Hear, Open, Eat
HEAR: So many times God speaks to us, but I'm afraid that most of the time we miss out on what He is saying. I look at Ezekiel and how he begins to listen to the voice of God, and I wonder how my life would be different if I responded to God the same way Ezekiel did. In verses 1-7, Ezekiel writes down the dialogue that takes place between him and God. What I find interesting is that this is totally a one-sided conversation! God is doing all of the talking and Ezekiel does nothing but listen. I know for me there are too many times where I'm quick "to jump the gun" and open my mouth before I let God finish what He has to say to me. I'm responding and dictating what I think God should be saying, and before I know it I'm finishing HIS sentences! It's as if I think I have the authority to reveal to myself what God wants to say to me. To be fair, more often than not I become excited in anticipation of what God wants to say and don't allow Him to say it. It's not like I'm trying to change the subject or trying to reject what He has willed; I just choose to "cut Him short" and run with what He's given to me rather than listen to His whole plan. Obviously, it doesn't make it OK; but I look at Ezekiel's response and realize the humility and shear awe he had of his Creator. Ezekiel didn't refute God; he didn't argue with God (although he could have said "Well, if they aren't going to listen why should I bother going?"); he didn't challenge God about the "safeness" of the mission (even though God said he would be "sitting on scorpions"! Ouch!); he didn't do much of anything except for HEAR. He heard God's voice and he sat and listened. How much better off would we be if we did the same thing?
OPEN: A lot of times we hear God, but we're not open to what He has to say. We're like that stubborn child whose parent's have to force-feed him/her. In reality, all the parents want to do is provide nutrients and something that is going to be beneficial to their child (i.e. food), but for some reason or another the child refuses to open their mouth and receive what his parent has for him. God's command to Ezekiel was clear and simple: OPEN. I'm not sure if Ezekiel had a hard time opening, but in the end he opened his mouth and received what God had for him. In this case it was His word. Sometimes in life we have to "open" our mouths, our hearts, and our minds in order to receive what God has for us. Too many times we stay seated with a "closed" mentality, which prevents us from fulfilling the ventures and desires of our Father in Heaven. Whatever and wherever God is calling us to, we need to be open. It starts like Ezekiel and opening our mouths to HIS word and receiving HIS mission.
EAT: There's actually quite a bit of difference between God's commands to "Open" and to "Eat". I think of the times where I'm "open" to what God wants and desires, but I'm not quite sure I'm "eating" it! The only way I can think of expressing this is by drawing from my experience with food. There are a lot of foods that I eat, and there are a lot of foods that I do not eat. I eat a lot of the things that I want to eat, while also eating a lot of things that I don't like to eat because I know of the benefits those types of food have. There are also times when I become so hungry that all I can think about is eating and consuming food. This, of course, is the best time to eat! There is such an appetite for food; sometimes even to the point where one is willing to eat just about anything! The craving for flavor and nutrients are sometimes overwhelming. And when the food is consumed, there is so much satisfaction! But there is so much more to the process of eating than just temporal satisfaction. There is chewing the food (the process of thinking and pondering), there is swallowing the food (the process of accepting what you have been given), then there is digestion (the process of taking what you've been given and making it a part of you and using it). The old adage "You are what you eat" comes to mind when I read this passage. God has given us His word, His will, and His mission so that we can become like Him! Like Ezekiel we must consume what God has given us, and become consumed with what He's calling us to do.
Created over 2 years ago
