Conversations with friends are certainly more intimate than those with neighbors or casual acquaintances. In times of weakness we would be embarrassed if our words were overheard but, hopefully more often, we share honest, intimate thoughts—feelings, hopes, disappointments.
Since we speak from the fullness of our hearts, words between Christians may include personal insights, fresh understanding, and Bible verses. Our conversations include encouragement, counsel, and opportunity to pray together. I can trace areas of personal growth back to conversations with friends who lovingly listened to my heart.
But they weren’t the only ones listening.
Malachi 3:16 tells me someone else heard our words and was equally impressed. I am warmed by the intimacy of Malachi’s revelation:
Then those who feared [honored] the Lord spoke to one another,
and the Lord listened and heard them;
so a book of remembrance was written before Him
for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.
God eavesdrops on our conversations! Not to find fault, but because He is blessed to hear us voicing our love and respect for Him. Think about a time you overheard someone say something complimentary about you. It’s even more precious because it wasn’t said directly to you but spoken in honor of you. Read the verse again in the MSG Bible:
Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked it over.
God saw what they were doing and listened in.
A book was opened in God’s presence and minutes were taken of the meeting,
with the names of the God-fearers written down,
all the names of those who honored God’s name.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them,” Jesus (Matt. 18:20).
BARBARA HIGBY 