March 23, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Did you notice in this verse that they who fear the Lord and that thought upon his name were first characterized as speaking one to another? Of what did they speak? In context it would seem that they spoke of the One of whom they thought, they spoke to one another about the Lord. It’s been said that weak people speak of people, average people speak of things, and that great people speak of the things of God. Of course, there is no way to test this saying or to prove its validity, for who is to say who is weak, average or great.  One thing is sure though; thinking on the name of God is a worthwhile endeavor for all people of every socio-economic strata of society.

To think upon His name is to think about Him. To think upon Him is to consider His ways, His actions, His commands, His manner, His personality, His love, His grace, His sacrifice, His humanity, His divinity, His work, His miracles, His forgiveness, His honor, His perfectness, His blessings, His service to others, His ability to overrule the laws of nature, His crucifixion, His trials, His teaching, His family, His childhood, His ministry, His preaching, His healings, His poverty, His strengths, His temptations, and yet His perfect sinlessness.  There are many things about Him on which our minds can dwell. The subject of Him is inexhaustible.

The book of the Revelation speaks of several different books in Heaven. One book could be the book of remembrance that is mentioned in today’s verse. Upon looking carefully at the wording of this verse it will be noticed that this book of remembrance is written …for them… It was written not just about them, but for them.  It is a special book for special people.  Frankly, I don’t know if this book is still registering people’s names today or not.  If it is, I would like my name to be in it, how about you? So, let’s continually think upon His name and speak to one another about Him. In doing so we will have perfect peace today (Isaiah 26:3) and perhaps our name recorded in this special book. To me being put in this book would be like playing a sport at a very high level of skill and then being put in the Hall of Fame for that sport.  It’s the ultimate win and then win again situation.

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William T. Howe