Devotions with Lecrae: Used to Do it Too

The more I listen to Lecrae (and a few other Christian rappers, including Trip Lee) I'm struck by the theology and the message in their music.  Christian rap has come a long way in the last few years. Not too long ago it was really poor, but these guys that are big now not only have great messages, their beats and lyrical skills are great too.

This morning I was thinking about the message in Lecrae's song "Used To Do it Too" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tjuuy9deEc).  A few lines in parts of the song specifically caught my ear.

The intro to the song goes like this:

Some folks think they mistakes, gonna keep them out the gates (Heaven). It ain't about what YOU do, it's about what HE did. 

So from the get go Lecrae has us focusing on what is important, Jesus sacrifice to save us from our sins; forgiveness.

The chorus of the song goes like this:

I used to do it too, I used to do it too, I used to do it, used to do it, used to do it too. I'm changed, now I'm something different. I'm changed, I love the way I'm living. I'm changed, saved me from my own sin. I'm changed, I learned how to live again.  

Later on he references Colossians 2 directly, and seems to be rapping straight out of Romans 8. Both are passages dealing with freedom from sin, freedom from the rule of the flesh, and being free in the Spirit. One can also find reference to Romans 6, where Paul says we must die to sin and become slaves to righteousness.

In the later verses of the song, Lecrae talks about his sin, saying: "you name it, I promise I done it all, so busy doin' me, I ain't care at all," which describes all of our lives in sin. We're selfish, sinful beings, we sin over and over.  Lecrae ends that verse with this line, which is one of my favorites:

But I ain't fix myself, ain't turn myself around. I gave it up and told the Lord that He can have it now

What a powerful statement of what we do in living for Christ. We commit to giving over our sin and becoming slaves to righteousness. We die, and are made new.  Praise the Lord

I love listening to Lecrae's music. I can enjoy it for it's musical quality, but it also reminds me constantly of the joys of being a Christ-follow, and the commitment that entails.

Devotions with Lecrae: Don't Waste Your Life

This morning for devotions I was reading 1 Corinthians 15, specifically verses 12-34. This passage, especially the first few verses, is one of my favorites, and perhaps one of the most fundamental in the New Testament. In verses 12- 14, Paul writes:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

After devotions, I turned on some music as I made breakfast and got ready for church.  The first song to come on was Lecrae's "Don't Waste Your Life", which you can listen to at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbQyQavqqMI

In the first verse Lecrae says: 

Paul said if Christ ain't resurrect then we wasted our lives       Well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive Everyday I'm trying to show the world why Christ is more than everything you'll ever try 

Basically he sums up what Paul says in 1 Corinthians, if there is no resurrection, then our preaching and our faith is utterly useless. Paul goes on later to say that if Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile, we are still in our sins. Then he builds to say that Christ has indeed been raised and we are made alive in him.

It was for me a great reminder of why we live and what we live for. Nothing can compare to the love of Christ, who died, and was resurrected for our sins. We often talk about Christ's sacrifice of dying on the cross for us, but at least for me, it's far less often that I celebrate his resurrection, which is the foundation of our faith. 

Thanking George Washington

The more I look at what is going on in the Middle East, and more extensively what has gone on in so many countries after a dictator is removed from power and a country tries to move towards democracy, the more I am thankful for George Washington. This was actually brought to mind while discussing the political situation of Russia since the fall of the communist Soviet regime. Since the USSR fell in 1991, Russia has had 3 "presidents." I put that in quotes because while they are the President of Russia, the fairness of the elections they have won is questionable, and they operate more like dictators than presidents.  Vladimir Putin served as President from 2000-2008, then was Prime Minister under Medvedev, and now is going to be President again, the result of what most say are unfair, fixed elections. He's created an environment in which he (and his cronies) have almost total control of the political situation in Russia.

This happens quite often in so called "democratic revolutions."  A dictator is overthrown and a country transitions into democracy, only to see that transition high-jacked by the military, who then take over (Egypt), or the elections are won by those who are the wealthiest and most influential, and who have no intention of ceding power.  

What we forget is that this could have been us. When the Revolutionary War ended and the United States of America was being formed, our founding documents drafted, our initial leaders selected, there were many who wanted to make George Washington King of the U.S.  Even after he was elected president, he could have served and won every election he ever ran in, ruling until he died.  This would have set a precedent not unlike monarchy's and family dynasties where one person rules until death, to be succeeded either by their heir, or by a pre-selected replacement.

Thankfully George Washington was wise, and he decided to not seek a 3rd term, setting the precedent for 2 term maximums as President. Of course, FDR broke from this precedent, but shortly following his 4th election it was made law, a maximum of 2 terms for U.S. Presidents.  

While we sit here and think, "why can't these countries make democracy work?" Maybe we should really be asking how in the world we've made it work so well thus far....

Thanks Mr. President (Washington), you did us all a great service. Oh yes, and don't forget to celebrate President's Day this coming Monday (Feb. 20).

Return...for I am merciful

In my daily scripture reading the other day, as I work through the Bible in a year with the rest of Madison Square Church, I was reading in the book of Jeremiah. One thing struck me as I read this; we are so like Israel (or at least I know I am). Reading through the Old Testament I've read countless stories of Israel's unfaithfulness. God always provides for Israel, and time and again Israel turns their back on God. He brings them out of Egypt and they make an idol. He brings them to the Promised Land and they disobey, taking the idols of others. The first part of Jeremiah is almost a cry from God saying "you keep turning away from me...why?"
It strikes me that this is exactly what we do all the time. In spiritual moments in Church we promise to give our all to God. We get all fired up and "committed." Then we go home and quickly forget all that passion we only recently felt. God brings us to Him, we turn our backs.
But here comes the good part. In Jeremiah 3, God says "Return, faithless Israel, I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful..." He continues on (speaking through Jeremiah) to call Israel back to Him over and over, if only they would turn away from their unfaithfulness and idolatry.
Thankfully, that is what God has done with us. He has seen our sin, and yet He provides for us, leading us, guiding us, protecting us. God saw our sin, and sent His SON to die on the cross for our sins.
Only a truly loving God would put up with all the sin and faithlessness we live in. Thank God that our God is a loving God.

Amen.