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.