Write It Down
Written by Dale Ebel
“14 After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”).” – Exodus 17:14-15 NLT
While listening this morning, March9th, 2025, to our son Seth teach at The Shoreline Church of San Clemente on Yahweh Nissi, the Holy Spirit prompted me to write this article about hand-writing our thoughts. I understand that many of you are seasoned Christ followers, and you have your own methodology regarding how you study the Bible, listen to sermons, take notes, watch videos, and read material. However, I want to simply encourage you to enhance the discipline of writing out your thoughts. There is something significant about seeing and writing our comments.
At 78 years old, writing gives me good practice to print and to write in cursive. I even write in my Bible and date the comment. There must be a good reason why God encourages people in the Bible to write down His instructions. I understand the importance of computers, typing, and texting. For me, Bible apps never substitute for actually reading the text and marking up my Bible. I know I am somewhat provincial, but I believe in God’s wisdom commanding His people to write out His anointed ideas.
The other day Rowen, one of our grandsons asked me, “Papa can I have your Bible? Hey gang I know that sounds trivial but for me it’s profound! I actually write in my Bible now realizing that there might be somebody someday who will open it up and read my notes along with the text of Scripture and become more inclined to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. Rewarding wouldn’t you say?
My Books of Remembrance
“Then those who feared Yahweh spoke to one another, and Yahweh gave heed and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear Yahweh and who think upon His name.” – Malachi 3:16 LSB
For years I have kept numerous notebooks about my daily routines, important biblical observations that I glean from Scripture, and questions I have. I chronicle some prayers, and a variety of exploits that I, and others, have carried out for the reputation of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’ve given several titles to my notebooks like: Spiritual Life Notebook 2001, or Book of Remembrance 2025. I periodically go back over the books, for my own edification or to research a subject.
I personally need to write things down to concretize my values, and major concepts, because I tend to forget. I have discovered that when I write out a thought it enhances the reality of my ideas, giving specificity to them. It also gives me a head start in the process of communicating these thoughts when I go about my day to anyone who happens to be in my pathway, so I am better able to communicate a thought even when I am working out, or at the DMV, or the Doctor’s office.
Digressing a bit.
I love the following verse— “So he [Paul] was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing [Gentiles], and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present.” – Act 17:17 LSB
Please never underestimate your daily encounters. In many ways we followers of Christ are like manure. We are the most effective when we’re spread out! Imagine if every week, people who attend a given church started up two or three meaningful conversations “with those who happen to be present” about Christ! There is a significant chance there could be a cultural shift towards righteousness. So I ask you, as I ask myself, what’s stopping us?
God Keeps Records by Wiring Them Down in His Books
Did you know God keeps the Books? ☺
With a simple cursory count, I found about 10 such books in the Bible.
Some of the Books Mentioned in the Bible
The Book of Life records all those whom God has made:
“But now, if You will, forgive their sin–and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!” 33 The LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” – Exodus 32:32-33 NASB95
A Book Recording Our Wanderings (our worries, tossings, and miseries):
“You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; [Are they] not in Your book?” – Psalm 56:8 NKJV
A Book Recording All The Days of Our Lives:
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” – Psalm 139:16 NLT
The Book of Those Saved:
“At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation (Israel), will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued.” – Daniel 12:1 NLT
This passage is referring to the third of the Jews who will believe in the Messiah when they are delivered from the persecution of the Antichrist and his cohorts during the Tribulation.
“In the whole land,” declares the LORD, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. 9 This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” – Zechariah13:8-9 NIV
OH MY! HOW WONDERFULLY STAGGERING IS THIS?
The Books of Judgment:
“Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” – Revelation 20:12 LSB
Evidently, God owns a complete set of books that records every thought, word, motive, and action of a person’s life, waiting to be recalled on the judgment day. (Matthew 12:36). It is a little speculative on my part, but it could be possible that each of us has an angel who, in this life, is responsible for recording everything we do. In connection with this thought, it is well to consider Ecclesiastes 12:14: “God will bring every work in the judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” In this final hour, the books of man’s works (his deeds) will be opened.
The Lamb’s Book of Life:
“But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” – Revelation 21:27 ESV
The NT (The Renewed Covenant) refers to the Book of Life eight different times and throughout the Book of the Covenants (OT) — even though it does not call it by that name — it does allude three times to a book in which names are written. The Psalmist speaks of the righteous as having their names written in “the Book of the Living” (Psalm 69:28 KJV), so it is a book in which righteous people have their names written.
Revelation 13:8 tells us about another Book of Life— the Book of Life of the Lamb. The Lamb is the Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the Lamb’s book is the Book of Jesus Christ in which are entered the names of those who have chosen to be followers of Him.
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, (Antichrist) everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” – Revelation 13:8 NASB95
Responses to this teaching:
- Are you willing to up it a notch or two regarding writing down your thoughts and inspirations from the Holy Spirit?
- How are you empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak about Jesus Christ as you go about your day?
- Of the six books I mentioned, which one resonated with you the most?
- Of the 25 passages of Scripture I either wrote out or referenced, which one impacted you the most and why?
- Communicate one insight from this article to someone else.
Writing down with you.
In Christ,
Dale