As I read the Bible, there are always passages that tug at my spirit just right, and they become all my own. The opening to Psalm 42 is one of those verses. It’s a familiar passage for many Christians, but I don’t think many live it out. I want us to see how we can apply the words of the Psalmist to our lives. So, let’s jump right into the text.

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1 ESV)

Such simple words are found in this verse, and they should ring true for every Christian. If you’ve ever watched wild animals, one thing you’ll notice is they like to be near water. They know they cannot survive without it. Like the Psalmist notes, the deer knows it needs a constant supply of fresh water if it’s going to have a long life. The Discovery channel and Animal Planet often show documentaries with animals in the plains of Africa risking their lives for a sip of water. They’re willing to risk death to survive. While deer don’t face these same perils, their need for water is just as vital.

Our desire for God needs to be on the same level. Sho explains why this is so vital when he states: “If I go days without seeking his face its starts showing/a week outside his presence and the world starts knowing/ sometime my earnest prayer is to erase my brain/ cuz 20 years as a pagan got my mind trained…” That’s the picture of someone who hasn’t been to the waters in a while. Life gets hectic and we forget to read our Bibles, we forget to pray, we start skipping church, and the list goes on. When this happens, we’re on edge and no longer connected to the source that keeps us spiritually alive. Instead of getting to that point, we must stay connected to the living water, Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by taking advantage of the means of grace: the Word, fellowship, and prayer. We have to stay connected, no matter the cost. Just like we need food and water everyday to survive, we need spiritual sustenance. Again, Sho Baraka sums it up nicely in the hook:

Your face I gotta constantly seek (I need more)
Never feel I’m reaching my peak (I need more)
My soul thirst for you o’ Lord
I need more (2x) I’m thirsting after GOD
Find peace in your mercy and grace (I need more)
Find shelter in no other place (I need more)
My soul thirst for you o’ Lord
I need more (2x) You can catch me at the brook

Let that be your meditation today. Be someone who longs after God on a daily basis. Find yourself at the brook resting in God, allowing Him to keep you rejuvenated. When you do, you’ll be sustained for when you need to venture out into the world.

Dig Deeper

1. Read all of Psalm 42. During times when you are away from your local church, what steps can you take to maintain fellowship with God?
2. Read Ephesians 2:13-22. What kind of access to God does our salvation offer us?
3. Read Psalm 143:6-7. How should we react when times of difficulty come and God seems distant?

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Background music: Shai Linne “Active Obedience (Instrumental)” from album Lyrical Theology Part One: Theology – courtesy of Lamp Mode Recordings

As a sports fan, I love rooting for the underdog (unless they’re playing against my team). I enjoy celebrating when they are victorious over the behemoth that was supposed to crush them into submission. I see Christianity in the same light. You see, with the way the world’s system is currently setup, Christians are put in a position to fail, therefore I see us as underdogs. The great part about underdogs is that sometimes they win and other times they fail miserably.

This reminds me of an episode of South Park I saw while in college. My roommate was a fan of the show, so I was bound to sit through a few episodes. In this episode, Satan and Jesus were facing each other in a boxing match. Satan was this huge muscular guy, while Jesus was feeble and weak. Everyone in South Park bet their money on Satan to win the fight by a landslide because of his stature. When the fight began, Satan fell over and let Jesus win the match. Why? Because he already knew Jesus would defeat him; and, secondly, he bet against himself and ended up going to hell with millions of (useless) dollars.

How does this relate to Christianity? Well, when we look at how we’re supposed to live as Christians, it doesn’t look like we’re setup to win anything. Big businesses and society at large use force and any means necessary to voice their opinion and get what they want. As a result, Christians are often seen as easy prey because of their humility & unwillingness to fight back using the world’s methods. In their eyes we’re not even underdogs; to the world we’re a little league team playing against the world champions. But, unlike some underdogs, we have the victory in the end. If we look at 1 John 5:4, we see that everyone who belongs to God has overcome the world. This victory comes through faith in Jesus Christ. This means that no matter what the odds are against us, we can be like our Lord, who gained victory over both sin and death, all because of our faith in him as our God.

Take joy in being an underdog. The world may have counted you out, but God hasn’t. He has given us the secret weapon for victory: faith in Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the grave. Use this as motivation. Be motivated in sharing the gospel with others. Be motivated in discipling others. Let your faith motivate you to keep pressing forward even when the world tries to shut you down. It doesn’t matter what the odds are because God has already guaranteed our victory. It’s just like being in a playoff series, you may lose a game or two, but if you keep winning 4 out of 7, you’re going to win the championship. Keep pressing on and know that you’re in a much better position by being an underdog in Christ Jesus.

Dig Deeper

1. Read John 16:33. How can we have peace, even when the world is against us?
2. Read Ephesians 6:13ff. What equipment has God given us so that we can stand against the adversary’s attacks?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:57. Who is it that assures our victory in God?

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Background music: JustMe “Ceremonial Master (Instrumental)” from album Full Disclosure – courtesy of Illect Recordings

I love Caller ID; I think it’s one of man’s greatest inventions. It allows me to see who is calling and to screen those calls, if need be. If it’s someone I want to talk to, like a friend, then I can answer; otherwise, I let it go to voicemail. Caller ID is great, but even then, you can miss out on important calls, all because you don’t feel like answering the phone.

Sadly, this is the state of many in the world today. They look at the Caller ID and think the call isn’t important enough to answer, so they let it go to voicemail & never check the message. Whatever they are doing at the time is far more important than answering a phone call. This is often the tendency when bill collectors call. They duck and hide, instead of trying to come to some kind of payment arrangement. They continue playing this game until they find out their wages are about to be garnished. It’s not until this point that they’re trying to talk to these people, but it’s too late. Unfortunately, the bill collectors were more than happy to work with them, if they’d only answered their calls.

