Sweeter Than Honey: How to Desire God’s Word - the words of God are described as “sweeter than honey.” Honey is a natural sweetener. God’s law deepens our relationship with him - it’s not simply about what to do and not do. And God’s words (or laws) bring a sweetness to the life we live. Just as like we crave sweet treats, our lives should crave the sweetness of God’s words if we are followers of Jesus. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good

“How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!” - Psalm 119:103 ESV

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter found in the Bible and is famous for its teaching on God’s law.

But it’s not simply about what to do and not do — it’s about how God’s law deepens our relationship with him.

In today’s verse, the words of God are described as “sweeter than honey.”

Honey is a natural sweetener. 

And God’s words (or laws) bring a sweetness to the life we live.

Just as like we crave sweet treats, our lives should crave the sweetness of God’s words if we are followers of Jesus (1 Peter 2:1-3).

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"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." - 1 Peter 2:1-3 English Standard Version

Jordan from SDD

Jordan Loftis

President and Editor

Jordan writes and speaks about how to study and live out the Bible. He’s the author of two books, Today We Win and The Men With Bare Feet, host of The Bible Better Podcast, and the president and editor of Short Daily Devotions.

Jordan is also the founder of Story Chorus, an innovative publishing company, and the cofounder of It’s Your Time Wellness with his wife, where they coach people to optimal health. He lives with his beautiful wife and three kids in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Get every believer in the Word every day. Shortdailydevotions.com is just what it sounds like, a short, Christian daily devotional that can be read either on the website’s main page, or in a Monday through Friday email. The devotions are a quick read and an effort to love and edify God’s people amidst the rush of our busy lives. They are intended as a supplement to your daily walk with Jesus as you study the Bible, pray, and fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters.

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Honey Words - when you share the Gospel, you’re offering someone the opportunity to choose eternal life in Jesus Christ and to experience all the goodness that God offers. The world might try to convince us that sharing Jesus is annoying, invasive, or maybe judgmental. But don’t be deceived. Sharing the Good News of Jesus with someone else is the most kind and loving thing you can do. Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Maybe the kind words you might share with a friend could sound something like this, “Can I tell you about someone who changed my life? I am sure He will do for you what He’s done for me”

Your Bible is a Gold Mine - the Bible is the divine mine that contains the theological mother lode. God loves to lace and layer revelatory riches in what at first seems like a fairly straightforward historical narrative. The wonderful thing about this mine is that we often find treasure in unexpected places. The Bible contains over 31,000 verses — so much gold and so little time. We will never exhaust the gold it contains during our brief lives, but we must discover all we can. The written word is written. But of this word we can say that if all it reveals were to be written, the world itself could not contain the books that would be written

Honey from the Rock - a change takes place when we become aggressive listeners and pay careful attention to God’s Word. Listening gives us greater sensitivity to God. It means being focused on Him, desiring to do His will, being eager to know His Word, and having a heart of obedience. If we want His maximum blessings, we need to do two things: listen to Him and walk in His ways. These directions are important. Be in tune with His Spirit, desire to know and obey His Word. Ask God to help you be a better listener. Surrender your life anew to Him. Seek to walk in His ways. Trust Him. Depend on Him for protection, provision, and satisfaction

Consuming the Sweet Word of God - Ezekiel and Jeremiah experienced sweetness, joy, and delight consuming Scripture - God-breathed words from Yahweh’s mouth. This feasting took place against a horrid backdrop of hardened hearts, except for a small, believing, obedient remnant. The apostle John also ate a book. It was sweet going down in anticipation of God’s glory and return, but it quickly turned bitter at the sight of God’s coming wrath and eternal judgment poured out on those who rejected the Lord Jesus Christ

“Moreover, he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 

"So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 

"And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee.

"Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.” - (Ezekiel 3:1-3)

In a vision, the prophet Ezekiel was given a scroll containing prophecies intended for Judah but first delivered to the exiles in Babylon (Ezekiel 2:3). 

What did Yahweh then demand of him? 

