray – communicate with your Heavenly Father—as well as Jesus and the Holy Spirit

4. Fellowship with other believers. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

5. Trust God in everything—in all circumstances. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. Psalm 91:2

6. Yield to the Holy Spirit. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians 5:16

7. Be willing to give up your own selfish desires. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. James 3:15

My favorite verses cover it all.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Isn’t that what His faithful followers should be doing? Actually, going beyond “thinking” by putting into practice everything that God has taught us. If we fix our thoughts and actions on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable, we will be doing just what God wants us to. Is that too much to expect of ourselves?

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

Do list modified from teaching of Brenda Weltner.

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, November 5, 2023

Transformation

Prayer – Lord, You have assured us that we will be like You…transformed. What will we look like? Will others recognize us? Will we know them?

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 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. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:50-55

Meditate. What is transformation?

How will we look when we are transformed? Will we look like our transformed Savior, Jesus Christ? He seemed to be recognizable to His disciples—so as we will be transformed in the blink…or twinkling…of an eye we will still look the same to our family and friends. We’ll know them, too. This is going to be so exciting!

I heard a great explanation for our transformation. We must seek to have pure hearts—for only those with purity will be able to stand before the Almighty God. That is where I hope to be one day. Standing before the throne of God. I hope you are standing there with me. We must be purely transformed in order to be worthy of standing before God. It is only by the blood of Jesus that our hearts and lives can be purified.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. Psalm 86:11

What are we to do? Paul was specific in his teaching of Timothy.

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. ... Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 1 Timothy 1:5, 19

Don’t let your faith or your relationship with the Lord be shipwrecked. That relationship is of vital importance to your spiritual life.

Verse of Salvation ~ Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! The LORD has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Psalm 98:1-3

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

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Planted Into the Ground

Prayer – Lord, plants grow…and so do people. As we “mature” physically and spiritual, please give us wisdom to understand the new realm that we will one day be a part of—Your heavenly spiritual world.

It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. 1 Corinthians 15:42-49

Meditate. Planting in the ground.

Are you just an earthly body? Can you envision your spiritual body?

I grew up watching plants grow in the fields on our farm…and those near my home. I just took it for granted that plants grow. The fields are plowed, seeds planted and watered…and they grow and are harvested. Just part of life. People are pretty much the same. Babies, like little plants, get bigger. Before we know it…toddlers turn into big kids running, riding bikes, and then driving cars. That’s physical growth…how about spiritual growth? Spiritual growth has to be much more intentional. It begins with a choice to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the spiritual creator and leader of all mankind.

Jesus began with a natural body…as a baby born in Bethlehem. When He was baptized His spiritual life began…and God the Father was well pleased with Him (Matthew 3:17). Do you see any difference in Christ, before His death and after His resurrection? Even prophesy describes the way He would look after His crucifixion. Study those portions of scripture for yourself and discover a truth that you hadn’t noticed before.

And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Luke 9:29 (At His Transformation)

But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. Isaiah 52:14

She (Mary Magdalene) turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. John 20:14

Bread and Fish
Jesus fed 5,000 men and their families.
A Miracle!

He must have just been an ordinary looking guy—nothing noteworthy in His appearance until He went through the transfiguration. After the beatings right before His crucifixion, His face was not recognizable. Then immediately after His resurrection, again He was not recognized. When He appeared to the Disciples in the Upper Room that evening after His disciples knew Him—so we can assume that His face looked like His pre-cross face. Good looks are valued in our society today—but there are few really perfect faces—why would Jesus have one. People are drawn to charismatic, charming and good-looking people. People were drawn to Jesus because He was a teacher, healer, and provided food for the masses. After He was resurrected, He appeared to more than 500 people at one time—but He drew much larger crowds when He miraculously fed the 5,000 men and their families, with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. No matter how He looks, physically, His spiritual being is life-giving and that spiritual dimension is the feature that His faithful followers will one day also embody. Raised from mortal to immortal spiritual being. Buried in a weak form…and raised in an everlasting form of glorious strength.

He was not weak…but we are weak in these earthly bodies. When we will be raised, we will be strong.

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. Psalm 73:25-28

There’s the quintessential component of our relationship with Jesus. Telling others. That is God’s purpose for us. Planting seeds in others as we share the love and truth of the Lord.

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:8-9

Verse of Salvation ~ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

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, November 3, 2023

How Will the Dead Be Raised?

Prayer – Lord, for hundreds of years…well actually a couple thousand years people have asked about life after death…about our life everlasting. We are still asking the same question. What is this “glory of heavenly and earthly bodies” all about? Please give us insight into Your word that we might understand what You directed Paul and even John to write about the dead being raised. Resurrection for everyone?

The Empty Tomb - Jerusalem, Israel
How will the dead be raised?
Like Jesus.

But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?" What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 1 Corinthians 15:35-42 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Life. Death. Resurrection.

What questions do you have about life…or about death? There are always questions…and we are searching for answers. Searching for God. When we search for God…we will find Him. He has promised.

