Friday, January 27, 2023

Orange Moon Friday, January 27, 2023 “Practical Atheism?”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

    

              "Practical Atheism?" 
        

    

    I once heard a pastor say that "Christians are most certainly not atheists.  However, we often live as if we are."

    "In all thy ways acknowledge Him" (Proverbs 3:6).

   We do sometimes forget, ignore, and even disbelieve the reality of God and His promised presence, provision, and working in our hearts and lives.  We fail to "acknowledge Him."  The world, the devil, and the flesh work incessantly to foment such "practical atheism," as the pastor referenced above termed our wanderings into darkness.  No excuse exists for such unbelief, and in those times when we become aware of our sin, we do well to decisively repent and determine to believe our Lord is present, involved and active in every venue of our existence.  As Jacob confessed at Bethel, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not!" (Genesis 28:16).

    The matter involves specificity.  In general terms of doctrine and principle, committed believers rarely question God's presence and working.   Individual matters, however, present a different challenge.  Some pains, problems, difficulties, and heartaches tempt us to ignore our Heavenly Father's promised involvement.  Sometimes, we simply do not think in such terms until we come to our senses in the realization and remembrance that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). 

   "In all thy ways acknowledge Him."  Is there some "way" in which we have failed to clearly see "Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways?" (Psalm 139:3).  Likely in all our lives, we can and must see more clearly by faith that God is vitally present, involved, and active in this matter, or that challenge.  Perhaps we have even failed to see His role in a blessed provision or protection.  Whatever the case, acknowledging the Lord in all our ways beckons us to an active heart and mind whereby we join the prophet, "I will look for Him" (Isaiah 8:17).  Born again believers in the Lord Jesus are most certainly not atheists.  Let us determine to never act as if we are by failing to see and believe that… 

"He is… and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
(Hebrews 11:6)

Weekly Memory Verse
    For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
 (I Corinthians 12:12)

 


   






















  

    

     























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