This is a hard post to write because I’m trying to describe something that is infinitely wonderful with limited means of expression. But I wanted to start with the lyrics below and then talk a little bit about them:
I can be real with You
Say anything and not be afraid
You made me and You like what You made
You made me and You don't make mistakes
I can be real with You
You take me just as I am
You'd choose me all over again
I am the one You love
I am the one You love
I don't have to prove anything
There's room at Your table for me
I am the one You love
I am the one You love
I know You're proud of me
Even though I don't deserve it sometimes
No, I'm not a perfect child
But I still make my Father smile
So, I know You're proud of me [1]
The first thing that I wanted to mention from the lyrics is the first line “I can be real with you.” This is an important line. It took me a while to understand that I can be real with Jesus. I believe many times we can be afraid to express to Jesus how we really feel. We are afraid that we will somehow make Jesus mad. But there are instances in the Bible where people got real with Jesus.
One of the instances is Mary and Martha in John 11. Mary and Martha were the sisters of Lazarus who was also a friend of Jesus. Lazarus was sick and so smart and Martha sent a message to Jesus urging Him to come to Bethany because Lazarus was very sick. But Jesus didn’t come right away. He waited two days before heading to Bethany. Jesus arrives in Bethany and is greeted by Mary and Martha… [2]
“When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” - John 11:17, 20-21 NLT
Now I don’t think that Martha was happy with Jesus at this moment. I don’t believe that she was calmly speaking to Him at this moment. She was more than likely very frustrated that Jesus didn’t come when she asked Him. When Mary gets to where Jesus was she tells Him the same thing. Mary and Martha both were real with Jesus. They told Him how they felt and Jesus never once got mad or frustrated with them. He wept with them [2].
The other instance that I want to look at is in Genesis 15. This one is between Abraham and God. God had made a promise to Abraham that he would be a great nation and have many descendants (Genesis 12:2). But as time goes on Abraham becomes frustrated with God’s promise of being a great nation because his wife Sarah could not have kids. So Abraham says to God…
“O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.” - Genesis 15:2 NLT
Once again, like Mary and Martha, this comment from Abraham comes from a place of frustration. Abraham just tells God how he felt about the whole situation. But God doesn’t get mad at Abraham. God reassures Abraham and says…
“Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, ‘Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!’” - Genesis 15:5 NLT
After God said this to Abraham, we see his mood change. We see that Abraham believes in God (Genesis 15:6) and His promise of decedents.
The final person I want to bring up is David. David got real with God. These moments are recorded in the Psalms. When you read the Psalms, you can see that David is real with God. I have always wondered why the Psalms of David are a roller coaster ride. In one section, David is praising God and then in the next, he is almost yelling at God. Here is an example of one moment like that:
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” - Psalms 22:1-3 NLT
In the first two verses of Psalm 22, it feels like David is frustrated with God. He feels that God is distant and not answering his cries for help. Have you been there? I know I have. But then in the very next verse, David writes “yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” This shows us how David got real with God, but also still knew who God was.
The next line in the song talks about God creating us and how God likes what He made and doesn’t make mistakes. Paul describes us like this…
“For we are God’s masterpiece… - Ephesians 2:10a NLT
A masterpiece is an artist’s best work - “a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship” [3]. A masterpiece can be a food, a book, a song, an art piece, or a human being! We are God’s masterpiece! He loves what He made! He doesn’t make mistakes!
But we aren’t perfect.
The second verse of the song says “No, I'm not a perfect child, but I still make my Father smile.” When I think about a line like this I think of my kids. They are not perfect at all. But that doesn’t change how much I love them. They still make me smile. They still make me proud. They still every ounce of my love. They are my kids.
This is the same way God looks at us. He knows we aren’t perfect. He knows we are going to make mistakes. He knows all about us. We still make Him smile. We still make Him proud. We still get every ounce of His love.
We are the ones He loves!
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” - Jeremiah 31:3 NLT
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[1] Artist: Elevation Worship
Song: The One You Love
Album: Lion (released March 4, 2022)
Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Christopher Joel Brown / Steven Furtick / Phil Wickham
[2] John 11:1-44
[3] Google Dictionary
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