Spiritually speaking, God is the one on the other end, wanting the world to answer his calls. He’s trying to call and let them know their account is overdrawn with sin & the punishment for nonpayment is an eternity in hell. Yet, instead of answering his call, they think they will eventually get to a point where they’ve done enough good to pay off their debt to him. But, that never happens. The problem in not answering the phone is that God is calling to let them know he has an offer that will that will wipe their slate clean, but the offer isn’t active without first accepting it.

This was the situation the Jews faced in Jesus’ time. They were trying to keep the Law and pay off their debt to God with obedience & sacrifices. Little did they know that this wasn’t going to be enough to get them eternal life. Even though they searched the Scriptures, many of them missed the point. They failed to see that the Scriptures were leading them to Jesus, the promised Messiah. The Jews were so caught up in their religious practices that they missed the Caller ID reading “Messiah!” Thankfully some picked up the phone & responded to the call, but the majority ignored it.

The situation still holds true today. Jesus is calling and the signs are obvious, from the testimony of Scripture to the world around us. It’s God’s desire that all men come to salvation, but you have to respond to the gospel call. Matthew 22:14 tells us that while many are called only a few are chosen. What will you do? Will you let the phone keep ringing until it’s too late, or will you take Jesus up on his gracious offer?

Dig Deeper

1. Read Luke 14:12-24. Why do people make excuses for not accepting God’s offer of salvation?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. What is the significance of Paul saying that what Jesus did was according to the Scriptures?
3. Read 1 Peter 1:10-12. Why is it important to search and understand the Scriptures?

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Background music: Scribbling Idiots “More Than Crew (Instrumental)” from album The Have Nots – courtesy of Illect Recordings

We live in a consumer driven society. Everything we do is about promoting and advancing self. When it comes to our friendships, the mantra often becomes “what have you done for me lately?” Even in the church, we often have this mentality. Instead of seeking to serve, we wonder how the church can serve us. As Christians, this is not how God wants us to live. The Christian life is meant to be lived in community, both internally with other believers, and externally as a witness to the world around us. If this is true, what can we do to be a catalyst to spark change around us?

When it comes to doing good deeds and helping others, what comes to mind? Is it setting up some huge community project or some other grandiose idea? Well, what if I told you that sparking change can be something small and that we can all start today? The Bible has a lot to say on the topics of community and helping others. If we do a simple search for “one another” in a Bible app, we will find dozens of verses showing practical ways to aid our brothers and sisters in the Faith. What we find as we look through many of these verses is that they simply involve living life together and doing it with love for one another.

The one another passage we need to heed the most is Hebrews 10:24, which asks us to consider how we can stir up one another to love and good works. This can be something as simple as living a life that others can model. Or, it can be something more involved, like coming alongside a brother who is struggling with his marriage & encouraging him with ways to better love and serve his family. The goal is to be creative and use the talents God has given us, no matter how big or small. When we do this we can spark others in the church and in the world around us to change.
Jesus Christ is the greatest example of what it means to live this way. Everything he did was with the interests of others in mind. Jesus did not come to be served, he came to be a servant. He wasn’t about his own agenda, but only the will of his Father in heaven. He lived and died for us. Jesus was the spark that ignited our faith because he did what we were unable to do on our own.

Now that we’ve been brought into God’s family, we need to ask ourselves: how can we mimic Jesus with our lives? Don’t just sit around and wait for these opportunities to fall in your lap; actively engage with your local church & city and see where your talents can be put to use. Why? So you can be the spark that ignites someone else to do the same! Who knows, you just might spark a revolution.

Dig Deeper

1. Read 2 Corinthians 8:8. What is our motivation for wanting to stir up others to good works?
2. Read Galatians 5:22, 23. How does the fruit of the Spirit equip you in serving?
3. Search for “one another” in a Bible app & read the verses. How can these verses help you better serve others?

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Background music: Jon Corbin “Spark the Flame (Instrumental)” from album Hearts Set Ablaze – courtesy of Jon Corbin & LSTNFND Music

Does this sound familiar? “God, why is this happening? Why me?!” It doesn’t matter who you are, this is a question we all raise at some point in our lives. When we survey the world around us, we want to know why we or others in this world are suffering. If God is so loving, why does he allow bad things to happen? Well, the Bible has an answer to this question, and it’s the subject that Believin’ Stephen answers in his song “Suffering & God’s Sovereignty.”

One of the difficult puzzles in this world is how we reconcile God’s goodness and sovereignty (that he is in full control), while still allowing evil but not being its author. This is a complex subject, so I’m only giving a view from 30,000 ft.

Let’s start at the beginning. At creation, God made & declared everything “good” and “very good.” Yet, in Genesis 3 corruption enters God’s perfect creation through Adam & Eve’s willful disobedience of God’s commands. In this act these two did what they most wanted to do, which was eat the fruit. They sinned against God & sent the world into a tailspin. This is how suffering entered our world; it exists because of sin.

Yet, none of this caught God off guard. He is the author of all history. Even though he is not the author of sin, nothing happens in this world without first being allowed by God. Psalm 135:6 tells us that God does whatever he pleases. In Isaiah 46:10 we find God declaring the end from the beginning, even those things that haven’t been done yet. And finally, in Lamentations 3:37-38 we learn that when God speaks things happen, including the good and bad (with bad being from a purely human perspective). Job is a perfect example of this truth. The adversary had to first get God’s permission before laying a hand on Job. Nothing happens without God’s approval.

