Banquet With The King

Monday, July 22, 2024

Don't Let Your Heart Be Deceived

Prayer – Lord, guard my heart and my mind. Don’t let me be deceived. I’ll carefully obey all Your commands because I love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength—no other gods for me!

If you carefully obey all the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the LORD your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat. But be careful. Don't let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the LORD and serve and worship other gods. If you do, the LORD's anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the LORD is giving you. Deuteronomy 11:13-17 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider Old Testament and New Testament teachings.

Have you ever been deceived? Maybe it was a broken promise from your folks or a friend. Kids are picky and deceptive in power struggles that lead themselves and others astray. I think of friendships when I was in grade school—how there were cliques that we all wanted to be part of—but weren’t. I’ve seen the same thing happen in a youth group at a church my grands attend. You’d think that would be a “safe” friendly place—but not so. It is easy to be deceived by the kids in power struggles.

The serpent and the fruit in The Garden

The first time that we see deception in the Bible is in the Garden of Eden when that wryly serpent tells Eve that the forbidden fruit is “good” even though God had specifically told Adam NOT to eat it. Choices-choices!

Then the LORD God asked the woman, "What have you done?"

"The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it." Genesis 3:13

Take a look at the last time we see “deceived” at the end of the Bible. Who is the ultimate deceiver and his punishment?

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

Don’t be deceived. Critically and intentionally look at God’s word for He has given us the best guidance all beforehand. We simply have to search, study, and apply His words to our lives. Here’s a couple of verses to hang onto.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Ephesians 5:15

Be careful how you choose to live day by day…moment by moment.

Verses of Salvation ~ This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. 1 Peter 1:10-11

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

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Are Your Branches Being Pruned?

Prayer – Lord, I trimmed our grape vines recently…and was reminded that You are the true grapevine…I am only a branch. Fruit is forming…but is not fully grown or ripe yet. The harvest of those grapes is still over a month or more away. Help me to grow in the fruit of the Spirit with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I want to be fruitful…and useful to You—today and throughout eternity.

Grape vine, branches, and grapes.
Are you producing fruit?

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5

Meditate. Have you eaten any fresh grapes lately?

Have you ever watched grapes grow? Have you picked them when they were ripe—eating those tasty grapes while they were still warm from the late summer sunshine? What could be better?

We have terrific neighbors who several years ago planted a couple of grape vines along the fence that separates our yards. The grapes that grow on our side of the fence are ours to enjoy…and we do! I love watching for the tiny blossoms that sprout early in the spring…and the leaves that grow to monstrous sizes covering and hiding the grapes so you have to peek around to see them. Right now, they are all green—so they blend right in.

Tendrils - gripping their neighboring tendrils.

People in Jesus’ time were familiar with grapes—growing them, eating them, and using them for making wine. He told His disciples that He was the grapevine. He gave strength to the plant—He didn’t produce the fruit—that grew on the branches. We—like Jesus’ declaration to the Disciples—are the branches. If we’re faithful and produce fruit—we won’t be cut off or trimmed away. My grapevines have to be trimmed back or we just cannot mow the grass next to the fence. I only trim the vines that are hanging down to the ground and that don’t have any grapes growing on them. Part of the trimming process includes cutting back branches that have tendrils hanging onto other branches. Those tendrils are just gripping the close branches reminding me of clingy people who just don’t want to let go of others. They’ve no real purpose of their own—but they intertwine their lives with others. No fruit—just twisted hooks of shoots entwining around others—seeking a purpose through the growth of those close by. Cut them off. They are of no use to me…or Jesus. Put the water and energy into the fruit instead. That is really the purpose in the trimming. Who wants to waste water or resources on something that is not producing fruit? Those branches that are cut off will never produce fruit.

Jesus challenged those listening to Him to remain in Him. Are you listening? Have you made a choice to do that today?

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.

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Prayer – Lord, my hope is in You. Joy doesn’t equate with happiness—I can even have joy amidst tension, crisis, chaos, and conflict. You give me joy just knowing how much You love me—and that I have the promise of an eternal home with You one day in Heaven. Until then…I’ll focus on Your love…and loving others. There is no greater joy…or hope…than You.

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Meditate. Consider who/what brings joy to your life and how you can share joy with others.

Do you have joy in your life? From where or what do you attribute that joy?

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:6-8

Going through fiery trials.

Can you imagine enduring trials…as Peter wrote, many trials? That may be what will happen for us in the future. People are predicting that there will be turmoil and unrest in the United State like we have never seen before. Are you prepared for that? It is a wise choice to consider what you will do if civil unrest occurs in our country. The best advice I’ve heard is to get out of the cities. You can already see how people are disobedient and destructive in cities like Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York…and others. If stores are broken into and goods just carried away, will home invasions be next? For now, prayer is the best defense. We can count on God to protect us and provide for us day by day, but there are even examples in the Bible where God’s people had to suffer—look at Job, Joseph, and Hagar. Paul tells the Corinthians and us that although we suffer, God comforts us.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Comfort and Joy! Seek Jesus and the comfort and joy that He offers…and it is not even Christmas!

