You Can Have Me

My wife and I have been enjoying the warmth of our wood-burning fireplace this year. Bev had Monday off so she had a fire going all day. When I walked in the house after work the temperature was 78 degrees inside. That’s really warm! I could walk around inside in a tee shirt . . . in Wisconsin . . . in December.

On the days when my wife and I both work we come home to a cold house – usually in the low 60’s.

“Where did all our heat go!?!”

On my way to work this morning I heard one of my favorite songs on the radio – You Can Have Me by Sidewalk Prophets.

When I first heard that song several years ago it struck me pretty deep. One line in particular, but more on that in a moment.

When I first became a believer in Jesus I guess you could say I was on fire for The Lord. I had a passion for His Word, a passion to read ANYTHING about Him. My friend at work, the one who led me to Jesus, began calling me Sponge Bob because I soaked up God’s Word like a sponge soaks up water. My faith was all new and exciting back then. Now, nearly 10 years later, the fire has died down somewhat. It’s still burning but I miss the FIRE I once had. Back to that song now . . .

“When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming?”

Ouch.

I guess that’s what the song speaks to – the fire in each of us. The fire for our Lord tends to fade after a while. It’s sad to admit but it happens. So what causes our fire to fade and grow dim? The second line of the chorus speaks to that. It tells us not only what dampens our fire for Jesus but it also tells us how to stop the fade.

“Forgetting what the world has told me.”

“The world” is what takes the oxygen away from our fire for Christ. The constant pull of it can choke out the flames. I have even seen fires even go out upon occasion. Sad. But the way we can keep the fire alive is written in the first world - “forgetting.” We are to forget what this world tells us and only listen to our Lord. Which bring is to the last line of the chorus, the title of the song, and what should be the cry of every Christian when he or she is faced with worldly desires.

“Father of Love, You can have me.”

One of the duties of every Christian is for us to examine ourselves to see where we might come up lacking. Even in our prayers we pray for this. David did this from his throne. When Nathan confronted David with his sins, David repented and prayed this prayer.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." - Psalm 51:1-12

You Can Have Me - Sidewalk Prophets