The question still remains, why suffering? The simplest answer is: why not suffering? We have all sinned against God, and the only thing we all rightfully deserve is an eternity of divine punishment in hell. The suffering we face in this world, no matter how small, is a result of sin, which may not always be our own. In many ways, suffering is a good and just consequence. Any good we have in this world is because of God’s grace toward us.

But God does not allow suffering simply because he gets a kick out of it. He allows it because he has a purpose. That purpose is showing us our need for a Savior. Jesus suffered, without ever sinning on his own, to rescue us from our sin. This also includes a promise of a future where suffering will no longer exist. Christians can take comfort because the Bible says that our suffering will be used for our good (Romans 8:28). Even though this world looks bleak and suffering is all around, we can mourn, but still rest easy knowing that God has a purpose in allowing it.

Dig Deeper

1. Read Romans 5:1-5. How does Paul say we should approach suffering? What should suffering produce in the life of a Christian?
2. Read 2 Timothy 3:12 and 1 Peter 3:8-17. Unfortunately suffering is a part of life, but according to these verses, what should be our reason for suffering?
3. Read James 5:13. When we do face times of suffering, what should one of our first responses be as Christians?

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Background music: Dert “Paper Jam” from album CMYK EP – courtesy of Dert Beats

I grew up in the church, and I’d often hear people say, “There’s no hurt like a church hurt.” I was always confused by what people meant until it happened to me. At that moment I understood clearly. What is a “church hurt,” you ask? It’s when another Christian sins against or wrongs you in some way. Issues like this are what Brinson addresses in his song “Grudges.”

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, one thing you’ve learned is that Christians still sin. Yes, some have it more together than others, but none of us have reached sinless perfection. That means there will be times when we are wronged in some way. I know friends who worked at churches & moved on to other opportunities, only to have the people they worked with start talking behind their back soon after they had left. I know artists who were booked for shows by Christian organizations, only to get shortchanged upon arrival. The list goes on. Any of these situations is enough to make someone hold a grudge and turn their back on the church. Like Brinson says in his song, “In the streets I’d expect that, but we in the Kingdom so I reject that…” In other words, Christians ought to know and act better! Unfortunately that’s not always the case.

How should we respond when stuff like this happens to us? Our natural response can take many forms, whether it be holding a grudge, lashing out in anger, or repaying their evil with our own. Of course, none of these are the right response. When we respond in these ways we are not displaying God’s character. Sure, it’s okay to be angry when we’re wronged, but it shouldn’t cause us to sin, nor should it last longer than it absolutely needs to (Ephesians 4:26).

So, what is the right response? In a word: forgiveness. The religious teachers of Jesus’ day taught that you were generous in forgiving your brother’s offense up to three times in your life. After that, you would not be wrong in withholding your forgiveness. But, in Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus flips the script when he teaches that we must forgive to the extreme. Jesus gives us a number so high that we should lose count of how many times we’ve forgiven our brother.

Now, forgiveness does not mean we let people walk all over us. Proper boundaries are good and necessary. The point is that when an offense does happen, we respond with a heart of forgiveness, while not neglecting the accompanying consequences that may be included with our forgiveness. As Christians we should not hold grudges, especially against those we call brother or sister in the faith. Our response needs to be forgiveness, even when it’s difficult. That’s what Jesus would do! If God can send his son to die for his enemies & forgive their sins, we should be able to forgive others as well.

Dig Deeper

1. Read Matthew 18:15-20. The context of Jesus’ words on forgiveness comes on the heels of teaching on church discipline. According to this passage, how should you respond when your brother sins against you?
2. Read Matthew 6:14-15. Why is forgiveness such an important issue for Christians? What is the consequence for having an unforgiving heart?
3. Read Colossians 3:13. It’s not always easy to forgive, but what does this verse teach us about why we need to forgive willingly?

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Background music: r&R “Life, Love & the Pursuit of… (Instrumental)” from album Travis Harmon & Jon Corbin are… r&R – courtesy of Jon Corbin

No one is perfect and most of us have regrets. We’ve hurt the ones we love most. We’ve made decisions that didn’t turn out the way we wanted. Those are the days we wish R. Kelly’s song “If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time” could come true for us. Then there are some who reminisce and wish they could go back to the days of old. So, what are we to do with those memories? No matter which boat we’re in, we’d be wise to heed three words Jesus spoke in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

What’s so important about Lot’s wife? Both Genesis 19 and Luke 17 give us some context. Lot and his family lived in the city of Sodom after he separated from his uncle, Abraham. Sodom was a wicked and perverse city and God decided to destroy the city because of their wickedness. Yet, because Abraham prayed for his nephew, God showed mercy and provided a way of escape for Lot’s family by forewarning them of the impending destruction. They were told to flee without delay & to not look back until they reached safety. Lot and his daughters escaped, but his wife stopped at some point and looked back. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus suggests that not only did she stop to look back, but she returned to the city and got caught in the destruction. As a result of her disobedience, she became a pillar of salt.

There is a lot we can learn from Abraham’s nephew’s wife and apply to our own lives. The first is the immediate context of both passages. God was merciful and offered salvation to Lot’s family. All they had to do was follow his directions and leave their old lives behind, without hesitation. Lot’s wife rejected this chance at salvation because she was too caught up in what she was leaving behind, which ultimately led to her demise. Jesus offers us the same opportunity, and begs us to remember Lot’s wife. We cannot turn to God for salvation while simultaneously trying to hold onto our past.

