“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened attentively and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and esteem His name.”
Read that again…It says the Lord listened attentively when they “spoke to one another”.
I sound pious when I am praying directly to God…and I usually choose my words carefully when I am speaking publicly. But do I realize that God listens when I talk to others?
How eager are you for God to hear how you speak to your family?
Are you okay with God listening attentively when you talk to people at work? What about when you speak to people you disagree with politically?
Philippians 4:5 says “Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near.” How often do I forget that “The Lord is near” … and would anyone say I have a gentle spirit?
Do I assume that since I don’t see Him, God is not listening to every word that comes out of my mouth? How would the content of my conversations change if I focused on the fact that He is interested in what I say?
As humans we modify our language and content based on who is listening …A person’s rank, power, and prestige can have a significant impact on our communication style, content, and delivery. How much more should the most powerful Being in the universe impact what we say and how we say it?
Why have I not realized that God hears more than just my prayers. Nothing I do, say, or even think about today will go unnoticed. He is listening attentively.
The end of the passage makes it clear that God distinguishes “between the righteous and the wicked”, in some degree based on what we say. Those who love Him are His treasured possessions and it shows in how we communicate.
The tongue is our spiritual thermometer. It can tell us if our heart is sick. Make sure you are heart healthy today remembering that nothing you say is private, and nothing you say - no matter who you say it to - is unimportant.
“The true test of a man’s spirituality is not his ability to speak, as we are apt to think, but rather his ability to bridle his tongue.”
- R. Kent Hughes
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