Read: Ezekiel 2:1—3:3

He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey. Ezekiel 3:3

We only have to offer to others what we have received. Whether we are offering advice or giving direction or trying to teach others, we can only share what we ourselves have learned. Therefore, if we are not in the habit of taking sound advice or listening to wise council or reading and absorbing important ideas, we will have very little if anything worthwhile to pass on to those around us.

The call of the prophet Ezekiel is filled with wonderful imagery. In jaw-dropping splendor and majesty, the Lord appeared to Ezekiel with instructions to go and speak words of condemnation and hope to the Hebrew people. But what would Ezekiel say? What did he have to offer? What words would he speak? The Lord held out a scroll with the words of God on it, and Ezekiel was told to ingest it. He was told to eat the scroll, be nourished by it, and let the word of God fill his stomach. Ezekiel found that the taste of scripture was as sweet as honey. And once the word of God got into Ezekiel, he found he had something to say to the Hebrew people. If you are filled with good words and wisdom and knowledge, you will have something of great value to share with others. Scripture was Ezekiel’s diet, so he was able to powerfully share the word of God with others.

What words have nourished you, filled you, and offered you direction in life?

Lord, it is tempting to feed my mind and my soul with junk food—tabloid-like news, quasi-reality entertainment, and neighborhood gossip. No wonder I have precious little substance to share with others. Fill me with Your wisdom. Allow me to be nourished by Your presence. Let me taste how good it is to feast on Your word. In Jesusname, I pray. AMEN.