You Love Me Anyway

Can we earn our way to being loved?  Asking the question the other way may be the more accurate way to look at it.  Can we earn our way to being unloved?

When I consider both questions, it is easy for me to think of a few things for the first one.  But, if I am honest with myself, there are many more items on the list for the second question.  However, what is the point of reference I am using when putting these lists together: the world’s definition of Love or God’s?

The truth is, when it comes to True Love…

(Quick segue…for those fans of the movie “The Princess Bride”, like me, I am sure the words of the priest marrying Humperdink and Buttercup are ringing your ears.  “Wuv, twooo wuv…”)

…sorry for that brief interruption.  :-)

When it comes to Love as God defines it, there is no way to earn it or to un-earn it.  This is True Love.  How do I know this?  Because in spite of all my faults, foibles, struggles and sins, God loves me.  He has always loved me.  He loves me today.  He will always love me.  Not because of anything I do or say, but because He just does; no matter what.  When I did not deserve His Love, He died for me.  “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

What else do I know to be true?  Because in spite of all your faults, foibles, struggles and sins, God loves you.  He has always loved you.  He loves you today.  He will always love you.  Not because of anything you do or say, but because He just does; no matter what.

The band Sidewalk Prophets has a great song called “You Love Me Anyway”, which speaks so well to this True Love.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8BBCYFAYRI )

“It took more than my strength
To simply be still.
To seek but never find. 

All the reasons we change,
The reasons I doubt,
And why do loved ones have to die? 

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me”

Regardless of my questions and my doubt, He loves me.

This song builds to an awesome crescendo at the bridge:

“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. 

See now, I am the man that called out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground 

Yes then, I turned away with this smile on my face
With this sin in my heart, tried to bury Your grace 

And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life. 

But You love me anyway
Oh, God… how you love me
You love me anyway”

After all of my failings, and even the times I turn away from Him, He still loves me.

So, can we earn our way to being loved?  When it comes to God, we cannot.  He is that awesome and His Love is that big.

And, I am glad that I don’t have to earn it.