Banquet With The King

Monday, November 24, 2025

Are You Listening…and Understanding?

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Matthew 11:15

Meditate. Consider and read Jesus’ words and listen to what He is saying.

Are You Listening?
Reenactment of the Lord's Supper
Richland Naz Church

Jesus frequently challenged His listeners with the phrase “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” Google for yourself, search in the Blue Letter Bible app, or some other Bible exploring application to see all the instances that Jesus or others used that phrase. Are you really hearing Jesus’ message as you read His words? Do you understand what Jesus was teaching in each of the parables that concludes with the “listen and understand” phrase? How about the situations in the book of Revelation that use that same phrase? We’ll look at those a little close in the next few weeks and try to apply those to our lives. How will we understand if we don’t listen?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, help me to focus on Your words, Your teachings, so that as I listen I can have an understanding of precisely what You are teaching. Then, let me pass that lesson on to others that they would know You better, day by day. I praise You and Thank You for Your sacrifice, love, and service to all believers.

Verses of Salvation ~ Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. "Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come." This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. 1 Timothy 4:7-10

Happy Birthday, Marv.

Blessings on your day!

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 23, 2025

Do You Put Your Fingers in Your Ears?

Stones in a rock wall - Israel.
Is your heart as hard as stone?
Do you hear the Lord's message?

Then this message came to Zechariah from the LORD: "This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other. Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the LORD of Heaven's Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the LORD of Heaven's Armies was so angry with them. Zechariah 7:8-12 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider God’s message and anger in scripture.

Judge fairly, be kind and generous, and listen to God’s message. Unwillingness to hear results in a heart of stone and anger from God. That’s what I get from Zechariah’s message. This may have been a message to the Israelites before Jesus was born, but it is still a good message for today. Listen up.

Do you ever put your fingers in your ears…or use earplugs to keep out some noise like your neighbor’s dog or your snoring mate? Get your fingers out of your ears and listen to God’s message. Your heart may be hardened like that of Pharaoh when Moses challenged him to let the Hebrew people go (see Exodus 4-14). The Egyptians learned to know the Lord God of the Israelites—the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He is the mighty God, creator of the universe…and all powerful. Ultimately, they learned that He saved His people when the Angel of death went over their country. Hard hearts don’t listen or hear the message from the Lord.

Is your heart hard? Are you able to hear God’s message? Are you reading His word daily? Is the message from God being blocked because your fingers are in your ears?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I’ve taken my fingers out of my ears—so I hear You loud and clear now. Show me how to judge fairly and to show mercy and kindness to others.

Verses of Salvation ~ Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Isaiah 51:4-6

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

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

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 22, 2025

Open Up Your Ears - Listen

Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. Isaiah 55:3

Meditate. Consider God’s promises in scripture.

Do you need to clean your ears? Wax build-up? What else could hamper your hearing? This was part of Isaiah’s invitation to salvation. Scripture should not be taken out of context, so looking at more of this chapter gives us some insight into Isaiah’s message…and you’ll see some other familiar verses there.

"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. ... Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!" Isaiah 55:1-2, 6-12 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Peace on Earth.
Turn to God...and live in joy and peace.

God has a marvelous promise for those who seek Him. Isaiah tells us plainly, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. Forgiveness is essential in God’s Kingdom. People have to be aware of their sins, repent, and they will be forgiven. Their sins will be washed away by the blood of Jesus. In this passage, one of God’s final promises is that those whom the Lord forgives will live in joy and peace. What more could we ask for? It sounds a bit like a Christmas song or card. Joy and Peace. Besides love, those are probably the most sought after qualities in life. Everyone has problems…trials and tribulations. Peace and joy lessen or eliminate those problems. Joy to the world. Peace on earth and in our hearts. Yes.

So, open your ears. Clean them if necessary and listen to what God has to say to us through His prophets, history, and teachings in the Bible. God listens to those who love and obey Him. Personally, I want to listen to Him. He is eager to provide an everlasting covenant and unfailing love—that would be an eternal love.

The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. Psalm 34:15-16

We are warned to do good, not evil. Are your ears open to hear that message?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You were there with the people in the Old Testament—although they didn’t know it—see or hear it. Now the Holy Spirit is with each of us who trust in You as our Savior. You’ve given so much—Your very life and blood for our salvation. Thank You.

Verses of Salvation ~ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:4-8

Happy Birthday Brother Barry!

Blessings for a wonderful day…and year.

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 21, 2025

Do You Really Listen?

You see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don't really listen. Isaiah 42:20

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

Who is like a selfish baby alligator?
Life is about me...and I won't listen.

Wow! Can anyone see and recognize what is right but refuse to act on it? Oh, yes. People can know what is right, but not do it. That’s just what people do! How many times have you broken one of the Ten Commandments? Maybe not intentionally, but it happens.

Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments into two points: love God, love others. Have you read those Ten Commandments out loud lately? Things appear more important, realistic, and obviously true when we see AND hear them. Do you realize that those directives can be both literal and figurative? For example, do not murder points out that it is not acceptable to kill other people, of course. It also means that a person should not “murder” another person’s character by destroying their integrity. Gossip can do just that. Do you ever gossip, inadvertently reveal a secret, or portray an unacceptable attitude about a person—even if it seems true? Is that showing love for that other person? Gotta ya. I’m guilty of that, too.

