Earlier this week I was stunned by the words of a deeply committed follower of Christ.

“During the week, I live like an atheist.”

This man really doesn’t live like an atheist, but his words struck deep into how we tend to live. He was referring to Colossians 3:17 where Paul called us to live our lives in commitment to God. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

My friend said that we get involved with our work and easily forget God. He noted that it is especially easy for that to happen when our work is going well and when we feel confident in what we are doing.

In that case he said, “During the week, I live like an atheist.”

Are you living that way?

Do you spend time with God during the week? Do you pray, really pray? Are you reading Scripture? Are you doing what Simon Peter said, to look for every opportunity to give an account for the reason for the hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15).

Is Christ exalted in your home? Are you impressing God’s ways on your children? God told the people of Israel to “Talk about [God’s commands] when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

Another person said that we use God as our “lifeline” or 9-1-1 call. If we need God, we call on Him. If not, if everything goes well, we leave Him and we live during the week as atheists.

This certainly should not be the case. Instead, we need at all times to seek God with all our hearts, letting Him be our Lord and our God. We need to open our lives and let Him lead us in ways of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:3).