Rev. 10:8-11.  An angel is about to announce what is going to take place on earth and the sea, as orchestrated from heaven (so the angel’s stance indicates). The scroll is the message that the angel is to announce. John eats the scroll, and it is sweet to his taste. Like any servant of God, knowing God’s will is a great desire for John. But it comes with a price. The peoples, nations, languages and kings to which the gospel message must go will resist it with violence. The knowledge that such warfare is the fate of humanity turns the sweet scroll bitter in the prophet’s stomach. Such is the burden that all God’s messengers have felt.

LORD, give us courage and perseverance to share your wonderful message, even when it is rejected by those who need you.