Banquet With The King

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Who Has Believed Our Message?

People are funny. In the Old Testament Jesus is described as an average type guy—nothing spectacular about Him (see Isaiah 53). His life and death are predicted—but people didn’t see it coming, didn’t understand it when Jesus did live and die for us, and so many still don’t believe. Funny…but it is not a laughing matter. Trusting and believing is the key to eternal life with Jesus. Without Him—eternal life will be dark, lonely, painful.

Jesus is the light shining in the darkness.

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: "LORD, who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?" But the people couldn't believe, for as Isaiah also said, "The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts—so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them." Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah's glory. Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don't obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say." John 12:37-50 (Underlined for emphasis.)

This is so important. Trust Jesus. He came to save the world—to save us all. Without putting our faith, trust, and hope in Him, we will spend eternity without Him. The choice is ours. I choose Jesus.

Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected--a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. Isaiah 53:1-12 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are awesome. You are my God and my Savior. If You had gone to the cross for only my sins it still would have been a painful sacrifice…but You willing took on all of mankind’s sins—what an overwhelming burden. A mere Thank You is not enough…but that along with my life, my heart, soul, strength—its all I have. I give that to You. I humble myself before You—for You are pure. You shed Your blood to make me…and other followers/believers…pure. One day I will bow before You in Heaven at Your throne—for now I am bowing before You in my heart. I am so grateful that You intercede for me. Glory be to You, to God the Father, and to the Holy Spirit.

Meditate. Consider God’s plan in scripture.

Verses of Salvation ~ The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6

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, January 24, 2025

Who Do You See in the Blazing Furnace?

Have you ever stood so close to a fire that you were uncomfortable…or that singed the hair on your arms or head? Were you standing around a campfire, BBQ, or bonfire? Well, how often do you even see bonfires now? They were an annual event at the Homecoming Football Game when I was in school. The Seniors would gather wood for a week and have a big pile topped by an old outhouse when they could find one. That heap of firewood would create an intense heat that really felt good on a bitter chilly evening, but we’d keep our distance so as to not get burned.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t have that option of standing away from the fire. Since they wouldn’t worship the Babylonian idol, they were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace of Nebuchadnezzar. The amazing thing is that three men were thrown into the furnace, but when King Neb looked into the fire, there were four men. It was Jesus there to rescue Daniel’s friends. That sight enticed King Neb to praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Would you be convinced about who God is after seeing the miracle of those men not being burned up in that hotter than hot furnace? Although King Neb honored God, he was still self-righteous and delighted in his own power. Keep reading more about the Babylonian exile, Daniel, his friends and their commitment to the Lord in the book of Daniel. We can be encouraged by seeing this example of Jesus in the Old Testament.

Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." ... Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, "Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?" "Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did," they replied. "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!" ... Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Daniel 3:14-18, 20-25, 28

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I worship You…not an idol. Help me to be as devout as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—and be willing to even go into a blazing furnace, if necessary to declare my loyalty to You. Thank you for this example that Daniel and his friends provided by following Your commands. Don’t worship any other gods. No idols for them…or me.

Meditate. Consider God’s command not to worship other gods.

Verse of Salvation ~ "Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don't turn your back on him. Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you--they are totally useless! The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people. 1 Samuel 12:20-22

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Start with some fresh vegetables.

The Daniel Diet. There is actually a book and diet program by that title to help people lose weight. Like any diet program, it is one that you have to be committed to for it to work. What you put into it is the level of reward that you will receive. Daniel and his friends were committed to honoring God with their healthy bodies, so they didn’t want to eat the king’s rich foods.

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah's royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. "Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men," he said. "Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon." The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego. But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. ... But he responded, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded." ... "Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water," Daniel said. "At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king's food. Then make your decision in light of what you see." The attendant agreed to Daniel's suggestion and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. Daniel 1:3-8, 10, 12-16

Can you set aside ten days and try a diet of vegetables and water? I think that is a pretty good challenge. Eat like Daniel and his friends for ten days. Only vegetables and water. There are so many kinds of vegetables you can get enough protein and most all the vitamins and minerals that you need. You may want to take a multivitamin just to be sure.

How do you think you’ll feel and look after a totally vegetable diet? What is your favorite vegetable? Stock up and cook up a couple days’ worth of food or cook day by day if you enjoy that. This is a good time of the year to have a big pot of soup on these cold days. I think I’ll start with my favorite Apple and Butternut Squash Soup. Actually, apples are not a vegetable, so you can omit those if you really want to be like Daniel.

