As I study and prepare to teach Revelation in the fall, (what was I thinking), God’s Word is being revealed to me with such amazing clarity, that my faith is re-ignited. The passion for sharing with everyone why and how to read Revelation is my constant companion. Just ask my friends who have now started running from me. This new filter I have on as I read God’s Word, has changed me. And when you get your heart and mind in a position to receive Him, you cannot help but be changed. It is quite revealing. (smile)(get it)(Revelation)
Anyway, in Revelation, Chapter 10:8-11, like any great follower of Jesus, John is eating a scroll. He eats this scroll, which is God’s Word, and it tastes sweet as honey, at least at first, but then after digesting it, his stomach turned sour. We see a similar image in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. But what you realize as you read this passage in Revelation, John became personally involved. He was not just to share these visions, these revelations, but they were to become personal. I can only imagine John wasn’t excited to write down these wack-a-do visions he had seen, and eat scrolls, but God wanted John to share these truths about Himself, the future, and the end times. John’s obedience to the Lord changed the world!
I’m sure you have heard the analogy of, as humans, we eat food to maintain our strength, and when we partake in God’s Word, we strengthen emotionally and spiritually. But this scripture is different. It tells us when John ate the scroll, it was “sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.”
The Word of God is sweet as it satisfies the soul. But bitter? How can that be good? The Word is bitter because it reveals the judgment of God.
The sweetness of His Word is His promises, His truths, His professed love for us. But after we have digested God’s Word, it can become bitter. Why? It’s bitter because we don’t want to change. Don’t get me wrong; we want change; we just don’t want to put any effort to changing. But God, in His grace, wants to change us, strengthen us, to become more like Christ. Why do we need to become more like Christ? Because we are in a battle until the day Jesus returns. The more we transform into His image, the more His truths will prepare us for our conflicts against the enemy.
God plans to CHANGE us and prepare us so He can do great things THROUGH us!
Talk about a revelation! Let the sweetness of His Word satisfy your soul; give you great hope and security of your identity in Him. Internalize and obey Him and watch God do amazing things in you and through you that glorifies Him and brings transformative purpose to your life!
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Follow Choose to Soar’s weekly blog!
