A few Sunday nights ago, Sheri and I went to the Casting Crowns concert at Germain arena with Mike and Christine Young, and Michael and Carol Patton. It was great to see our youth group there along with others members of the RLA church family. The concert was fantastic in every way. As a musician I especially watched the guitar players who played chords I never knew existed! And the spiritual dynamic of the concert was powerful.
Mark Hall, lead singer for Casting Crowns, shared many good thoughts during the concert. One statement in particular stood out to me. He said, “I need to listen to music that will encourage me in the life I’m trying to live, not in the life I’m trying to leave.” Stop and read that statement again. It’s powerful.
The Hebrew writer talked about things we need to lay aside in the Christian life. He wasn’t talking about sinful things. He was talking about ordinary things that get in the way and impede progress. Along with putting away the sins that always trip us up, the Hebrew writer also said, “Let us lay aside every weight” (Hebrews 12:1).
So are there things you allow in your life that are weighing you down spiritually? Are there things that are keeping you tied to the past life when the Spirit is calling you into a life of newness? It could be the music you listen to. It could be the movies and television programs you watch. It could be the books and magazines you read. It could be the places you browse on the internet. It could be the company you keep, or the places you go.
This is not a legalistic thing. This is a learning the difference between things that edify and things that edify not thing (1 Corinthians 10:23). So think about it. Pray about it. Distance yourself from anything that holds you down or pulls you back. Embrace things that build you up and move you forward in your walk with Jesus.
Mark Hall, lead singer for Casting Crowns, shared many good thoughts during the concert. One statement in particular stood out to me. He said, “I need to listen to music that will encourage me in the life I’m trying to live, not in the life I’m trying to leave.” Stop and read that statement again. It’s powerful.
The Hebrew writer talked about things we need to lay aside in the Christian life. He wasn’t talking about sinful things. He was talking about ordinary things that get in the way and impede progress. Along with putting away the sins that always trip us up, the Hebrew writer also said, “Let us lay aside every weight” (Hebrews 12:1).
So are there things you allow in your life that are weighing you down spiritually? Are there things that are keeping you tied to the past life when the Spirit is calling you into a life of newness? It could be the music you listen to. It could be the movies and television programs you watch. It could be the books and magazines you read. It could be the places you browse on the internet. It could be the company you keep, or the places you go.
This is not a legalistic thing. This is a learning the difference between things that edify and things that edify not thing (1 Corinthians 10:23). So think about it. Pray about it. Distance yourself from anything that holds you down or pulls you back. Embrace things that build you up and move you forward in your walk with Jesus.