While Lot’s wife is a lesson in shunning God’s mercy, it’s also a lesson in letting go and moving forward. We should not let our regrets and past hinder us from making progress in our lives, both spiritually and naturally. Sure, there are times when it’s okay to look back & remember our past, but it must be done with purpose. Lot only looked back at Sodom after he had done what God required & was a safe distance away. He wasn’t going to get burned by his past, nor was he going back. We need to use our past as motivation to seek God’s grace and continue pressing forward in holiness. Our past sins, regrets and mistakes should push us closer to God, not back to our old ways of living. Don’t return to the things God has rescued you from.

When thinking about your past, present, and future, remember Lot’s wife.

Dig Deeper

1. Read Luke 9:61-62. Why does Jesus say those who put their hand to the plow and look back are unfit for God’s kingdom?
2. Read Proverbs 14:14. How does the content of our heart cause us to lean one way or another?
3. What sins or past memories are you holding onto that are hindering your forward progress?

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Background music: Shai Linne “Active Obedience (Instrumental)” from album Lyrical Theology Part 1: Theology – courtesy of Lamp Mode Recordings

Worship seems to be something that eludes the life of most Christians. If we polled any number of them, we would find that, outside of Sunday morning services, most don’t give any thought to worship or the things of the faith. Unless they’re raising their hands & singing along with the worship team or choir, it’s not on their radar. If we’re serious about our faith, we ought to take time to examine our worship and how we think about the Lord our God.

One of my favorite verses for summarizing worship is Psalm 95:6, which reads, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” Far too often we forget how big God is (cue Knowdaverbs’ song “God is Big”). Because of this, we fail to give proper respect to such an awesome, holy, and loving God. We’d much rather bring him down to a level we can comprehend or mold to suit our needs. But this verse describes precisely how we should view God. We need to bow down and recognize him as our Creator and Savior.

Sure, life is full of commotion; but, even with our busy schedules, we need to take time to focus on God and who he is. As His creation, we have an obligation to worship and adore him. Scripture is blunt in saying the rocks will cry out in our place if we fail to worship (Luke 19:40). We have to recognize the “bigness” of God and tremble at His magnificent power, the same power that simply spoke this universe into existence. Yet, God is so much more than that; he is also a Father who yearns to be close to us. Therefore, we should offer up thanksgiving to our loving Father who never leaves or forsakes us. There are innumerable things that we can worship God for, we just need to take the time to do it. We need to consciously carve out time and bow down before the Lord our Maker, the Creator of heaven and earth.

None of us are perfect and we won’t do the greatest job at this, but we should aspire to do better. We should want to find a place where we can be alone and bow down on bended knee to worship the Lord. But this goes beyond just singing songs and praying; every waking moment of our lives should be focused on worshiping God. He desires for us to be living sacrifices of worship (Rom. 12:1), which means our entire lives should be in a position where we’re submitting to him. We should worship him with the way we live. The Lord is great and deserves all of the worship and adoration we can offer up to him; so, let’s bow down before the Lord our Maker and give him his due praise.

Dig Deeper

1. Read Matthew 4:8-10. Satan promised Jesus all the world’s kingdoms if he worshiped him. In what ways does Satan try to hinder your worship? How do you combat him?
2. Read Matthew 5:23-24. How can broken relationships interfere with our worship? What can we do to correct it according to this passage?
3. John 4:23-24 tells us that we must worship God in spirit and in truth. What does that mean and how can you make sure you’re doing it?

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Background music: Beat Rabbi “On a Side Note (Instrumental)” from album Deepspace5oul – courtesy of Illect Recordings

When you think about Jesus’ birth what comes to mind? Is it the infant in the manger? The magi bearing gifts? Or how about the shepherds watching their flock only to be greeted by an angelic host proclaiming his arrival? All of those are great, but they pale in comparison to the awesome wonder that makes the Christmas season truly worth celebrating.

When Jesus was born something spectacular happened. God performed one of his biggest miracles. The infinite, holy, and invisible God quite literally crammed all of his “godness” into human flesh and dwelt among his creation. But, why did God feel it was necessary to do such a thing? Well, way back in Genesis 3, Adam & Eve disobeyed God and plunged his beautiful creation into a tailspin of sin, death, and destruction, and that’s putting it lightly. But because God is God and knows all, he already had a plan in motion, even before Adam & Eve messed up. While this plan would take thousands of years to make happen, it began to take shape when a virgin named Mary gave birth to a son, this very same Jesus we’re talking about. God’s plan was simple: live the perfect life we couldn’t & die a horrific death on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. And he did it, perfectly.

The most impressive part of all this is that it truly pleased God to do it. He didn’t need to have his arm twisted or be coerced into performing such a heroic task. No, God was pleased to dwell with man, as a man. He volunteered himself to do what we couldn’t, all so we could have peace with him. This is why the heavenly host joyfully said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) and why we call Jesus the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Unfortunately, not all of humanity will experience this peace. While Jesus came to rescue us from sin, only those who recognize their need for God’s forgiveness can receive the free gift that he offers. For many of us Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts, but God offered us the greatest gift of all when he sent his son to us in a manger in a little town called Bethlehem.

In a very real sense Jesus was the embodiment of the name Immanuel, which means “God with us.” God was with us from the beginning because he had a plan to restore and forgive us. He was with us, walking and talking beside us in the form of Jesus, the God-man, showing us how to live. And he is still with us through his indwelling Holy Spirit, the gift he promised to those who love him. Even when he feels far, God is with us. Therefore, every day should be a celebration of God being with us and for us! Glory be to God, our Immanuel!

Dig Deeper

1. According to Galatians 4:4-5, what was God’s purpose in sending his son to us?
2. Read John 14:27. The Hebrew word “shalom” means more than just peace, but implies blessing and wellbeing. How does God’s peace differ from any that the world can give us?
3. Read Matthew 28:20. How is Jesus our Immanuel, even now? How can you know that God is with you daily?

