You may not know me

There was a time
When God said
You may not know me,
So let me tell you about myself.
I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
I am the God of your father
And of your mother.
I am your God,
And you are my child.

I am your God.
In case you do not know me,
Let me show you who I am.
I sent my son
To show you how to live.
To show you how to love.
To show you who I am.
I am.
I sent my son, so that you would know
That even if you were the only one
I would die for only you.
You are my child.

Then God took a breath.
A holy pause
And waited for my response.

My life was changed.
It’s no wonder that songs are written,
Sung about grace amazing,

Grace greater than sin.
Grace.
For a love such as this
Changes everything.
For a love such as this
Erases sin and shame and selfishness.
Only by his grace.

There was a time
When God said
You may not know this person,
This child of mine,
Standing in front of you,
But let me tell you about him.
You know he is addicted.
You know he is lost.
You may even know he is grieving.
Do you know how his heart yearns for me?
Do you know how a word from you
Would show him my love?
And that his life could be changed?
This man in front of you
Is a child of mine.
I am his God.
If he were the only one
I would die for only him.
He is my child.

There was a time
When God said
You may not know this person,
This child of mine,
Standing in front of you,
But let me tell you about her.
You may know she is alone.
You may know she has a child of her own.
You may even know that she is struggling.
Do you know how lonely she is?
Do you know that kind act from you
Would touch her with my love?
And that her life could be changed?
This woman in front of you
Is a child of mine.
I am her God.
If she were the only one
I would die for only her.
She is my child.

There was a time
When God said
You may not know this child
This child of mine,
Standing in front of you.
But let me tell you about him.
You may know that he can’t read,
That he has been ridiculed and humiliated.
You may even know that he has been beaten down
By words and deeds.
By your own words and deeds.
Do you know how hungry this child is?
Do you know how he thirsts for me?
Do you know that one affirming word from you
Would flood him with my grace?

And that his life could be changed?
His eternal life?
This child in front of you
Is a child of mine.
Just as you are.
I am his God,
Just as I am your God.
I am.
I died for this child.
I love this child
Just as I love you.
Just as I died for you.

Then God took a breath.
A holy pause
And waited for my response.

(Note: Poem used as part of a short worship time I led today at Covenant Council.)