by Josh Turner
Almost everyone makes New Year’s resolutions. We try to develop new habits, abilities and skills to improve ourselves and become the people we want to be. However, by the time April rolls around, many of these resolutions are distant memories. Think of the diet plans or gym memberships that go unused when we abandon attempts at the next level of fitness.
“Level up” is not a new concept. In fact, the Bible challenges and equips us to grow, or level up, in our faith. Some people can relate to this level up concept from video gaming. In gaming, leveling up is when a character completes some sort of progression that unlocks new abilities or skills. It enables them to keep moving forward toward a goal. In the same way, 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) talks about our goal of godly living as we level up in our faith. As we continue reading, verses 5-7 encourage us:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and o godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
The Territorial Youth Band, Territorial Youth Chorus and Territorial Worship Collective are meeting virtually each month on Zoom to talk about the biblical concept of leveling up. In addition, these groups, along with other featured youth soloists performing on guitar, brass and spoken word, are recording a devotional project called “Level Up.” The project’s goal is to provide a tool to help strengthen spiritual life and godly living.
The “Level Up” recording will include original compositions, as well as new recordings of hymns, gospel, jazz, spoken word and contemporary Christian music. Devotional materials written by a cross-section of officers and lay leaders throughout the Central Territory will accompany each track, offering relatable illustrations. By linking these musical selections with devotionals, aimed at modern challenges and questions, “Level Up” will help us focus on timeless solutions from God’s Word and their application today.
As we anticipate the release of this resource later this year, ask yourself how you can respond to God’s promises as you level up in your own faith with the godly attributes listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7.