Bought with a Price - A Story of Redemption: Lecrae

   

   Glorifying God through our actions...

   Glorifying God through our speech...

   Glorifying God in the Morning, Noon, and Night...

   Glorifying God in our career...

   Glorifying God in pain and suffering...

   Glorifying God when all we want to do is take glory for ourselves...

   Glorifying God because He gave us the ultimate gift, salvation from sin...

   Glorifying God is what we are called to, yet do we fully realize what that looks like? As I was browsing through my Facebook home screen I ran across a video post by Lecrae, a Christian Rap artist who writes theologically solid lyrics and has a passion for the Lord, in which he shared his testimony. I was encouraged. Coming from a life of abuse, drugs, rebellion in school, a broken family, and gangs he shares how he came to know God and eventually use his talents as a rapper to point others to Christ. He came to see God as the father he never knew; his ultimate roll model. He is quick to point out that those who are into rapping and listening to rap are definitely a culture of their own...and this is true. Though I am not a huge fan of rap music, I do occasionally enjoy listening to some Lecrae and Shai Linne...but that's not very often! With his music, Lecrae is able to reach into a whole different culture than what most white American Christians can. It is definitely a gift from God!

   I'd like to share with you today the video of Lecrae sharing his testimony. It reminds me to be thankful for all Christ has done for me, calling me out of darkness into light, making me His child, securing a place for me in Heaven, and ultimately giving me the ability to Glorify Him! 

   Today I'd like to encourage you to be taking active steps towards glorifying God with your life. Yes, you and I may not be a public figure, but we can still pursue Christ in a manner that others will see what He has done for us...He has given us Salvation from sin and separation from Him! Here or a few verses to encourage you in your walk with the Lord. 

    1 Corinthians 6:20 ~ "...for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

    Deuteronomy 31 7b-8 ~ “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

  Romans 8:28 ~  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^[a] for those who are called according to his purpose."  

    Romans 5:8 ~ "...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

   Acts 2:38 ~  "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

    Also, if you have time, jump on over to the I Am Second website. Many amazing and neat testimonies are shared there. I know I will be taking a look at that site quite often!

Transformed From Rebel Slave to Joyful Servant

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

 Martin Luther King Day....what does it make you think of? Perhaps your mind might wander to //slavery//, African Americans, cruelty, injustice, racism and a whole slew of other things. In all that this day stands for, and against, my mind takes me to the cross and the //freedom// from sin I found there in Jesus Christ.

//“There was a day when I died, utterly died, died to George Müller and his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of even my brethren and friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God” (cited in Slave, 153).//

 
   Called out of the bondage of our sin, we are //freed// from the shackles of all that held us to Satan. No longer do we shake our week fist at God and turn away from all that is pure; rather, we bow down to a strong and mighty King, ruler of all. Yet there remains a unique situation, under Christ we are still a //slave (Gr. doulos)//. How can this be? Haven't we been //freed//? Previous to our changed hearts under Christ, we were in forced //bondage//, living the life of a miserable renegade with a master who cared nothing for our well being. Now, our wild past is behind us and b Christ's saving power, we have enlisted into His army. Like the //slaves// in the New Testament who would sign himself over to his master after //freedom// had been given him, so is our new life in Christ. We are singularly devoted to Christ and have total dependence on Him.  We are joy filled, hope filled, and Christ filled! We are clothed in the best garment there is to offer, our Master's righteousness! We are His heirs, "...being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:7.

   So, as we remember Martin Luther King Jr. on this relaxing day of vacation, remember even more Jesus Christ, the One who //freed// all form //slavery//...the greek, jew, blacks, whites...ALL are allowed to enter His Rest!

   I found the way Cripplegate explains this unique new life we are now apart of very helpful.

~Grace and Peace~