Apple Butternut Squash Soup 6-8 servings

1 tablespoon unsalted butter or olive oil

2 medium leeks, white part only, diced

1 red onion, chopped finely

1 green chili, chopped finely

4 cloves garlic, grated

2-inch piece of fresh ginger, microplane grated

1 butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and chopped

4 golden or Jonathan apples, peeled, cored, and chopped

2 teaspoons coarse salt

1½ teaspoons ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground coriander

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups vegetable stock

2½ cups water, plus more if needed

Toasted pecans, for garnish (optional)

Sour cream, for garnish (optional)

Melt butter or heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, onion, garlic, ginger, and chili; cook, stirring occasionally, until it becomes soft, about 4 minutes. Add squash, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add apples, salt, cumin, coriander, cayenne, black pepper, stock, and water, just enough to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook about 30 minutes, until squash and apples are very soft.

Puree in batches in a food processor or blender until smooth, and return to saucepan. Heat over low, thinning with more water if necessary. To serve, ladle into shallow bowls; garnish with sliced apples, toasted pecans, and sour cream if desired.

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

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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, January 23, 2025

I Have Seen…The LORD

Jesus is the light of the world.
Is He shinning in your heart...
in your life?

Isaiah saw the LORD God. He saw Jesus seated on His throne as he wrote in the description in Isaiah 6, in today’s focus scripture below. King Jesus’ robe was so elaborate and elegant that it filled the Temple. An awesome robe for our awesome God. Jesus’ disciple John also saw Jesus post ascension as He appears in Heaven with that long robe, like Isaiah observed. Brilliant. Shinning bright. That is our Jesus—the light of the world. Bringing light, wisdom, healing, peace, joy, and love to everyone. No fear—only everlasting life. Jesus is the one we will see in Heaven one day with glistening white hair and flaming eyes, speaking with a mighty, bold, commanding voice. He is everlasting. John describes Jesus Christ, also known as the Son of Man, in the book of Revelation.

When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:12-18

Jesus is the eternal one that Isaiah saw during the Old Testament time and John saw in the future. Like Isaiah and John, we will one day see our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face.

It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!" Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, "It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven's Armies." Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven." Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." And he said, "Yes, go, and say to this people, 'Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.' Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing." Isaiah 6:1-10 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are the Almighty God, King of kings, Lord of lords, and I look forward to seeing You face to face in day in Heaven. The whole earth will be filled with Your glory…for just as the angels declared, You are Holy, Holy, Holy. Open my eyes and ears that I may see, hear, and know You more fully—my God and my Savior.

Meditate. Consider how God is revealed in scripture.

Verse of Salvation ~ Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you." 1 Chronicles 16:35

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, January 22, 2025

A Name too Wonderful to Understand

Jesus—name above all names. If you’ve read Revelation, you may have noted in the letter to the church at Philadelphia that Jesus gets a new name and He will write the name of God on all those who are victorious.

All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name. Revelation 3:12

Sampson's riddle:
Out of the one who eats some something to eat:
out of the strong came something sweet.
Can you find and answer this riddle?
Read Judges 14.

In this focus scripture for today, below, it begins to tell the story of the Old Testament character Sampson and his parents. Jesus, as an angel of the LORD, appeared to Sampson’s mother and then to his father, too. They were to have this wonderful son and were given instructions to keep him pure—a purity that had to begin with what his mother even ate and drank during her pregnancy. It must have been a bit frightening to have seen the preincarnate Jesus because just a few verses later Manoah, Sampson’s father, realized that they had seen God and was afraid that they would die. They didn’t die because God had a plan for them and their son. Sampson later becomes a judge over Israel, but he had a great weakness when it came to women nagging him. Read for yourself about Sampson in the book of Judges. See how Jesus was evident during that time. Is there any name that is too wonderful to understand? We’ll find out later in our lives when we see Jesus in heaven. For now…may His name be a blessing to all who call on Him.

In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. The angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah's wife and said, "Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines." The woman ran and told her husband, "A man of God appeared to me! He looked like one of God's angels, terrifying to see. I didn't ask where he was from, and he didn't tell me his name. But he told me, 'You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.'" Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, saying, "Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born." God answered Manoah's prayer, and the angel of God appeared once again to his wife as she was sitting in the field. But her husband, Manoah, was not with her. ... "I will stay," the angel of the LORD replied, "but I will not eat anything. However, you may prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the LORD." (Manoah didn't realize it was the angel of the LORD.) Then Manoah asked the angel of the LORD, "What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you." "Why do you ask my name?" the angel of the LORD replied. "It is too wonderful for you to understand." Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a rock as a sacrifice to the LORD. And as Manoah and his wife watched, the LORD did an amazing thing. As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground. Judges 13:2-9, 16-20 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you again for revealing Yourself to us in the Old Testament. You have worked in wonderful and mysterious ways through all of history. Please give us wisdom to see You working in our lives…and with that wisdom, give us understanding and an ability to apply Your word to our lives. May we honor You in all that we think, do, and say.