God has a plan for all of mankind…but He allows us to have free will. His plan is resurrection of our mortal bodies…into immortal spiritual bodies that can worship Him in spirit and in truth…in His heavenly Temple in Heaven.

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. ... 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 3:15-16, 20-21

We can hang onto that promise…we will be changed. Paul assures the church at Philippi, as well as the church at Corinth, that we will be given “new bodies” which will be glorious bodies. We will be pure, undefiled, and able to stand before the Almighty God and worship Him in His heavenly home—which will be our new home, too. Glory. Glory. Glory. Changed to be like our Savior Jesus Christ. That is just how God describes that the dead in Christ will be raised.

Verse of Salvation ~ Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I (Paul) preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 2 Timothy 2:8-10

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Life is unpredictable. It is time to begin planning your Thanksgiving Day menu…if you haven’t already started. Who, What Where, and When…and throw in the How, too? Who can you include in your holiday planning? How could you show “love” to your “neighbor,” someone less fortunate, or a truly homeless person? What can you do for others? When and where have you made contributions to your local foodbank, Salvation Army, or even some school project reaching out to a student and their family when they are eating fewer meals than you are? This is a challenging time of the year. Everyone wants you to give to their project. They want your money…food…an indication of your love…for the Lord and them. Can you do that?

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) u? nless 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, November 2, 2023

Belong?

Prayer – Lord, life and death…that’s what our existence is all about. But You are the hope of all who believe in You. I believe. Thank you for all you’ve done…and will do for mankind.

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. 1 Corinthians 15:21-23

Meditate. Life and Death.

Everyone dies. Life is simple that way. We’re born. We live. We die. No one escapes death—ever since Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit in Eden. Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth gives us hope—the hope of resurrection with Christ. …everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life…all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. Up, up and away! What a glorious day that will be!

This is the “harvest” time of the year. Think of all the fresh fruits and vegetables that you’ve recently gathered or purchased…and now are enjoying. Jesus spoke about the harvest.

Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! John 4:34-36

The Jewish custom is of three harvests. The first is given to God—that tithe or ten percent. The second is the greatest—the general harvest—providing for everyone. The third harvest is the gleaning. Think of the book of Ruth, how she gleaned in Boaz’ fields. The landowners were instructed to leave the corners of their fields for the poor or less fortunate.

"When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:22

He was seated on a white cloud...
swinging His sickle.
Are you ready for the harvest?

God will call for the harvest. Will it be soon?

Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, "Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe." So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested. Revelation 14:14-16

Will you be ready when the harvest begins…the call for the resurrection of believers? Are you going to be raised in that harvest…do you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you belong to Him?

Verses 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

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, November 1, 2023

Are You Afraid to Die?

Prayer – Lord, You were such a good example for us all—no fear. You did ask the Father to let that cup—the inevitability of the cross—pass from You, but You obediently went to the cross for us. That was part of God’s plan for mankind. I’m not afraid to die—because I know that I’ll be with You.

Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

Meditate. What do you fear?

Recently a friend of mine asked me, “Are you afraid to die?” We had just watched the movie “After Death” so it was a natural question to discuss. I responded with “No, are you?” Neither of us is afraid to die—we just are sad for those we leave behind…unless of course, we are all raptured together! Since the mid-1970’s and Hal Lindsey’s book, “The Late Great Planet Earth” I’ve felt that I will still be alive when God call His followers to Heaven in the rapture. Will that happen soon? Are you ready…or do you have fears and doubts.

What are you afraid of? Fear of the future? Fear of the COVID-19 virus or the economic impact that has created? Fear of being home alone…or just being alone? Fear of what others think of you…or that you are not good enough? Fear of what tomorrow holds…or doesn’t? Afraid of taking part in some sport—fear of getting hurt? Fear of fire, storms or icy roads? Fear that keeps you from falling asleep—a fear that you won’t wake up? Fear of being abandoned? Fear of not being loved…or not having an opportunity to love others?

Fear of...fire, flames, or
judgment?

Consider God’s perfect love for us.

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:17-18

How do you feel about death? Are you afraid of those who could kill you...or are you afraid of death itself? Some people are just terrified of death. Many elderly sit in nursing or assisted living homes and tremble at the thought of death and leaving their loved ones behind. Not me...I am ready—spiritually at least—for Christ to take me to heaven. There is a lot of stuff I need to get rid of and downsize until that time of home going arrives. More important, I need to tell a few others about the Good News of Jesus death for us and His amazing resurrection. For now...I respect God—the creator of all things—and I have learned to focus on Him, respectfully. Just thinking of being in Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—and those who know and love Him puts a smile on my face. How about you? Are you smiling…or wondering how you can claim Jesus as your Savior? All—everyone around the world and throughout all time—have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Trust Him…repent of your sins…and embrace what He did for you by taking your sins upon Himself to the cross. He paid your debt. Death has lost its sting. In my opinion, there is no need to be afraid to die.

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.

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