Ezekiel was overwhelmed by the vision of God and the four living creatures with wheels. But God humbled Ezekiel that he might raise him up and give him an important mission (3): to speak God’s words to his own people. However, they would probably not listen (4). That meant Ezekiel needed to grow in courage.

God began training Ezekiel for this mission by having him eat a scroll! It symbolizes how God’s words are our spiritual food, and that to preach God’s words to others, the first step is to chew up and digest the word for ourselves. Ezekiel found that the scroll tasted sweet, showing that God’s words were highly nourishing to his inner self.

By the discipline of persistent Bible study, we can be equipped with God’s words to do his will. But most important is to have an open heart to “eat”—that is, to deeply accept what God tells us— to take God's words in, and to let it change us on the inside. Then we also can speak God’s words without fearing people by leaving the results to God.
Application: Father, thank you for the mission you gave me, even though it may bring opposition. Thank you for your delicious words. Help me not neglect them as my spiritual food.
One Word: Eat the words God gives