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Background music: Customary “Where are You Going” & “Come Back Down to Earth” from album Plaque Bird (Instrumentals) – courtesy of Customary

Studying the Bible is one of the most important skills a Christian can learn. It’s a skill that gives the Christian the knowledge needed to mature and please the Lord. Unfortunately, this isn’t something a lot of Christians are taught & it’s assumed they’ll just know how to do it. Not knowing how to study leaves a Christian’s personal times of study in shambles; or worse, they aren’t reading their Bible at all. Outside of church on Sunday, a lot of Christians don’t even know why they should take time to open their Bibles. This is why we are looking at the importance of digging into God’s Word.

Simply put, if you want to know God, you need to dig into his Word. Think for a minute about all of the meaningful relationships in your life. How much time have you invested in them? If you’re like most people, you’ve spent countless hours nurturing your relationships and getting to know these people. If that is true, the same has to be true for our relationship with God. If we are going to learn about him, learning what he likes & dislikes, then we have to get to know him. Since God does not have a physical body we can talk to face-to-face, we have to look elsewhere. The primary means we’ve been given for learning about God is the Bible.

Although 2 Timothy 2:15 is written to someone whose primary role is teaching the Bible, it can just as well be applied to every Christian. The text tells us that we need to be the kind of person who accurately handles and understands the Bible. The person able to do this is someone who has spent a lot of time studying it. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2 that we cannot obtain this knowledge about God in any other way. Sure, we can learn some things about God through natural observation, like that he’s a designer and creator, but we cannot learn the finer details of who he is. Yet, Christians are equipped with the Bible and the Holy Spirit, which allow us to know his heart and character.

The only way this can be done is by spending time studying the Bible. It’s a lot like learning in school. You can either learn just enough to pass a test, or you can learn the material well enough to apply its principles more broadly. The person who only learns for the test quickly forgets the material, whereas the studious person has learned it for a lifetime & can build upon their knowledge. As Christians we can be like the first person and only read a verse or two & call it good, or we can pore over the Scriptures and have a deeper relationship with God. The latter person is the one who will have a more fruitful Christian life. The Bible has all we need to know God and lead a life of godliness, so, will you dig in?

Dig Deeper

1. Read 2 Peter 1:20-21. If nothing is up to our own interpretation, what steps can you take to make sure you properly understand what you’re reading in the Bible?
2. Read Psalm 111:2 and Acts 17:11-12. Why were the Bereans commended over the Thessalonians? What steps do you need to take to have those same characteristics?
3. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, where does Scripture come from? In what ways is the Bible applicable to our lives?

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Background music: Jaq “Shoot the Hinge” & “In the Cut” from album Escape from Radio Prison (Instrumentals) – courtesy of Illect Recordings

One of the biggest beefs people have with Christianity is its exclusivity. No one wants to be told they’re doing wrong. They want to believe their good will outweigh their bad or that their faith will get them to heaven. Yet, on the flip side, most don’t have a problem condemning people like Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler to an eternity in hell for their evil acts. But, if you’re remotely trying live a decent life, then they want you to pump the breaks when it comes to Christianity and its claim to be the only way. So, what are we to do?

In the second verse of his song “The Greatest Need,” Da’ T.R.U.T.H. talks about a dream he had where he was on stage with leaders from other world religions. These men led quiet and devout lives, but God would not let them into heaven. Why not? Their faith was sincere & all they wanted to do was see their creator face-to-face. Isn’t that enough to get to heaven and meet God? The pluralistic society we live in today would answer yes to such a question; as long as you’re not hurting anyone and your beliefs are authentic, you’re good to go.

Christianity and the Bible say otherwise. The Bible teaches that, for as good as we are, we do not measure up to God’s standards, even on our best day. No matter how sincere or devout our beliefs, that is not enough for us to enter heaven. You see, we’ve all offended God because we have a sin problem. Even someone like Moses couldn’t see God’s face because of his sin (Exodus 33:20), so what makes us think we can? If ever there were anyone who could boast of his good deeds it would be the Apostle Paul, but even he counted them all as rubbish when compared to his greatest need (Philippians 3:8). Deep down, we all know that we’re sinners and we can do nothing about it, no matter how hard we try.

If our good deeds can’t get us to heaven and our sins condemn us, what are we to do? This is where Christianity is set apart from every other religion and worldview. We have an answer for man’s greatest need and the answer is Jesus Christ. To stand before a holy and righteous God we need our sins forgiven. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again to make that forgiveness possible. There’s no other way for us to gain right standing with God. Like Da’ T.R.U.T.H. says in his song, “Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good.” No, “Jesus came to make dead people live,” which he does by forgiving our sins when we place our faith in him. So, while Christianity and its claims may rub people the wrong way, it’s the only way any of us can ever see God face-to-face.

Dig Deeper

1. Read Isaiah 64:6. How are we and our righteous deeds described in this verse?
2. Read Acts 13:36-41. The Law (think the 10 Commandments) showed us that we couldn’t live up to God’s standards. What does this passage say Jesus came to do?
3. Christianity’s exclusive claim to salvation isn’t something the Church created. Read John 14:6 and 17:3. What does Jesus himself say about the path to God? How does he describe eternal life?

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Background music: Doloto “I Am” from album Recycled Thoughts: Instrumentals – courtesy of Doloto

“Merge how you live and what you believe.” That’s part of the hook from Mark J’s song “Merge” from his album An Everyday World. This is a dilemma for a lot of Christians. They teach and believe one thing, but live their lives in an entirely different manner. In many cases, if you ran into some Christians on the street, you would have a hard time believing their profession of faith. This is where we need to allow Scripture to grab hold and change our lives. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about people who are taught the Word but don’t live it out.

