Blake Allen
Dunbar Cave Campus Pastor
Malachi 3:16
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.
You have heard of John 3:16 but have you ever heard of Malachi 3:16? Such an interesting thought that the Lord pays attention to the way believers interact with one another. Every week, especially on Sunday morning, we have the opportunity to interact with other believers. And what should dominate our conversations? Let us learn from Malachi 3:16. There is a couple things we can note from this passage:
1) They feared the Lord. It is their reverence and devotion for the Lord that brought them together. We gather together because we love God and want to praise Him together.
2) They spoke kindly to one another. Their speech was edifying and encouraging. How do we know? Because you can’t “esteem” the name of Jesus through bickering and arguing. Those interacting feared the Lord and esteemed His name. They likely shared testimonies with one another and spoke greatly about their God.
Unfortunately, many would rather spend time speaking about their opinions of what songs we should sing on a Sunday morning, what’s going “wrong” with the church, their political opinions, what the color of the carpet should be, and how the church should run. Keep in mind the Lord is paying attention and listening to us while we do these things. This does not esteem His name. It dishonors Him. He wants His church to encourage one another, pray for each other, and esteem His name.
As we continue to meet, let’s put our personal opinions and agendas aside. Let’s use the breath God has given us to speak encouraging words to our fellow believers. And let’s esteem His name together.