Verses of Salvation ~ The reward for trusting him (Jesus Christ) will be the salvation of your souls. This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 1 Peter 1:9-10

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

Friday, July 19, 2024

Have You Received a New Nature?

Prayer – Lord, refresh me with Your truth. Help me to throw off my old nature—that judgmental spirit that has so plagued me. Renew a right spirit within me that I would think, say, and do things that are pleasing to You.

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:21-24

Meditate. What will a new creation of yourself be like?

Granddaughter Lydia throwing a pot!
Good job!

Have you ever created something out of clay—maybe a hand-built bowl in Grade School or even thrown a pot in a High School or College art class? God is referred to as the “potter” in several Bible verses.

And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Think about how He formed Adam from the dust...the clay…and created him “in our image” as portrayed in Genesis.

Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground." Genesis 1:26

This scripture text today talks about the new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. We have to throw off the old to become new. New…with God’s righteousness and holiness.

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." Titus 3:3-7

Hang in there…make good choices to be obedient and to encourage others.

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews 3:12-14

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

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

When it was hot in the summer in Israel, during Jesus’ time, what do you think He ate to cool off? I don’t think they had ice…and with no refrigeration they were at the mercy of any cool stream or deep well that might offer cool water. Remember how Jesus at a wedding in Cana turned the water into wine as His first miracle (see John 2:1-11)? He had the servants fill the waterpots that were normally used for Jewish purification ritual. Those pots held twenty to thirty gallons of water. He turned that water into wine. It was probably cool since the servants had just drawn the water from the well. Cool water or wine—refreshing on a hot summer day. Be sure to drink plenty of cool water during these scorching days.

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, July 18, 2024

Are You Looking for Renewed Hope?

Prayer – Lord, it is such a comfort to know that You will not reject or abandon Your chosen people—the Jews and those Gentiles who believe in You. You give me hope—renewed hope and encouragement. Thank you!

The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession. Judgment will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it. Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, "I am slipping!" but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:14-19

Study. Work hard...to show yourself approved...
explain the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

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

Have you ever felt like you were falling, spiritually? Going down…and down…spiraling into darkness—or maybe it is just apathy? Best recommendation I have for that—as I tried it for myself—is getting back into God’s word on a regular basis. It’s the best choice you’ll ever make. Actually, the Lord Himself told Joshua the importance of studying the Book of Instruction—the early version of the Bible.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8

Give it a try. Obedience is the key. What have you got to lose? What will you gain if you do read, study, and meditate on God’s word?

Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!" Psalm 40:16

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, July 17, 2024

Glory in Our Future?

Prayer – Lord, what does it mean to be “glorified” and will we be glorified with You? Please give me insight into that.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:14-17 NKJV

Meditate. Consider glorification.

Glory. Glory. Glory.
The Sunrise on God's Creation!

Glory. Glory. Glory. Exalt. Lift up. Honor. That is just what God receives: glory and honor. Our approval. Here we see that Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome that they will be glorified with Christ. That same thing will happen to us—to be glorified together with Christ. The not so wonderful part is that we will suffer with Him, but that will something that we’ll be able to endure because we can claim…

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT

We can endure whatever we have to with no fear. Paul taught Timothy that he would have to suffer hardships—partake in afflictions. Furthermore, Paul instructed Timothy to teach that truth and others to faithful followers. God never promised that our lives would be easy if we believe in Him, but that He would always be with us. That is a promise that I keep close to my heart. Praise Abba Father.

The glory of the Lord will be an awesome sight to behold in Heaven…and we’ll be there someday with Jesus…and be glorified with Him. Search and study for yourself: glory, glorified, glorification. Choose to know more about God and His plan for your future. Let me know in the comments below what you think about your own future glorification.

Verse of Salvation ~ I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness. LORD, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Psalm 119:40-41

Happy Birthday, Melissa!

May God continue to bless you and guide you day by day!

Blessings--with Love & Prayers

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

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Where Do Good Things Come From?

Prayer – Lord, You protect me…my family, friends, and neighbors…as we take refuge in You. I am convinced that every good thing comes from You!

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the LORD, "You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you." The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods. LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. Psalm 16:1-5

Meditate. Consider God’s protection and the goodness of God.

Do you feel safe where you are? Where does that safety…and other good things…come from? The Psalmist is asking God to keep him safe and attributing the good things in his life to our Lord.

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. 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 73:23-28

Do you seek other gods?
Shiva Nataraja
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Kansas City

What happens to those who seek other gods and those who turn their backs on the one true God—our Lord and Savior? Troubles multiply. They will perish.

Everyone has troubles—our health will eventually fail—and everyone will die. Death is part of life—but life after death is the inheritance—the cup of blessing that we are promised. Just as David thanked God for His blessing…we should be grateful for the good things that God provides—especially His Son Jesus as our Savior. That blessing is an eternal blessing. We will be with Him forever. Trust that promise.

For you are God, O LORD. And you have promised these good things to your servant. And now, it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, so that it will continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing, O LORD, it is an eternal blessing!" 1 Chronicles 17:26-27

Praise Him—for God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—for He is worthy of our praise.

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

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