Just to Be With You

The story of Young Joe takes place during a dark time in our nation's history, a time when men were openly bought and sold as slaves. Well, this particular young man was the picture perfect slave, at least physically. He was big and strong and appeared as though he could work for hours without growing weary. But the problem was that he was quite unwilling to work. All day long he would yell at those who came to examine him: 'I won't work! It would be a waste of money to buy me because I won't work even a second!', and he would scoff and sneer. Finally one middle-aged man stepped up and decided to buy Young Joe. So the man handed over an exorbit amount of money and was given the key to Joe's chain and they loaded Joe in the wagon. All the way home Joe kept up his chant of 'I won't work, I won't work'. Soon they arrived at a cute little cottage at the edge of the woods. The man got out, took Joe inside, and then did a strange thing. He unlocked the shackles and tosses them aside. 'Welcome home, Joe,' he said. This is your house now, you're a free man. Still not comprehending the situation, Joe kept raging 'I won't work a day of my life for you!'. The man said 'Joe that's ok with me." Suddenly Joe understood what this man had done for him, and immediately fell at the man's feet and said, 'master, I will work for you until the day I die!' Once he understood what had been done for him, everything changed!

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain

Just to be with the one he loves

How many times has he broken that promise

It has never been done.

I've never climbed the highest mountain

But I walked the hill of calvary

Just to be with you, I'd do anything

There's no price I would not pay

Just to be with you, I'd give anything

I would give my life away.

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean

Just to be with the one he loves

How may times has he broken that promise

It can never be done

I've never swam the deepest ocean

But I walked upon the raging sea

I know that you don't understand 

the fullness of My love

How I died upon the cross for your sins

And I know that you don't realize

how much that I gave you

But I promise, I would do it all again.

Just to be with you, I've done everything

There's no price I did not pay

Just to be with you, I gave everything

Yes, I gave my life away.

("Love Song" by third day)

There are no words to adequately describe the immensity of what Jesus has done for me. I was a slave to sin, but he saw my great need and came to resue me, set me free, cut my chains. But it wasn't just benevelance or sympathy that brought him here. No, His motivation went much deeper. His love for me is so deep and vast and strong that He was willing to do whatever it took, just to be with me, just to show His love and give me the chance to be His friend. Once I understand this, everything changes. Just to be with me, just to be with you, He gave everything. 

There is no possible way to repay this debt of love, but I pray that, by His grace, my daily response will be to fall at His feet and worship, saying, 'Master, take this life, it's all I have to offer. And I will gladly serve you in love, all the days of my life".