September 30 Sweet Words

Revelation 10:8-11 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”
 
THE mighty angel showing God’s glory and authority stands with one foot on the sea and one foot on land. Imagine you are John, and God commands you to go to his majestic angel to receive a scroll from his hand. Would you be afraid? Might you wonder if you would be acceptable in this angel’s presence? But perhaps John was confident and sure of heaven’s command. After all, hadn’t he seen Jesus transfigured in heaven’s glory? He had talked with, eaten with and touched the risen Christ. For decades, too, John had watched God’s Spirit work remarkable miracles among the Jews and Gentiles to advance the gospel. I believe John was eager to see what God is about to teach him.
    What was God’s message? Most likely it is the specific revelation of God’s sovereign majesty to be spoken again to the church on earth. We know this is God’s message because the scroll’s words were sweet. Hear Psalms 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! & Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. From Noah to John, the Bible describes God’s blessed sweet words offering salvation’s refuge for his chosen leaders. Indeed, it is  a privilege to feed his honey-like words to a hungry world.
    But the Word turns sour to many opposing hearts. God’s patriarchs, prophets, disciples, apostles and even his Son experienced the sour taste of abuse, neglect, condemnation and death. Since Jesus’ ascension, people supposedly of his own church have killed each other. How many pastors, teachers and godly leaders have tasted the sour opposition from hard hearts to stifle and even force them from ministry? How often is a prophet without honor in his hometown? (Matthew 13:57) Who wants to be viewed as “that Christian”?
    Yes, opposition sours your passion, doesn’t it? Even John is in exile because of the gospel’s sweet words. But see, through the angel, the Lord commands, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” John is not done. Jesus is still saying, “Follow me.” The apostle still had an apostolic mission to fulfil. John obeyed; that’s why we read his words today.
    Are you perhaps sour about the lack of response to Jesus’ sweet words you preach, teach, write, pray or share? Be encouraged. Be a warrior. Be sweet in God’s sight. Go to the mighty God in prayer. Receive Jesus’ sweet words from Scripture each day. His sweet truth will renew your mind. You will be ready to do what is good and pleasing for the Lord.
 
Prayer: I pray you help me offer your honey-like words to many, many people – especially my friends, neighbors and relatives near and far. Amen.