Daily Reading: Revelation 10-11
Scripture Focus: And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. (Revelation 10.10)
Devotional Thought: "Your convertible's ready..." I was so excited to hear that message from Ronnie Price Upholstery & Top Shop. "Sweet! Just in time for spring!" But when I got there, I was reminded what the "Price" part meant in Ronnie Price Upholstery & Top Shop meant. I felt a little ill.
John the Revelator had an experience like that. He got a message from heaven that at first tasted sweet, but then it upset his stomach! It was such a little scroll... But it was bittersweet, revealing judgment as well as mercy.
The message of Christ to the church is bittersweet, isn't it? There is the wonderful news of redemption, but there is also the sad reality that there are those who will reject God's offer. Ralph Earle wrote: "To be close to Christ is to experience the exquisite sweetness of His presence. But there is also a price to pay, that of sharing His sorrows in the face of sin that destroys men for whom He died" (BBC, 561).
Actually, Ronnie Price gave me the best price of all the places I checked. It was in reality a bargain. We may think that God's way is demanding, but when we consider the price that Jesus paid, and the cost we would pay without him, then we see that we are getting a great deal. May God help us communicate that with others!
Prayer: Lord, help me to eat the Word of God, taking the bitter with the sweet. And help me to share the Truth with all those I meet. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. 6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. 8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. (Psalms 101:1-8)
댓글