WEDNESDAY JULY 1, 2009
A. W. Tozer said, “The most important fact about any man is not what he at any given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” In other words, how you think about God determines how you live.
Words, actions, thoughts stem from what we believe, and belief is foundational to all choices. In Psalm 10:2-4, the wicked base actions upon the premise that God isn't real. Psalm 38 portrays difficulties stemming from foolish choices, resulting in pain. David finally appealed to God for mercy in Psalm 51 as he repented, knowing his sin was first and foremost against God. Only then could he rejoice and plan because God had forgiven him.
Problems snowball from previous decisions. Consider King Saul and his actions that resulted in God ripping the kingdom away from him (1Sam 13:1-14). Saul’s belief was not in the sovereignty, faithfulness, grace and mercy of God. He saw a problem and feared defeat. In his rashness he made an unlawful sacrifice. His unbelief in God’s promises led to further problems.
You could say that Saul was a pragmatist. He took things into his own hands to make them work the way he thought they should. Pragmatism is a philosophy that emphasizes expediency over faith in God, an expression of practical atheism. Today many people fall into the same trap, making pragmatic choices that seem to work while contradicting Scriptural principles.
Are you faithful - living by faith, like David in the Psalms, or are you a practical atheist like Saul? David's faith in God kept moving him back on track. May we choose to believe in the God of Truth, and to live by faith based on the reality of who God is. |
