Friday Reading: Ephesians 5:17-21
Key Verse: Ephesians 5:18
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit,
Devotion:
“Let’s Party!” How many times have you heard that and got excited about going out there and having a good time. But having a good time is very different for different people. To some it is going to be a case of letting everything go and getting filled in excess with drink and drugs and generally not knowing what they are going to be getting up to... but to others it will be going out with friends who are of a like mind and having a good, but honest and fun time. We should not have to think that we have to break all the rules just so that we can have a good time – God wants us to be happy and to enjoy life, but He does not want us to run off in the other direction and bring sin into our lives... for the more we bring sin in, the more we exclude God!
There is no reason why you should have to listen to songs that are full of swearing, hatred, lust, greed and other spiteful things when there are just as many good and righteous songs out there which will actually lift up God rather than slate Him at every opportunity! And there is a difference between getting hooked into the beat of a song (even if the words are something to do with God) instead of being hooked into the actual words and making sure that God does get the glory!
Yes people and music change over time. Yes our grandparents did not like the music that was coming up with the youngsters at that time (and no I will not embarrass anyone by saying what songs they were). Yes we as parents do think some of the music out there is “just not music” because it is alien to us. What it should come down to is what is the music saying about God! If the music is painting the picture of Christ being a rock and roll type guy who will let His hair down then I’m sorry but that is just not right! This is the Son of God you are talking about here. He is Just! He is Holy! If your songs do not lift Him up as that then what do you expect He thinks of them? [end rant] There is nothing wrong with enjoying music, but there is something inherently wrong about bringing God down to your level!
Points to Ponder:
What music do you enjoy?
What do you really think God thinks of your music?
Key Verse: Ephesians 5:18
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit,
Devotion:
“Let’s Party!” How many times have you heard that and got excited about going out there and having a good time. But having a good time is very different for different people. To some it is going to be a case of letting everything go and getting filled in excess with drink and drugs and generally not knowing what they are going to be getting up to... but to others it will be going out with friends who are of a like mind and having a good, but honest and fun time. We should not have to think that we have to break all the rules just so that we can have a good time – God wants us to be happy and to enjoy life, but He does not want us to run off in the other direction and bring sin into our lives... for the more we bring sin in, the more we exclude God!
There is no reason why you should have to listen to songs that are full of swearing, hatred, lust, greed and other spiteful things when there are just as many good and righteous songs out there which will actually lift up God rather than slate Him at every opportunity! And there is a difference between getting hooked into the beat of a song (even if the words are something to do with God) instead of being hooked into the actual words and making sure that God does get the glory!
Yes people and music change over time. Yes our grandparents did not like the music that was coming up with the youngsters at that time (and no I will not embarrass anyone by saying what songs they were). Yes we as parents do think some of the music out there is “just not music” because it is alien to us. What it should come down to is what is the music saying about God! If the music is painting the picture of Christ being a rock and roll type guy who will let His hair down then I’m sorry but that is just not right! This is the Son of God you are talking about here. He is Just! He is Holy! If your songs do not lift Him up as that then what do you expect He thinks of them? [end rant] There is nothing wrong with enjoying music, but there is something inherently wrong about bringing God down to your level!
Points to Ponder:
What music do you enjoy?
What do you really think God thinks of your music?