How does Revelation 10:9 illustrate obedience to God's commands in our lives? Tasting Obedience in the Scroll “So I went to the angel and said, ‘Give me the little scroll.’ And he told me, ‘Take and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” (Revelation 10:9) Immediate, Unhesitating Response • John “went,” “said,” “took,” and “ate.” • No bargaining, no delay. His quick steps mirror Psalm 119:60: “I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments”. • Obedience begins with simple, decisive action—doing exactly what God says, when He says it. Active Participation—Not Passive Reception • The angel does not force‐feed John; he must reach out and receive. • Salvation is God’s gift, yet Philippians 2:12 reminds us, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. Taking the scroll pictures engaging God’s Word actively, not waiting for truth to drop into our laps. Eating the Scroll—Internalizing Scripture • “Eat” means more than read; it means digest. • Jeremiah 15:16: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy”. • Ezekiel 3:1‐3 shows the same command; prophets must swallow the message before they speak it. • Obedience flows from internal transformation—letting the Word shape thoughts, motives, and choices. Sweet to the Mouth, Bitter to the Stomach • God’s Word comforts (sweet) yet confronts (bitter). • Psalm 19:10: “They are sweeter than honey” — the delight of promises. • Hebrews 4:12 exposes and judges—sometimes unsettling, even painful. • True obedience accepts both flavors, refusing to edit out hard truths. From Intake to Outflow • Immediately after eating, John is told to “prophesy again” (v. 11). • James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only”. • We obey by speaking and living the message we have absorbed, even when it brings opposition. Everyday Takeaways – Start each day with a “go” mentality—ready to act on whatever Scripture says. – Physically read aloud, journal, or memorize verses; let the Word linger like food on the palate. – Expect both comfort and conviction; thank God for each. – Share what you learn. Obedience matures when truth moves from the heart to the hands and lips. |
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