Jesus Music for the People

There's a TobyMac song floating around on Christian radio called "Lights Shine Bright" that has really been inspiring me for the last few days. Part of the chorus says,

Lights shine bright everywhere we go

Music for the people to illuminate the soul

Lights shine bright everywhere we go

Music for the people

Jesus music for the people

The song is about how the followers of Jesus are called to be the light of the world. John 8:12 says, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Matthew 5:14 says, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." Basically, Jesus is the light that fights against the darkness (all the bad stuff that humans go through), and as his followers, we need to shine his light, as the song says, everywhere we go.

I listen, almost exclusively, to a national network Christian radio station called Air1. I listen to it so much, in fact, that my children have been prompted to ask, "Why do you always listen to Christian music?" Excellent question, and one for which I have a very good answer that I would like to share with all of you.

First, let me say that there is a lot of good secular music out there that I enjoy listening to. I like to keep up with the most popular songs because it helps me to understand the messages that the general population is hearing on a daily basis. Some are positive; some are negative; some are downright depressing. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy listening to secular music. However, the bulk of my music listening time is spent listening to Christian music, and here's why.

If you want to have the relationship with Jesus that I described in my previous posts, the life-giving love-filled relationship that frees us from all the bad stuff that has happened to us, it's going to take a lot of work. Good, solid, trust-filled relationships take time. Think about the best relationships in your life. How much time do you spend with those people? I'm guessing it's a whole bunch. I know my closest relationships are with the people I spend the most time with. It takes time to get to know someone so intimately that you form a close bond.

A relationship with the almighty God is no different. If you want an awesome relationship with Him, you have to put time into it. For me I try to put as much time into my relationship with God as I possibly can. One easy way I can do that is by listening to and singing along with songs written about Him and for Him. For me there's a three-fold benefit to listening to Christian music.

First, the more Jesus music I listen to, the more I learn about him. I have no idea how many revelations the Holy Spirit has given me while driving down the highway listening to a song about who God is. As I listen to and consider the lyrics, I learn more and more about the personality of Jesus.

Second, when we sing Jesus music, we are praising God with our words. The more we praise Him, the more our relationship with Him means to us. The more I sing praises to him, the more I see how God is working in my life and the lives of all those around me. The TobyMac song above is inspirational. "Lights shine bright everywhere we [Jesus followers] go." What a wonderful gift to be able to bring to the world--the light of Jesus. The closer my relationship is with him, the brighter his light can shine through me.

Third, when I sing these songs, I feel good...happy, peaceful, loving. The songs are uplifting, and singing them lifts me up. Honoring God with my words is an act that brings an awesomeness to my life that I don't have when I sing along with secular music because I am experiencing my relationship with God growing with each word.

So, why do I always listen to Christian music? The simple act of spending that time with God in song as I'm driving down the highway or cleaning the house or pulling weeds grows the intimacy of my relationship with Him in a way that is so fulfilling and wonderful that I want that music in my ears and on my tongue as much as I can get it.

Bonus benefit: my kids. I love to hear my kids singing songs that praise God. Kids sing along with what they hear, even if they don't fully understand it. Hearing a little kid singing along with Bruno Mars as he says,

Gold jewelry shining so bright Strawberry champagne on ice Lucky for you, that's what I like, that's what I like Lucky for you, that's what I like, that's what I like Sex by the fire at night Silk sheets and diamonds all white Lucky for you, that's what I like, that's what I like Lucky for you, that's what I like, that's what I like

kinda makes me feel sick to my stomach. I'll discuss further in future posts.

For now I hope that if you're interested in growing your relationship with Jesus, you'll try listening to some Jesus music. It's a great way to get to know him better and for him to get to know you!