One verse that comes to mind is James 1:22, which reads, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

When we line this verse up with Mark J’s song, we can say quite a bit. First, the simple fact of the matter is this truth is contrary to the beliefs of many Christians. They love to hear the Bible preached, but refuse to live it out. This is why we have so many immature believers in our churches. Truth be told, as this verse states, the person who only hears the word is deceived into believing they can be a Christian without a changed life.

Too many Christians think they can go to church once a week and have everything they need for God to be pleased with them. They believe hearing the preacher is enough and that somehow his holiness will rub off on them. Wrong! These are the very people James is talking about. You know these people, they probably go to your church, they’re likely your friends, or it very well could be you. This kind of thinking is like the mathematician who makes a miscalculation in his work and ends up with the wrong answer. It’s a serious spiritual miscalculation that stunts your growth.

Instead, we need to be “doers of the word,” which means we are “merg[ing] how we live with what we believe,” to put it in the words of Mark J. We take what we learn and apply it to our lives. What good is a life changing message if you don’t do anything with it? That’s like having a house full of food and making the choice to starve to death. When merging takes place, we start living the Bible daily and it becomes part of who we are.

As we close, what good is it to know the Bible but never put it to use? That’s not a wise move. God has given us His Word so we can merge it into our lives, looking more like him with each passing day. Let’s not be deceived into thinking it’s enough for us to hear the Word and never do anything with it. Let’s make the Scriptures come alive as we live out the fruit of the Spirit on a daily basis. Amen? Amen!

Dig Deeper

1. Read Matthew 7:21-23. What is the fate of those who thought they were doing all kinds of work for the Lord but never placed faith in him?
2. Read James 1:22-25. What outcome can be expected for the person who studies the Bible and does what it teaches?
3. According to James 4:17, what are you doing if you know the right thing but fail to do it?

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Background music: k-Drama “When U C Me (Instrumental)” from album k-Drama Beats Vol. 1: Decade of Drama – courtesy of k-Drama Music

If ever there were a cartoon that vividly depicted what the Church looks like, Voltron would be it. For those not familiar with the premise of the Saturday morning cartoon, there are five individuals of different backgrounds & skill sets who work together to stop the forces of evil throughout the galaxy. These five operate robotic lions, which also have their own unique abilities; yet, when the evil forces are too mighty, these five are able to bring their lions together to form the supremely powerful Voltron.

The Church functions in much the same way as the characters in Voltron. Each of us is blessed by God with a unique set of talents that sets us apart from everyone else. Along with our talents, we are also given a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit at the moment we place our faith in Christ. Taken together, each Christian is equipped to work within the Church in a way that no one else can duplicate. This gifting allows many individuals throughout the world to operate in the same bodily function, say a pastor, yet each can do it in a way that is uniquely their own. Since every Christian has a spiritual gift, they are expected to use it for the edification of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:7). This means that every Christian should be performing some kind of spiritual service, no matter how big or small the role.

As 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 shows us, we each play a part and it may be different from someone else’s; but, that does not mean one is greater than another. While some gifts may play a more visible role, it is the behind the scenes ministry that keeps the entire body functioning. Even though we cannot see our kidneys or liver, like we can our hands or feet, our body cannot continue to function without these vital organs. Much like Voltron, we are more than capable of doing ministry on our own, but the Church is at its strongest when each individual part comes together to make up the whole. A local church cannot function with just a pastor-teacher; it needs every spiritual gift functioning in unison to run smoothly & be most effective.

The Church is a “unified body transformed, guided by the head,” who is Jesus Christ. He brings us from all walks of life so we can come together and be his earthly vehicle for sharing the gospel. Since this is true, we ought to make sure we are doing everything we can to operate a strong & healthy body. If you aren’t presently serving within the body, why not? Do you know what your spiritual gift is? If not, pray that the Lord might reveal it to you so that you can begin playing your role as a part of the greatest living organism that God ever created.

Dig Deeper

1. What can we learn from Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9? How did Paul and Apollos view themselves compared to one another?
2. According to Ephesians 4, why is unity within the Church important? What can we do to make sure we’re all individually working toward unity?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Why are we given spiritual gifts, and why don’t we all get the same gifts? Do you know what your spiritual gift is?

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Background music: Stephen the Levite “Rehoboam (Instrumental)” from album The Last Missionary – courtesy of Lamp Mode Recordings

In the opening to his epistle to the Romans, Paul expresses his wish to preach the gospel to the believers in Rome. But, Paul is writing to Christians. Why do they need to hear the gospel preached? This is a valid question and it needs to be asked. Is the gospel a one time message solely used to lead people to Christ and salvation? The answer is no. We need the gospel every single day of our lives and we need to preach it to ourselves.

While the gospel is something we first need to save us from our sins, that is not its only purpose in our lives. The gospel does more than forgiving our sins or giving us a golden ticket to heaven. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ and how it can transform our lives. The entire Bible is the gospel, and it teaches us how we can grow closer to our savior. Through the Bible we are given everything we need to live a life of godliness (2 Peter 1:4).

Beyond salvation, the gospel has much practical application for daily life. For example, we wrestle with the dichotomy of being a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) while still living in bodies that want to sin. The only way to win this daily battle is to turn to the gospel and rest in its promises. One such promise is found in Romans 8:1-2 where it says those who are in Christ are no longer under condemnation and are free from sin and death. Knowing this truth, we can then look to Romans 8:37 and see how we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ. This passage also teaches that nothing in the created world can separate us from Christ’s love, which is life changing! Literally nothing can separate us from his love!