Meditate. Consider God working in and through Old Testament history.

Verse of Salvation ~ "Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If I warn the wicked, saying, 'You are under the penalty of death,' but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me. "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. But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too." Ezekiel 3:17-21

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

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Jesus in the Old Testament—with Gideon

Place your offering on the rock.
POOF! It was instantly burned up!

How would you expect to see pre-incarnate Jesus in the Old Testament? Gideon wasn’t expecting to see the LORD—the I AM…the self-existing One. He was just doing his work threshing wheat feeling weak and abandoned by God. He was fearing the Midianites, enemy of the Israelites. Then God promises again to be with them—just as He promised to be with all those who seek and follow Him. He will never leave us or forsake us (see Deuteronomy 31:8).

Would you want a sign from God that He really was for you, that He has your back…just as Gideon did? The LORD, or angel of the LORD known also as Jesus, stayed resting under that tree where He spoke with Gideon while Gedion went and prepared a sacrifice, an offering, for the LORD. That is devotion…waiting when requested. Gideon must have felt honored to know that the LORD was waiting for him. Then the sacrifice was ready. The LORD told Gideon…“Put it on that rock.” So, he did and then POOF the LORD burned up the sacrifice and He went away.

What would your sacrifice to the LORD be? What does God want?

Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:15-17

Jesus was with Gideon. He is with each of us. May we humbly present our repentant hearts—as a symbol of our broken spirit—yielding our very lives to Him. No fear.

Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!" "Sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn't they say, 'The LORD brought us up out of Egypt'? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites." Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!" "But Lord," Gideon replied, "how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!" The LORD said to him, "I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man." Gideon replied, "If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the LORD speaking to me. Don't go away until I come back and bring my offering to you." He answered, "I will stay here until you return." Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree. The angel of God said to him, "Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it." And Gideon did as he was told. Then the angel of the LORD touched the meat and bread with the tip of the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he cried out, "Oh, Sovereign LORD, I'm doomed! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" "It is all right," the LORD replied. "Do not be afraid. You will not die." Judges 6:11-23 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing Yourself to us in the Old Testament. Awesome—that You were with Gideon, with us, and with all of Your followers. Please continue to give us wisdom and understanding that we would be able to see You working in our lives and be an encouragement to other Christians.

Meditate. Consider what God desires.

Verse of Salvation ~ Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you. But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God. Psalm 50:22-23

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, January 20, 2025

Are You Listening…Are You Hearing?

Are you listening? Are you hearing what Jesus said? Are you seeing what the Lord is teaching? …blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear…. How often do you listen to someone and not really hear what they are saying? Do you really hear what your spouse, children or grandchildren, friends or neighbors are saying? Are you so caught up in your own thoughts or chasing rabbits that you are looking right at someone and not listening to what they are saying? That’s what Jesus must have been experiencing. He spoke to people about things they knew about—sowing seeds among rocky and good soil, or stories about sheep and shepherds. Those were things that were part of their lives—their livelihood, but they still didn’t hear and make the analogy to what He was saying. Do we make that connection today and understand what Jesus is saying to us? Not many people today have anything to do with live animals—especially sheep. Oh, they may have a dog or cat—but not a lamb. Nor do many people really sow seeds—they get their plants starts from a local nursery—if they do garden. In my neighborhood only three of nine homes around us even have gardens. Everyone just goes to the grocery store for their food.

How about spiritual food? How many people do you think really get into studying the Bible for themselves—not being spoon fed by a minister on Sunday morning? How about you? Are you spoon fed or are you digging into the word—searching for Biblical truths to apply to your life yourself? Most of what Jesus taught came directly from the Old Testament, since that was the only Bible available then. Can you find in Old Testament passages what He is teaching His disciples?

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?" He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it." Matthew 13:9-17

Can your heart understand?

Prayer – Lord, open our eyes and ears to hear what you are saying and help us to not only understand the deep meaning of Your teachings, but to apply them to our lives. As You taught Your disciples from Isaiah 6, I ask that…our hearts not be hardened, and please let our ears hear, and our eyes be opened—so that we can understand, and turn to You and You can heal us. In Your mercy Lord—may we be attentive to Your every word.

Meditate. Focus on Jesus’ words and apply them to your life.

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 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Revised and reused from October 14, 2017 Banquet With The King blog.

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

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