The Story in Song Part 3 | Nicodemus

For a quick review, here are links to the previous posts in "The Story in Song" series.

Part 1 | The Love of God
Part 2 | Warrior

As we begin to wrestle with the love of God and how, in His holiness, justice, and mercy, He seemingly fights for us, we become like (3) Nicodemus and begin to ask more questions. How is God a God of love? Why does this God choose to love us if we are so unlike Him in how He is always both just and merciful? What has happened to us that we would settle for our own broken attempts at a better world without Him? Who are we? Who am i? 

i am Adam and Eve; i have tasted deceit. / Now i cover up my greed in some 100 dollar leaves. / i'm a sinner, i'm forgiven; He's risen, i'm so down. / i'm adopted, but His child; He's humble, i'm so proud. / i'm filthy, but so clean; guilty, but so free. / i walk the narrow road, but i'm living on my knees. / He's easy to understand,but quite complex. / i'm already at His throne, but not quite yet. / He's cleaning my heart, but i still got mess. / i'm running this good race, but i still got rest.

How is this possible? Is this why the world is the way it is? When The London Times asked "What's wrong with the world today?" and G.K.Chesterton – the great journalist, author, orator, and literary and art critic – famously responded, "Dear Sirs: i am. Sincerely yours, G.K. Chesterton," did he capture the heart of the matter in one fell swoop? Why am i the way i am? Do i need to be forgiven, adopted, made clean and free? Why would i not want these assurances if God is freely offering them to me by His grace? Could He be Someone more than i imagined? What does the Bible tell me about this God? How does it describe Him?

You're the Passover and Priest, Prophet and Sovereign King, / New Song that we sing, the Shepherd and Prince of Peace. / You're the Lord over the galaxies, powers and principalities, / Head of the family, Savior of all humanity, / Perfect Innocent Martyr, Bread and Living Water, / True image of the Father, Lamb led to slaughter. / In Genesis, we were severed, driven from Your presence. / In Revelations we'll be basking in Your glory and essence. / In the beginning, light came from the sun and moon. / In the new heavens and earth, You're the Light that consumes. / In the beginning, we are promised a lot of pain and fear. / In the end, You will wipe away every single tear. / In the beginning, it is promised we all shall die. / In the end, there's no death and the dead shall rise. / In the beginning, it is clear creation was duped. / In the end, You promise You'll make all things new. / Yeah, i know who i am, but who is He? / So it seems He's the Sovereign King.

For those who begin to believe and trust in Jesus, God awakens them to new identity – of who He is and who we are – and new life we receive from Him and live in Him by His Spirit. He came as Jesus – lived, died, and rose again – to raise us from the dead, both spiritually and physically. He pursues each of us and His mission to pursue those who live and work around us continues to this day. If we say we love Him and follow Him, the question then becomes, "Are we following Him wherever He moves in our City so that we can walk with Him as He continues to pursue others?"

Tomorrow brings Part 4 | The City.

– Sully

Is your curiosity piqued? Something inside you being stirred? Reach out and connect.