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“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” (Psalm 14:1, NIV)

A term found in more than one instance in the writings of the late sage Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) is “practical atheist.”

It is a term that is properly applied to anyone — regardless of his or her declaration of beliefs — who lives as if there is no God. In a practical sense, even the disciple of Jesus can — and does — act as if God isn’t.

For example, when we are blessed with abundance, do we credit God or do we credit our own enterprise and initiative? When we succeed where others have failed, do we thank God or do we chalk it up to “luck”? When our minds are clear and when our bodies are ailment-free, do we make haste to the house of worship; or do we prefer instead leisure and activities of self-celebration?

A more rigorous test of our practical beliefs is not during adversity and personal suffering (when nearly everyone is seeking divine assistance); but during times of abundance and personal ease. In such seasons, numerous are the temptations to live as if “there is no God.” – Luther

Tagged atheism, faith, Oswald Chambers, the book of Psalms

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“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)

The thought of Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) on the latter half of this scripture is particularly appropriate to consider when we are in the routines of daily living.

Says Chambers: “Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think God will forsake me, but drudgery. There is no Hill Difficulty to climb, no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful, just the commonplace day in and day out – can I hear God’s say-so in these things?”

The truth of life is that most of the days of our lives will not be spent in the valley of difficulty or frustration; nor on the mountaintop of excitement and personal achievement — but on the plains of our routines.

The reality is that if we can hear and obey God in the mundane places, where our senses are blunted by the routines of living; we will certainly hear Him when our senses are most attuned to Him in the valley or on the pinnacle.

Use the long, level, boring, spaces in your life to cultivate your relationship with our heavenly Father. – Luther

Tagged boredom, drudgery, Oswald Chambers, the book of Hebrews

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“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NKJV)

Perhaps the only state worse than doing wrong is being wrong.

We need to guard against becoming comfortable with a lifestyle that is contrary to God’s will and way. This is what the Bible calls “sin.”

Oswald Chambers eloquently describes the peril of a conscience that is no longer troubled by wrong-doing: “One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin.”

Stay close to God through prayer, obedience, and the study of the holy scriptures, and you will have a heart that is sensitive to what pleases God — and to what does not please God. This is the surest and the straightest path to life, peace, and joy. – Luther

Tagged obedience, Oswald Chambers, sin, the book of Romans