Do you hear yourself…are you listening to yourself? If you are listening to God…really listening, and comprehending what He says…then you’re going to hear some good stuff…and you’re going to learn the truth of life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He listened intently to His Father…and He obeyed. In His obedience, He died for our sins. If we accept Jesus and what He did—dying on the cross for us—then we will have eternal life in Heaven with God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That is the truth really worth listening to. Are you listening?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I hear You. You gave up so much to save mankind. Thank you.

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

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What are you planning for next Thursday’s Thanksgiving dinner? Are you even having a special dinner that day? Part of my family had an early Thanksgiving Dinner to celebrate with my brother and sister-in-law before they went to spend the winter in a warmer climate. Snowbirds—fly away when it turns gray—fly away when it turns cold…that is the beginning of getting old.

Typical Turkey Day Menu:

Turkey – smoked/roasted/fried

Ham

Mashed potatoes

Gravy

Stuffing – Cornbread or traditional bread

Cranberry sauce (homemade)

Corn Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Yams with marshmallows

Broccoli Salad

Jello Salad

Rolls – Fresh homemade with butter & jelly

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Coffee/tea/sparkling cider

Non-typical Thanksgiving Day Menu

Butternut squash soup

Lentil casserole

Apple & Nut Waldorf Salad

Collard Greens

Whole wheat rolls

Fruit Pie (Bumbleberry, Apple, Peach, Cherry)

What is going to be on your plate?

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

Thursday, November 20, 2025

LISTEN - Do You Hear What I Hear?

A psalm of Asaph. O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. Psalm 78:1-4 (Underlined for emphasis.)

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

We are advised many times throughout the Bible to listen. Actually, there are 505 verses associated with the word listen, while 26 verses specifically identify ears and listen. The first time we see these words together is in Psalm 78, the Psalm of Asaph, who was the son of a chief Levitical musician and himself chosen to be the chief singer during David’s time.

Interesting that Asaph talks about speaking in parables—just like Jesus. Could this be a prophecy of Jesus’ teachings? Yes, very likely. Jesus even told His disciples that the truths He was teaching were hidden from some people, but revealed to them and other followers. Depending on their background, even today, the parables may be meaningless to some people.

Note that the listening goes both ways. David pleaded for the Lord to listen to him and to save him.

O LORD, I have come to you for protection; don't let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. Psalm 31:1-2 (Underlined for emphasis.)

I will hear from Heaven.
You don't have to be in Jerusalem for...
God to hear your prayers.

The classic and well-known assurance of God hearing our prayers is His promise that comforts many believers. Most people know of this verse because they want our country to be healed—physically, fiscally, and spiritually. The key, of course, is for people to seek the Lord, to repent, to pray, and to be forgiven.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Listen to hear God’s voice. He will be listening to you. Use your ears—that’s what God made them for.

Prayer – Lord, thank you for hearing my prayers—even though you know what I’m going to say before I utter one word. Thank you for caring about all of mankind, forming relationships with us, and listening to our whining, complaining, grateful, and pleading prayers. We are so undeserving yet Jesus became the sacrifice for all mankind’s sin on the cross. You alone are worthy of the focus of our attention.

Verse of Salvation ~ Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16

Happy Birthday to Sylvia and Marti.

How sweet to share such a special day in your lives!

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 19, 2025

Sunlight Illuminates Our Attitude

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12

Meditate on light and listening.

I have joy in my heart when the sun is shining…especially after a gloomy day. When the sunlight is driving out miserable weather, I find myself humming the lyrics to a John Denver song… Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy…or one of many songs about Jesus shining. Shine Jesus Shine/fill this land with the Father’s glory….

Light. It is an extremely subtle, bright quality that is only from God. It is not the light we associate with sunshine, electric lights, or even candlelight. It is a pure form of spiritual energy that comes from truth and knowledge. John tells us in our passage for today that Jesus was talking to people, not just His disciples, explaining that His light leads to life—eternal life. No darkness.

In the Old Testament, probably more than 600 years before Christ was born, Jeremiah was sent to prophesy to Judah about, among other things, pride. Darkness is associated with pride. Even now, those who pridefully don’t listen to the Lord may stumble and fall in the darkness. Jesus’ light illuminates our attitude.

Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before it is too late. Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when you look for light, you will find only terrible darkness and gloom. Jeremiah 13:15-16

Listen and pay attention. Does that sound familiar? Those who have ears…listen. That instruction is given several times in the Old and New Testaments. Give God glory.

O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying. Psalm 78:1

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Mark 4:23

Jesus said if we follow Him, we won’t have to walk in darkness. Which would you rather do…walk in the light or in the dark? You have a choice. Part of that choice is the possibility of giving glory to the Lord God. We also have a choice in how we spend our time. Walking through our day with the Lord…or ignoring our relationship with Him. What on your schedule today?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I’m walking with You today…in the brilliance of Your light. Illuminate my life and cast out any darkness in my heart that I would be pure and holy, as You are Holy.

Verse of Salvation ~ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Revised from April 26, 2021, Banquet With The King blog.

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

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

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