Now, there is one thing we need to know about preaching the gospel to ourselves. The power to stand firm in the faith does not come from within us. Just like we cannot save ourselves, we are incapable of keeping ourselves afloat in this Christian life. The Holy Spirit brought us to salvation, and he is the one who keeps us. It was God’s love for us that allowed him to send his son, Jesus, to die on a cross for our sins (1 John 4:10). And that same love allows us to love him in return (1 John 4:19). God’s love enables us to walk in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and to be slaves to righteousness (Romans 6).

We need to study the Scriptures and find the gospel throughout its entirety (Luke 24:44-45). As we do, we will find a wealth of knowledge that will lead us to holy living. And, we do this, not because we are trying to earn anything from God, but because of what he’s already done for us.

Dig Deeper

1. Read Romans 6. In what ways were we slaves to sin? In what ways can we be better slaves to righteousness?
2. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). How does knowing this truth affect the way you live your life?
3. Read Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 2:2, 3. How can understanding the riches and blessings that come with Christ help us to daily live out the gospel?

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Background music: JustMe “Respect the Name (Instrumental)” from album Full Disclosure – courtesy of Illect Recordings

Haters gon’ hate. It doesn’t take long before you realize how true that statement is. In this life we’ll have no shortages of haters, and that’s just the way it is living in a fallen sinful world. There are any number of reasons why we might have haters. It could be because of our skin color or ethnicity. Or it might be that we’re successful and they want what we have. We could even be hated on because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The reasons are endless. So, we might as well accept having haters as a fact of life. But, the question is: how will we respond to the haters in our lives?

The Bible is full of answers on how we should respond to our haters, but the clearest example comes from the life of Jesus. While hanging on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, Jesus was able to speak the following words about those who were responsible for his crucifixion, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Let’s be real, could you utter those words in that situation? Even for the Son of God, I’m sure that wasn’t an easy thing to do, especially when he’s literally breathing his last few breaths. But, like that song from the Frozen soundtrack, Jesus chose to “let it go.” His example is one we need to mimic in our own lives when dealing with opposition.

In the hook for his song, Beacon Light says, “Haters gon hate/ Lovers gon hate too/ I don’t know about you though/ But I’m looking for a breakthrough/ What you gon do?/ Who you gon be?/ You can hate all you want but as for me/ I love the haters…” When it comes down to it, it’s all about building character. Haters help shape who we become. They can either drag us down to their level or push us to higher levels. The Bible teaches us to take the high road. This means we’re not avenging ourselves (Romans 12:19), but instead doing good to our enemies (Proverbs 25:21-22), leaving payback in the hands of the Lord.

I like Beacon’s response to the haters when in the bridge he says, “They wanna bring that fire like Bowser/ But if they pull that heat I’m a be like steam/ That heat only makes me rise/ I love the haters.” Like Jesus, instead of letting our opponents get us off track, we should use it as an opportunity to build character and holiness. Even if our haters don’t push us to greater material greatness, we can trust that when we love our enemies and respond in God’s character, we are winning in God’s eyes. Matthew 5:10 says it best: we’re blessed when we face persecution. And it’s also proof that we have the Holy Spirit living inside us.

So, when the haters come your way, how are you going to respond? Like Beacon, I say love ‘em!

Dig Deeper

1. Read 1 Peter 2:13 and 3:16. According to Peter, how did Jesus handle the haters in his life? What does he then say our response should be?
2. Read James 4:1-3. What are some of the things James lists as reasons Christians fight and hate on one another?
3. Read John 15:19 and 2 Timothy 3:12. As Christians, what comfort can we take from these verses and how should it change how we live our lives? How will it strengthen your faith?

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Background music: Sareem Poems & Ess Be “Worthy (Instrumental)” from album Beautiful Noise – courtesy of Illect Recordings

It doesn’t matter who we are, we all seek after the approval of others. Kids desire praise from their parents. Teens long for it from their friends. Employees want to impress their boss. Rappers want a co-sign from those at the top, along with the praise of their fanbase. The desire for applause is not a bad thing. Under the right circumstances, such approval can mean we’re likable or doing a good job. Our motives determine whether our desire for praise is good or bad. As Christians, we are taught to seek the approval of God above all else. For us, things take a turn south when we start compromising our faith for the sake of man’s accolades.

In the hook for his song, Brinson plainly states this truth: “Applause, something I don’t live for/ Type of thing people wanna kill for/ Heaven, want more than a Benz-o, trying to go there with my kinfolk…” His words drive home the seriousness of the issue and echo the words of Paul in Galatians 1:10. In that passage Paul presents the two competing goals of pleasing man or pleasing God, emphasizing that you cannot do both. According to Paul, you cannot follow Christ if you’re preoccupied with the opinion of others. Yet, that is the very thing many of us try to do. So often we put our faith on the back burner because we don’t want to offend others. We’d rather receive their applause and its accompanying benefits. We can even be guilty of this without knowing we’re doing it, whether it be speaking less about our faith around our friends or changing our approach to be more palatable for those around us. This is a problem.

Instead of shying away from our faith, we need to take the approach that Brinson & the Scriptures give us. Our motivation should be pleasing God with the desire of reaching heaven. This isn’t just a solo goal; we should want our friends & family to be in heaven with us. With that as our mindset we can start trusting the Bible & stop seeking the applause of others at the expense of our faith. Proverbs 29:25 teaches that worrying about man (including their opinions) can become a trap; but, if we trust in the Lord we are safe. No, events may not always turn out in our favor, but we know that it will always work for our good (Romans 8:28). The Bible is full of men & women who put God’s approval above that of man, and God never spat on their faithfulness.

