I was listening to some music yesterday (a rare thing in my life) and I heard a song that reminded me powerfully of the gospel. Knowing that I am not alone in needing the reminder, I thought I would post some of the lyrics and a couple of thoughts.
The song was called I Need You to Love Me by Barlow Girl. You can find it on their cd called Another Journal Entry.
Why, why are You still here with me
Didn’t you see what I’ve done?
In my shame I want to run and hide myself
But it’s here I see the truth
I don’t deserve You
Chorus
But I need You to love me, and I
I won’t keep my heart from You this time
And I’ll stop this pretending that I can
Somehow deserve what I already have
I need You to love me
That is only the first part of the song, but you get the idea.
I guess I can relate to this song in many ways. I see my own sin so clearly sometimes. When that happens, it is not fun and it usually causes me to question many things. I tend to question if God will still accept me and stick around. Why would He? He is perfect and has done so much for me and to me and then I repay Him like this? That is the internal dialog that happens in my mind. Does that sound right to you?
It is, I think, a common difficulty, but it is also wrong thinking. I love the line about God maybe not knowing what I have done, as if it took Him by surprise. I think these things too, but they need to be thought about correctly. We need to change our own internal dialog. At times when I am thinking about my own sin and how if I were God I would take off and leave, I am comforted by John 10:27-30.
27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.30 I and the Father are one.” ESV
Here Jesus reminds us that no one can snatch us out of His hand or out of the Father’s hand. We are secure. This is tremendous comfort. I also turn to Romans 8:31-39. This passage reminds me of similar things, but includes the fact that not even things I do can take me out of His love. This is completely consistent with the character of God since He knows everything about us, even the sins we will commit. Could Jesus have died for some sins and not others? I rest in the comfort that He knows me, everything about me, and still loves me. What an incredible truth!
Another powerful truth in this song is the fact that we do not deserve God and His love. We are better off when we see this. This is humbling, but helps us do something we must do, which is depend completely on God and His grace. The line that hits me every time is “I’ll stop pretending that I can somehow deserve what I already have.” Wow! I cannot earn God’s love and forgiveness. He simply gives it. I can’t even live up to it after the fact. I must simply accept it, turning with thankfulness to the One who has provided all I needed.
What about you? Do you need reminded that you cannot earn God’s love? Do you feel the weight of your sinfulness and expect God to be distant? If you are a Christian, you are already accepted and cannot earn or deserve what you already have. Turn to Him with me and give thanks. He deserves it far more than we can ever give.
Thank you God, for music that reminds us of glorious truths. Help us cling to your gospel.
Michael