Eat this Scroll (Ezekiel 3)

The word of God must be consumed. Ezekiel is told to eat the scroll. The scroll is as sweet as honey. There is something sweet about the Word of God. It gives us precious promises which are wonderful to behold. But always remember that there is also a bitterness to the Word of God.
9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, "Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." (Rev　10:9　NAU).

To John the Scroll was also bitter. Much of what the Word of God tells us is difficult to practice.

The Word of God can be sweet in reception and bitter in application.

David's Major Weakness (1 Sam 25)

Nothing so hypnotizes that heart of a man like the beauty and form of a woman. In 1 Samuel 24 David overlooks the murderous threats of Saul and spares his life. Contrast that story with the story of Nabal and Abigail. Nabal, the fool, is married to Abigail. The text tells us that Abigail was intelligent and beautiful. A combination hard for any man to resist. David sends men to Nabal to greet him in peace and Nabal insults the men. Upon hearing this news David and his men gird up their swords and go to see Nabal (with the intent to kill him). Abigail hears this turn of events and rides out to meet David and intercedes for her foolish husband. David recognizes the righteousness of Abigail and spares Nabals life. Some time would pass and Nabal would die of natural causes (the text states that the LORD struck Nabal). David praises the Lord at this news and immediately takes Abigail to be his wife. One would think that David would now be content with his new wife but this is not the case. The text states that at that time David also took Ahinoam as his wife. Polygamy is the natural state of man, even a man "after God's own heart' like David.

Returning Good for Evil (1 Sam 24)

Saul had continually tried to slay David. Yet David did not act in kind. Saul is practically offered to David on a platter. David finds himself hiding in a cave and Saul just happens to enter the same cave. David and his men are in the recesses of the cave and think: Now is our chance let us arise and smite Saul. David cuts off the corner of Saul's garment and even this act bothers David's conscience. You must remember that the Children of Israel were commanded to place tassels on their garments (Num. 15:37 - 41) to symbolize the commandments and to remind the people to perform the commandments. By cutting off the corner of the garment David symbolizes that the Torah has been removed from Saul. Saul is acting on his own desires not the commandments of the Torah. David spares Saul's life that day. David proves that he is a better man because of his ability to rise above the petty difference he has with Saul. Let us put aside our difference and learn to love those who persecute us. Always Remember:

20 "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Rom　12:20-21　NAU)

Help a Homeless Apostle (1 Cor. 4:11)

To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. (1Co　4:11　NET)

Yesterday I volunteered at a Homeless shelter. The majority of the folks were men who look poorly clothed and were hungry. This morning I was reading 1 Corinthians and saw this passage in a new light. The men who were privilaged with the revelation of the Incarnation of Yahwah were hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, roughly treated, and homeless. What a contrast to the modern purveyor of American Christianity. Today's modern preacher full of pomp and glory. Boasting of his private jet and luxury car. Clearly the Apostles were not living their best life now! Indeed, if you are living your best life now heaven will be a letdown. But what about me! I have a nice home, a full stomach, a working car (just barely) nice clothing, etc... What about me? Have I renounced all things to follow Christ? I don't think so! Let us examine ourselves to see if we are worthy of the call.


Paul would go on to refer to himself, and the other apostles, as the scum of the earth. Than we are told to "be imitators of me." (1 Cor. 4:16). How do I imitate Paul? Go hungry, become scum, wear poor clothing, become homeless? These are hard realizations. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

John the Baptist was not an Inclusivist (John 3:36)

Peter speaks of Jesus being the only way to the Father (Acts 4:12). John the Baptist states that those who do not obey the Son have the wrath of God abiding on them. Wow! You could not get more narrow-minded than that. May we take fully the offense of the Gospel to a world full of false idols and religions.

The Conscious Water, Saw its Master, and Blushed (John 3)

The first miracle that Jesus did was turn water into wine. To describe this event Alexander Pope wrote: “The conscious water, saw its Master, and blushed."

Another Glimpse Behind the Veil (John 1 - 2)

John provides us with a tremendous glimpse of the True nature of the Christ. He is co-equal with the Father yet distinct. A seeming contradiction. He is the Logos. In greek intellectual circles the logos is the controlling reason of the universe. This logos was with (pros) the father. This relationship indicates a face-to-face interaction. The logos and the father shared an intimate connection. The logos would become tabernacled in space and time during the incarnation. John than gives us a facinating statement of the status of the Logos. He is monogenes Theos, the only-begotton God. We are not polytheists. Yet here in John's gospel we are presented with two distinct persons the Father and the Logos yet they are one. A profound mystery to be sure.