I won’t lie, gaining the world’s approval, whatever that looks like, comes with some pretty sweet benefits, at least it seems that way on the surface. But stop and think about it. What are these temporary praises worth in comparison to the treasures we have stored up for us in heaven? Don’t let applause be the thing you live for, unless it’s God saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Dig Deeper

1. What are some areas in your life where you’re seeking applause & recognition? Is your desire for applause causing you to compromise your faith?
2. Read Daniel 6. It would have been easy for Daniel to stop praying for a month to follow the king’s law, but he didn’t. How can Daniel’s faith be of encouragement to you?
3. Read Proverbs 3:1-4; Luke 2:52; Romans 14:18; and Galatians 2:1-10. Not all approval is bad. According to these verses, when is it good to seek the approval of others?

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Background music: Beat Rabbi “Double Dog Dare You (Instrumental)” from album Deepspace5oul – courtesy of Illect Recordings

Let’s be real, how many of us take the Bible seriously? Sure, there are some good things in it that help us live better lives, and of course there’s that stuff about God, Jesus, heaven & hell. But most of us only crack open our Bibles on Sunday morning, and maybe a few times during the week to read a verse or two. That’s not putting much respect on the Bible. Well, what if I told you there’s more to the Bible than that?

The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith teaches that the Bible gives us everything we need to know God as he has revealed himself, how to obtain salvation, & ultimately how to please God with our lives. Yet, many view the Bible in a different light. To quote Flame, “People pick and choose what they will and won’t use from the Holy Scriptures// but the Bible is not just a book that you can just look through and see what fits ya.” No can do. That’s not how the Bible works. According to 2 Timothy 3:16 everything in the Bible is breathed out or inspired by God. That means if these are God’s words given through human authors moved to write them down, then we must take them all seriously.

How do we know the Bible is about more than salvation? The rest of 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us why God gave us the Bible. First, it’s good for teaching and gives us the knowledge we need. What does it teach? Primarily three things: 1) who God is, 2) God’s reason and plan for salvation, and 3) how to live in light of this knowledge. Next the Bible is good for reproof, which means getting called out when you’re wrong or breaking God’s Law. But, we aren’t called out without being given a path of correction, which is the next thing on the list. The Bible corrects our wrong thinking & habits, allowing us to repent & move forward. Finally, it trains us to live godly lives. You’re not going to get this from just a few verses here and there, it takes reading all of the Bible. This is one reason why the Old Testament is worth reading. In 1 Corinthians 10:6 we’re told that God allowed these events to be recorded so we could have examples of how to live.

I want to close by quoting Flame one more time. He says, “please don’t insert your own authority in place of the scriptures, that’s backwards.” And in the very next line he says, “the scriptures are perfect and they are able to guide the people of God into the truth of God.” Yes, the Bible is a big book, but it’s one we should take time to learn because it has everything we need for living well in this life and reaching the next. Can we get this information else where? Nope! That’s why it’s “Sola Scriptura,” aka Scripture alone.

Dig Deeper

1. Read Psalm 1. What does this psalm tell us about the person who delights in studying God’s Word and living it out?
2. Read 1 Timothy 6:3-11. What kinds of things are we taught to avoid and pursue according to this passage?
3. Read 2 Peter 3:15-16. How do we know that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God? How does Peter refer to Paul’s writings?

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Background music: The Battery “Finna Be (Instrumental)” from album Two – courtesy of Illect Recordings

Hey, what’s up. My name is LaRosa Johnson, the founder of Devos.HipHop. I want to kick things off by sharing my heart & telling you why I started this website and podcast.

If you’ve been in the Christian Hip-Hop community for any length of time you’ve probably seen my name. I’ve been involved in the scene for almost two decades now. Like many of you, I started off as a fan. My love for the genre grew quickly & I got involved with the community. I spent a lot of my free time on message boards & chat rooms. Then when I got the opportunity to write reviews I never looked back, as it fueled my desire to have the latest and greatest in Christian Hip-Hop. I absolutely loved the music and the community.

Yet, for as much as I loved the music, I loved the message in the music more. So, back in 2007 I started my Trailblazin Ministries website & decided to do something different. I wanted to combine my love of Christian Hip-Hop and my desire to teach the Bible. The site became a hybrid that covered music and taught the Scriptures. This led me to flip up my reviews and help people see past the dope rhyme schemes & get to the spiritual meat contained in the lyrics. Along with dissecting the music, we made sure to point out the spiritual significance as well.

I wanted to expand the idea even further, which led me to the idea of “hip-hop devotions.” Instead of simply talking about the music, I wanted to take a song & show the listener how they could take that song back to the Scriptures for further edification. It quickly became one of the staples of our site. Trailblazin Ministries eventually closed its doors, as all sites do at some point, but my passion never died.

After taking some time to mature in my faith and seeing an upcoming generation of Christian Hip-Hop fans, the Lord brought me back to the idea. This time, I’m not focusing on doing everything because I’m only one man. I’m simplifying my focus. I want to give you a devotion based on a Christian Hip-Hop song that challenges you to examine yourself and grow in the faith. Christian Hip-Hop is about more than music; it’s about the message in the music. And since I can’t rap, make beats, or deejay, this is my contribution to the genre and community. I’m using Christian Hip-Hop to take you to the Bible.

So, that’s what you can expect from Devos.HipHop. Every two weeks you’ll find a new devotion along with some study questions that will help you dive into the Scriptures on your own. Then, you can head over to our Facebook group and chop it up with other Christian Hip-Hop fans.

It’s my prayer that Devos.HipHop becomes a blessing to you. So dive into the first devotion and the many more to come!

Grace & peace!

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