(Ezekiel – The Street Preacher Series continued)
“Do I have to eat that” are words that uttered from my lips from time to time when my Mom made something for dinner that I either did not like or I was not in the mood for that night. And like my Mom knew how to do best she would correct my poor attitude about dinner with the following comment; “Well, you know where the Peanut Butter and Jelly is…”
Sometimes what was being served for dinner seemed strange and unusual to me; like egg plant parmesan. Which by the way is my Dad’s favorite
If we’re going to feed our youth solid food that fattens their faith we need to be getting fat ourselves.
In the end I usually ended up eating dinner anyway because if I didn’t I knew I’d be really hungry later and by then it would be too late and time for bed.
So what does this have to do with my series on Ezekiel? Well first let’s take a look at Ezekiel 3:1-3.
And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
Okay…now egg plant parmesan, chocolate covered crickets, and sautéed eel are strange things to eat, but a scroll?! I wonder if for a moment while Ezekiel was having this vision from God he thought; “do I have to eat that?”
So what does God mean when he tells Ezekiel to “eat this scroll”? Well, He’s talking about his Word, the Bible. In Ezekiel’s time God’s message was written on scrolls, one page (up to 30 feet long). Ouch…I’m trying to imagine shoving a 30 foot long scroll in my mouth. Anyway…
God’s Word is our spiritual food that tastes sweet and you need to feed yourself just as you do physically. And when you really “digest” God’s Word, dive into it and read it, you will find that it makes you stronger in your faith.
But it means doing more than just reading a few verses when you have the time or taking casual glances at the verse a day calendar on the refrigerator as you bolt out the door to school. Imagine going through your day only eating small nibbles of a meal. In time your body is going to be screaming “FEED ME!” Well, going without spiritual food (God’s Word) will bring about the same results; your spirit starts to scream “FEED ME!”
To “digest” God’s Word means to allow it to sink in and penetrate our hearts. Ezekiel 3:10 says; And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Not only should it sink deep into our hearts, but we also need to show it in our actions.
What kind of spiritual diet do you have? Is your life so busy you only have time to grab a small bite on the way out the door to your latest music lesson, youth planning meeting, job or latest school sport? Is Facebook and Myspace addiction replacing sitting down with God to eat a huge meal that will fatten your faith?
Remember when I started this series I told you I would be candid and honest. Well, here goes…
Here is what sank deep into my heart as I read these verses in Ezekiel 3. I don’t ever want to neglect eating a good solid meal. But you know what…God used these verses to show me that I’ve been nibbling on snacks in between traveling and speaking at all the retreat this winter. I’ve been so busy trying to feed God’s Word (preach) to you…the teens that I’ve skipped some meals along the way. I need to be sure I’m taking God’s Word to heart. I need to be sure I’m growing deep in my own faith before teaching you how to go deep in yours.
So for you youth leaders out there that read my blog listen carefully. Yes, believe it or not if we’re careful doing youth ministry can fall under the “life is too busy” excuse. If we’re going to feed our youth solid food that fattens their faith we need to be getting fat ourselves.
WOW! God is awesome! I’m thanking him for showing me this valuable lesson. What about you?
Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go eat, I’m feeling a little hungry. Let’s see….uuummm…I think I’ll have me a hungry mans portion of Ezekiel 5,6,7 tonight.
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