He said, “Eat!” 

Ezekiel ate, filling his stomach with the “honey sweet” scroll.

Jeremiah, when he “ate” God’s word, found it a “joy and rejoicing of mine heart” - (Jeremiah 15:16). 

Both prophets experienced sweetness, joy, and delight consuming Scripture — God-breathed words from Yahweh’s mouth (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 1:2).

This feasting took place against a horrid backdrop of hardened hearts, except for a small, believing, obedient remnant. 

The Jewish exiles despised hearing God’s Word (Ezekiel 8:9), and God’s watchman was bitter and angry with the rebellious behavior of this evil company (Ezekiel 3:14-15).

To Jeremiah, the words were sweet only because he obediently received them; they were otherwise bitter to those who rejected God’s Word. 

The apostle John also ate a book.

It was sweet going down in anticipation of God’s glory and return, but it quickly turned bitter at the sight of God’s coming wrath and eternal judgment poured out on those who rejected the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 10:10).

Why do we receive these prophecy peeks in Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Revelation? 

God’s revealed truth begs a response. 

What’s yours? 

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” - (Revelation 1:3). 

BY CHARLES (CHAS) C. MORSE, D.MIN.  

Days of Praise

the Institute for Creation Research 

icr.org

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Delight Yourself - the man who makes a habit of delighting in God’s Word will have a heart that is fixed. His mind is made up before he ever gets to the disaster. Turn off the distractions of the world and turn on the Word of God. The time to start establishing yourself on it is right now

Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace - Jesus is just waiting for you to present your needs to Him and to ask for His help. The Lord has been fighting for every believer who has come boldly and honestly to Him in prayer. He will not rebuke you for being too honest

The King James Version Not Most Accurate - the KJV translators unintentionally added words because they used newer, less accurate manuscripts in their translation - certain details of its wording are based on scribal changes and errors, not Scripture

Be fruitful in spite of your circumstances - life is filled with ups and downs, unforeseen circumstances that send our lives in strange loops -nevertheless, we were fashioned to be fruit bearers ... unconditionally. If life is overwhelming you, then it's time to reach down deep and draw nourishment from the Root of our lives -- Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah

"Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a corrupt tree bears evil fruit. A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. So then you will know them by their fruits." - Matthew 7:17-20 

In Israel, it's amazing how many trees are being planted all the time. 

In fact, the green line that you hear about so much in the news isn't an actual drawn borderline, but it is a visible line you can only see from the air. It's where Israelis stopped planting trees.

Now suppose I wanted to plant a fig tree -- would I go searching for lemon seeds? Of course not! 

And even if I planted a fig tree next to a lemon tree, it would still only produce figs, no matter how close it was planted to the lemon tree.

So in our lives, though we may be surrounded with sourness, even planted in a "lemon grove", we are "fig trees" -- and the sweetness of our fruit will remain, because we were planted by the Lord Himself, to produce good fruit under all conditions. 

There is no question that if we are planted in Him the good fruit we bear will come forth in both good times and bad times.

Life is filled with ups and downs, unforeseen circumstances that send our lives in strange loops we weren't expecting -- nevertheless, we were fashioned to be fruit bearers ... unconditionally. 

You may say "George, you don't understand, you have no idea what's happening in my life right now!" 

You're right, I don't -- but I do know the Lord who laid down his life unconditionally for you -- and that He did it so He could abide in you and you in Him -- guess what for ...

If life is overwhelming you, then it's time to reach down deep and draw nourishment from the Root of our lives -- Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. 

The sap of His Life will produce ... MUCH! GOOD! FRUIT! ... despite the lemons!

Worthy Devotions

Related Links:

Strive for Maximum Results in Your Harvest - God wants you to have maximum results. When you get the weeds off your seed, then you're going to sow much and reap much

Multiplied Blessings - only the one that abides in Christ, the true vine will bring forth fruit... more fruit… much fruit, to the glory of the Father

The Tree Of Life - We can eagerly look forward to enjoying the fruit of the Tree of Life in the holy city some day