FROM THE HEART | August 28, 2026 | 
Eat the Scroll | Pastor Erton Köhler
God’s people were passing through a time of disorientation. Their homeland had been destroyed, and the structures they had known had collapsed. In this situation, God called Ezekiel to be His messenger. What makes Ezekiel’s calling especially remarkable is the instruction he received. God did not begin with a plan or strategy. Instead, He handed Ezekiel a scroll and said, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:1).
The order is decisive. Before Ezekiel could speak for God, he had to receive God’s Word deeply into his own life. The scroll was not meant to remain merely in his hand; it was to become part of him. Scripture needed to shape his thinking, influence his decisions, and transform his character. Ezekiel later described this experience by saying that the scroll tasted as sweet as honey.
The question remains relevant today: What place does Scripture occupy in your daily life? A Bible standing on a shelf cannot transform a life. Scripture reveals its power when it is read, studied, believed, and applied. Authentic witness begins with personal experience. Those who speak with Christ will speak about Christ. The world is searching for hope, and it will notice someone whose life reflects the character of Christ.
Allow Scripture to become part of your daily life. Let it shape your thinking and guide your steps. Then carry this hope to the place where God has positioned you.
About the series
From the Heart is a weekly devotional series in which Pastor Köhler reflects on what it means to be rooted in the Word of the Bible and focused on mission, together and personally. Each episode is based on the four pillars of the strategic plan of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: fellowship with God, identity in Christ, unity through the Holy Spirit, and mission for all.
The series connects biblical faith with everyday life and shares brief reflections and insights into how God works through Adventists around the world.
Pastor Erton Köhler is president of the General Conference of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church.
