I don’t know if anyone can understand what it means to be a Christian if they don’t relate to this song. Every single line in it tells the story of the gospel. If you aren’t amazed that God would want anything to do with you, if you haven’t wondered why God didn’t just leave you in your sin, if you think you’ve never called God’s love “a lie,” then how can you possibly comprehend how far down God has to reach in order to rescue you from the dominion of darkness and transfer you into the Kingdom of the Son He loves (Col 1:13)?

If we want to honor God with our lives, then we approach others in the gratitude and humility that comes from knowing that we have done nothing to earn God’s love. And we approach God with our faces bowed very, very low.

I can’t believe that you still want me
After everything I’ve done.
I can’t believe that you still want me to be with you.

I was sure that you would leave me
With the mess that I had made.
I was sure that you would take away your love.

But I was wrong and you’re still here.
And your love, it carries all my fear.
There’s nothing I can say,
There’s nothing I can do
To make you love me more.

You’re the only one who loves me
Just the way I am.
You’re the only one who loves me so perfectly.

And even when I told you
never call on me again.
Even when I called your love a lie.

But I was wrong and you’re still here.
And your love, it carries all my fear.
There’s nothing I can say,
There’s nothing I can do
To make you love me more.

Love Me More
New Map of the World, Paul Colman Trio, 2002

But the amazing thing is that God did reach down that far to save us. He sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through him (1 John 4:9), that He might be the payment for all our rebellion and sin. He made His who knew no sin to be sin for us — literally to become a curse on our behalf — so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

There’s no greater truth, no more important story, and nothing more significant to which you could be called than citizenship in His kingdom and member in His family. But there’s nothing you can do to earn that calling; it is the gift of God. Receive that gift in humility and gratitude, knowing that the price He paid to extend it is literally unfathomable.

I find this song to be a reminder of that amazing love — God’s amazing love. I hope you will too.

Image credit:

1) Humble prayer – Keith Kettenring