What are we going to talk about?
“Then those who feared 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” (Mal 3:16 NKJV).
You have probably heard the common exhortation; in this workplace, we do not talk about religion or politics. What is left to talk about then if one is to avoid those two categories? Not much – the weather, perhaps? In Sweden there are three questions you should not ask people unless you want to find yourself in a somewhat awkward situation. They are, culturally speaking, taboo. People do their best, even in hour-long conversations, to navigate between the topics to avoid having to answer any of those inquiries. First, you should not ask a person who they vote for. Second, you need to avoid inquiring about someone’s income. Third, you do not dare to bring up whether they believe in God or not. As a result, many conversations become shallow and evasive.
Malachi speaks about a book of remembrance. Apparently, God is pleased with those who talk about Him and His mighty deeds. We will be accountable for every uttered word (Matt 12:36). Also, believers ought to encourage one another to hear the message of the Lord (Ezek 33:30). Consequently, our conversations need to be edifying (Eph 4:29), seasoned with salt (Col 4:6) and aim to bring hope (1 Pet 3:15). So, let us talk about the Lord!