Weekly Devotional: Lecrae "Don't Waste Your Life"

Lecrae has quickly become my favorite Christian hip-hop artist. Ever since someone told me about "Jesus Muzik" I've been excited about what he would come out with next. This latest offering from Lecrae will not disappoint. After spending time with John Piper (author/pastor) Lecrae wrote this song. Don't Waste Your Life is also a book title from John Piper.

How often we spend time on things that won't last. On things that are earthly. On things that don't really matter. How often we get caught up in working more so we can have the bigger house, the faster car, the newer version of ________. We call it pursuing our dreams but where did that dream come from? The 'American Dream' or a godly vision for expanding His Kingdom?

We, on the other hand, are instructed to store up our treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

There are so many great nuggets in this song that come straight from Scripture. Below you will find 1) the lyrics, 2) a snippet of an interview of Lecrae speaking about the new album and this song, and 3) the video itself.

Please take a look at all three and take note of the Scripture references I've added. God bless.

[Hook: Cam]Don't wanna waste my life

[Verse 1: LeCrae]

I know a lot of people out there scared they gone die

Couple of em thinking they'll be livin in the sky

But while I'm here livin man I gotta ask why, what am here fo I gotta figure out

Waste my life / No I gotta make it count

If Christ is real then what am I gone do about

All of the things in Luke 12:15 down to 21

You really oughta go and check it out

Paul said if Christ ain't resurrect then we wasted our lives

Well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive

Everyday I'm living tryin show the world why

Christ is more than everything you'll ever try

Better than pretty women and sinning and living to get a minute of any women and men that you admire / Ain't no lie

We created for Him

Outta the dust he made us for Him

Elects us and he saves us for Him

Jesus comes and raises for Him

Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser

He made us so we could bless Him and to the world we confess him

Resurrects him

So I know I got life

Matter fact better man I know I got Christ

If you don't' see His ways in my days and nights

You can hit my brakes you can stop my lights

Man I lost my rights

I lost my life

Forget the money cars and toss that ice

The cost is Christ

And they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price.

[Verse 2: Dwayne Tryumph]

Armed and dangerous

So the devil jus can't handle us

Christian youth them a stand wid us

Livin' n driven

Given a vision

Fullfillin the commission he handed us

London to Los Angeles

Da rap evangelist

Ma daddy wouldn't abandon us

"I gotta back pack fulla tracts plus I keep a Johnny Mac"

So are you ready to jam with us

So let's go, gimme the word an let's go

Persecution let's go

Tribulation let's go

Across the nation let's go

Procrastination bes go

Hung on the cross in the cold

Died for da young and the old

Can't say you never know

Heaven knows

How many souls are going to hell or to heaven so we gotta go in and get em / Whaaaaat!

[Verse 3: LeCrae]

Suffer / Yeah do it for Christ if you trying to figure what to do with your life

If you making money hope you doing it right because the money is Gods you better steward it right

Stay focused if you ain't got no ride

Your life ain't wrapped up in what you drive

The clothes you wear the job you work

The color your skin naw we Christian first

People living life for a job

Make a lil money start living for a car

Get em a house a wife kids and a dog

When they retire they living high on the hog

But guess what they didn't ever really live at all

To live is Christ yeah that's Paul I recall

To die is gain so for Christ we give it all

He's the treasure you'll find in the mall

Your money your singleness marriage talent and time

They were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine

That's why it's Christ in my rhymes

That's why it's Christ all the time

My whole world is built around him He's the life in my lines

I refused to waste my life

He's too true ta chase

That ice

Heres my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ

If he's truly raised to life

Then this news should change your life

And by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.

They Like Me - KJ-52 featuring Lecrae

Originally posted May 2, 2012

Please watch both videos to get a feel for what the song is all about; Race. KJ-52 has been at this for a very long time and he speaks with wisdom. May God continue to soften our hearts when it comes to race relations. May we understand that we are ALL made in His image and therefore every one of us is equal and is priceless to our King. Remember, He died for all mankind not just white or black America.
UPDATE: Some of us deal with discrimination because the color of our skin, family heritage or even the zipcode we live in. I pray that we see each other the way God sees us, as his beautiful children whom He created in His own image. Isn't He creative? Think about all of the people groups He has made. Just amazing.





[Intro: Lecrae (KJ-52)]
Aiyo KJ people are waiting for us to do something
(That's true)
Let's talk about the elephant in the room though man
(Let's do it!)

[Hook: Lecrae]
They like me forget about the color I might be
It's likely they just like me
We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King

[Verse 1: Lecrae]
I don’t do black music I don’t do white music
I do fight music unified in Christ music
Let's get right to it hear the music write to it
From the context of a black kid fighting through it
Some folks said it was worldly it was too good
Some folks was scared of it it was too hood
So I took it to the places who would embrace it
And sometimes believe it or not it was white faces
Am I a sellout assimilating what’s in my head
No I am Cyclops homie cause all I see is red
People covered in the blood are my fam
And we don’t just relate we all related through the Lamb
My family tree is a lower case t (a Cross)
And we are all the same cause you need him like me
We different but the same and it’s likely
They just like me that’s probably why they like me

[Hook: Lecrae]
They like me forget about the color I might be
It's likely they just like me
We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King
They like me they like me they like me
They say we shouldn’t get along cause our different skin tones
But I promise you they oh so wrong oh so wrong
They like me

[Verse 2: KJ-52]
I got blue eyes light skin and some black curls
Grew up the white kid in a black world
When ya live and ya different well the facts hurt
Moved to the burbs and I don’t fit in that’s worse
I’m just a nerd getting chased home on my bike
After school fight lay in my bed cry at night
Hate the fact that my status read poor and white
And all the rappers I idolize tell me that I’m never right
Now my skin is light and I ain't fitting in
I’m on the outside of hip hop screaming let me in
I’m hooked up with sin hate the very skin I’m in
Cause every time I rhyme they like "look it's Eminem"
Looking back again I’s in the worst place
All I had was beastie boys and third bass
I’m the dude who always come down in 3rd place
Until I heard the story of Your Life and Your Grace

[Hook: Lecrae]
They like me, forget about the color I might be
It's likely they just like me
We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King
They like me, they like me, they like me
They say we shouldn’t get along cause our different skin tones
But I promise you they oh so wrong oh so wrong
They like me

[Verse 3: KJ-52]
So on the weekend started seeking looking for the meaning
Heard a pastor preaching couldn’t believe just what I’m seeing
Walked into a church of white blacks and Puerto Ricans
Without a single reason they loved on this little heathen
And with never speaking they just showed me simply
That Jesus is the only one to make me sin free
And beauty is the only thing that’s ever skin deep
I was lonely but a new family is what you give me
So really if we claim now to love the Son
Why we got to segregate Sunday 10-1?
So much to overcome now from what’s been done
But if starts with me (then what?) then I’ll be the one (Okay)
Now ya better run I’m stepping on ya toes
Got ya out ya comfort zone now ya out the boat
If we're a family then let’s grow now and make a home
Let them know you’re my brother no matter what the tone

[Hook: Lecrae]
They like me, forget about the color I might be
It's likely they just like me
We different but the same we covered by the blood of the King
They like me, they like me, they like me
They say we shouldn’t get along cause our different skin tones
But I promise you they oh so wrong oh so wrong
They like me