TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• When it comes to music these days, I primarily listen to contemporary Christian music (and am going to see Lauren Daigle tomorrow night with my friend Tracey—WOOHOO!!)… But the heartbeat of my musical soul is still stuck in the 80s… Yes, friends, I am a child of 80s hair bands. It’s what I grew up on, and I admit it—I had hair band posters plastered all over my bedroom. Since I’m still musically stuck in the 80s and prefer Christian music, most contemporary pop and rock music is lost on me. I wouldn’t know a current pop artist if they walked in front of me.
I tell you all this because I was kind of stunned the other day when I saw a bathing suit ad on Facebook with the caption “Good as Hell.” At the time, I didn’t realize it was a song. Besides my concern over the caption, all I could think was, “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Marketing People… I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a bathing suit in public.” Or private, for that matter. My squishy bits don’t need emphasizing.
Goodness, this could be a huge can of worms… of course, our culture celebrates the bad. Any Christian can attest to the glorification of sin in our world. But to title a song “Good as Hell?” That just took me off guard. Apparently, it’s been out since 2016, and I’ve been living under a rock. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the singer either, but I looked up the lyrics, and besides the fact that they are poorly written, it’s just a mash-up of “girl empowerment.” (I use the term loosely.)
Ladies—we can be empowered in so many more positive, beneficial ways. I’m not going down that rabbit hole right now, but this is what our youth listen to…
Now, I’m sure some are thinking, “Oh good grief… it’s just a song, Denise… don’t be so literal, Denise… lighten up, Denise… You’re a goodie-two-shoes, Denise…” Maybe. I’m okay with that. I’ve been called worse. But that song title (once I realized it was a song) gave me chills. Is that what people sing about? And celebrate??
I know, I know… you don’t have to say it. I’m a hypocrite. I just admitted that I grew up on 80s hair bands, and we all know the saying—“sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.” Maybe I’m naive, and I know that the messages in the music I grew up on aren’t wholesome, but… I don’t know… it’s different. I’m not saying it’s right, but I’m 45 now. I have grown up and matured. The girl who used to be willing to wear a bathing suit in public never paid attention to what the lyrics meant… she just thought the lead singers were cute and liked the melody. All excuses…
I suppose that’s how it is with every generation. We think of our stuff as okay and the new stuff as too edgy. And admitting they aren’t as different as want to believe them to be—part of that comes with age and maturity. And knowing there’s nothing good about hell. At all.
The Bible tells us, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul wrote this in response to concerns about how Christians should interact with others. When Paul wrote, “whatever you do,” we forget that it says, “whatever.” Whatever is an all-encompassing word.
What is your whatever? Is it listening to music? Can you glorify God in it? Is it watching movies? Can you glorify God in it? Is it reading a book? Can you glorify God in it? Is it talking with friends? Can you glorify God in it? Is it picking out your clothes for work? Can you glorify God in it? Is it sitting in the carpool line? Can you glorify God in it?
In whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Even when you pick out your bathing suit (if you’re so bold)… glorify God in it.
Whatever. That one word holds a lot of weight.
And responsibility.
Friends, we can’t be like the world. The world celebrates sin! Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” And doing this—refusing to conform to what the world calls good and looking to what God defines as good—THIS is how we glorify God in our whatever’s.
I promise Jesus wouldn’t hum along to “Good as Hell.” Or any of my hair bands.
What are the whatever’s you’re doing today? How will you use them to glorify God?
Today, as you pray, thank God for being all that is good and right. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be a non-conformist to the world and choose what glorifies God. Ask Him to help you in whatever you do.
SHARING ••• Please feel free to comment or share this blog with others. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Also, download a free Bible-In-A-Year Reading Plan when you subscribe! ***Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
