Read
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”
(Revelation 1: 3)
Think
In chapter 10, John gets given a little scroll to eat. Weird! Actually, if you’ve read the book of Ezekiel before this might be more familiar – Ezekiel is a prophet from the Old Testament who God uses to speak to the nation of Israel. Ezekiel is another book that’s full of imagery – sometimes Ezekiel is told to act out different things that God is going to do so that people can look and see with their eyes a picture of what’s coming. Sometimes Ezekiel sees visions from God – and in one of these in Ezekiel chapter 3, he is given a little scroll to eat, which tastes as sweet as honey in his mouth, but also leads to bitterness in his spirit.
For both Ezekiel and John, God gives them a message to pass on to others. It’s a message that is staggeringly good – there is a God, and he loves you! He has the richest treasures in store for you – fullness of life and satisfaction, relationship with the one who made you, freedom from sin and shame and death. It’s a message that’s sweet as honey on the lips. It’s also a message that can leave a sour taste – the bitterness of knowing this truth yet seeing it rejected, as both men see many refuse to take God’s message to heart.
May the free gift of eternal life found in Jesus be a sweet taste in your mouth, and may it satisfy you more than the best of honey.
Pray
‘Father, thank you that the gospel message is good news. It’s delightful! We were lost, far from you, unable to save ourselves from our sins – but in your mercy and kindness you stepped into our mess and rescued us, even at the cost of your own son’s life. This is better than Marks and Spencers’ best honey! Please would you help us to remember every day how sweet this message is – and when we get the chance to share it with others, would you help them to taste it for themselves.
Amen’
