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.

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.