Stunned

It is kind of an amazing thing; the impact contemporary Christian music has on me. No comments please, but the older I get the more emotional the impact of certain songs; the music inspires, lifts, encourages, convicts, shapes and always points me to Scripture and always to Christ.

Recently a song by Sidewalk Prophets has had this impact on me (in fact I am listening to it as I type). The title of the song is “You Love Me Anyway” and the group points to Romans 8:18-39 as inspiration and verses 31-39 just bring it to life;

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; 
 we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord..


The lyrics of the song just resonate with me; “I am the thorn in Your crown; but You love me anyway. I am the sweat from Your brow; but You love me anyway. I am the nail in Your wrist; but You love me anyway. I am Judas’ kiss; but You love me anyway!”

The love of God is stunning; I am in awe! God loves me (and you); a person so broken, so denying, so betraying, yet he loves me anyway!

Titus 3 explains this; 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

So despite myself and my ways there is a rescue plan through Christ by the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. There is hope eternal. Amen.

1 John 3:1(a) shouts; 1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Father, how stunning is your love; how overwhelming that we should be called Children of God!

Grace and Peace!