I started listening to Ezekiel during my drive time this morning and was greatly encouraged by Eze 3:1-4:

Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”

So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll.

He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you ” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

There are times when trying to just put out there verbally and/or at blogs, etc., solid, scripture based material, one can get discouraged and get a ‘why bother’ attitude. It seems most folks are just interested in “Band-Aids” for life’s boo-boos, or personal opinions, all of which are equally valid (never mind if they are out of their scriptural context or even non-scriptural).

The personal lesson for this old soldier:

I need to just “eat the scroll”, fill my whole being with it and then “speak to the house of Israel” (fellow believers in this struggle called life). If I have not “eaten the scroll” I should keep my mouth shut until I have dined appropriately. When I speak, I can leave my opinions at home unless specifically asked for them. If I initiate what is only opinion, I need to caveat what I speak. If and when I speak, it should be with gentleness, respect and love, meaning I need to be always praying over my words that “flesh” doesn’t get in the way.

So I was encouraged and admonished at the same time.