There's a prayer in Scripture that I love. It's a prayer Paul prayed for the Ephesians Christians in Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV: "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
The New Living Translation words it this way: understand and experience God's love. I love that Paul wrote that prayer because sometimes we need to be reminded of God's love for us. In "Just As You Are," Ryan Stevenson sings about trying to do everything right, feeling like he has to earn God's love, fearing losing God's grace. And the chorus is written as God speaking back to him saying "child, I love you just as you are."
It's so important for us to remember that God loves us while we are in the process of spiritual maturity, not only when we reach the destination. And Philippians 1:6 tells us that God began a good work in us when we believed in Jesus, and He'll continue that work until it's finally complete on the day Jesus returns. On that day--at the destination--God's work of growing us up and making us holy and conformed to the standard of His Son will be complete. Now, day by day, we are in process and growing as the Holy Spirit teaches us how to live according to God's will revealed in the Word of God, helps us overcome areas of sin and weakness in our lives and live righteously, and helps us become more and more like Jesus over time.
We should never treat God's unfailing love, grace, and forgiveness as an excuse to sin or be spiritually stagnant; the Bible teaches against that. However, as we're growing, in those moments when we're discouraged and frustrated with our own humanity and shortcomings, we can remember that God is patient with us even when we're not patient with ourselves. God's love for us doesn't change and He is faithful to continue and complete the work He began in us if we'll continue trusting Him and walking with Him. That's what His Word promises us. And "Just As You Are" might just be one of the tools you need to help you remember that truth.
Psalm 103:8-18 (NLT):"The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever...The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust..."
Lyrics
I've been wasting way too much of my time
Living up in my mind, trying to do it alright
Spinning my wheels, thinking that there's something I could do
To be more loved by You
I was making it my obsession
To try and earn Your affection
But that all faded away
When I heard You say
Ooh, child, don't you know I love you
Just as, just as you are?
Ooh, child, don't you know I love you
Just as, just as (just as)
Just as you are? (Telling you that you're precious)
Just as you are (telling you that you're precious)
This article was originally published on KTSY.org.
Jasmin Patterson is a lifelong Christian music fan passionate about helping others connect with Christ. Serves in college ministry and loves to write for seekers and believers, helping them discover and live biblical Christianity.
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