I had a conversation with a good friend yesterday, concerning music, and the influence it can have on your life. I was thinking about that last night, and I realized that a lot of the music I listen to really isn't a good influence on my life. I was absolutely convicted. God tells us to dedicate our lives to Him; He tells us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37), and this includes the music we listen to. I began to realize that every time I would pray that God would show me sins that I needed to confess, I blocked that particular one from my mind. And it's because my music is so important to me. Like I said to my friend, I love the rythym and the melody of those songs that have a bad influence on me, not necessarily the words. But no matter the reason I listen to those songs, the words still stick in my head, and cause my mind to think in those directions, and to use words that don't bring honor to the Lord. It's hard, but I'm trying to purge that sin from my life. I would appreciate prayers as I do that. I am not posting this as a condemnation, because I know everyone has different convictions, and some people may not be affected by music as I am. I'm posting it because it taught me a lesson, and I'm hoping it will help others as well. Thank you to my friend for showing me the wrong in my life.
http://grooveshark.com/s/All+I+Need+Is+You+cape+Town+South+Africa+/2ccaId?src=5
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Reflections on Grace
I thought my first post should elaborate on the title of my blog: Abounding Grace. It is inspired by Romans 5:20-21:
"But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life."
This passage has always been so encouraging to me, just because, knowing that I sin, Christ will always graciously forgive me. ALWAYS. Crazy stuff right there. But if you read on, into the next chapter of Romans, it asks the question "Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1b). And the answer is, of course not! We need to strive with every fiber in our being to be more like Christ, and to purge sin from our lives. It says in verse 4: "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Christ died for us, so that we can live with Him forever, and so that we CAN purge sin from our lives! We cannot waste this precious gift!
Well, that is my interpretation :) If anyone has any other thoughts, I'd love to hear them!!
(Oh man, I've always wanted to cross out my words on the computer!!)
"But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life."
This passage has always been so encouraging to me, just because, knowing that I sin, Christ will always graciously forgive me. ALWAYS. Crazy stuff right there. But if you read on, into the next chapter of Romans, it asks the question "Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1b). And the answer is, of course not! We need to strive with every fiber in our being to be more like Christ, and to purge sin from our lives. It says in verse 4: "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Christ died for us, so that we can live with Him forever, and so that we CAN purge sin from our lives! We cannot waste this precious gift!
Well, that is my interpretation :) If anyone has any other thoughts, I'd love to hear them!!
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