My Love Story

A few weeks ago, I spent three hours in Family Christian Bookstores looking for birthday gifts for three of my friends. As I perused the music section, I came across a CD called "She Must and Shall Go Free" by Derek Webb. I was immediately interested because Derek Webb was once a member of one of my favorite groups, Caedmon's Call.

I took the demo into the listening room and began to click through the songs, listening just long enough to read the words and get the gist of the song's musicality. After song four, I was hooked. I knew I had to buy it, not for any upcoming birthdays, but for myself.

Musically, it has what I call a country feel, but there is a strong bluegrass tone too. Some of the songs make me feel like dancing, but others are slow ballads. All in all, pretty good.

But what I really love about this CD is the message. The theme of the CD is the love of Christ for the church, a theme which I really have needed to hear lately. I am so enjoying the story that emerges as I listen to the CD over and over (too much if you ask my siblings).

It's the story of a girl. A girl who was a slave, helpless, filthy, unfaithful, and excruciatingly lost.

It's also the story of a boy. A boy who came to find a bride. And He found this girl. He looked past the filth, the sin, the stain, and He loved her deeply. He knew that He would do anything to make this girl His bride, to redeem her from her slavery, to make her His own.

Why He would do such a thing is impossible to comprehend. He is perfection incarnate, full of glory, able to have the finest of anything. Yet He gave His very blood and breath for this poor slave girl.

Should the law against her roar
Jesus' blood still speaks with power
"All her debts were cast on Me
And she must and shall go free"

He redeemed her, cleaned her up, made her everything that she was not. The filthy garments were replaced with a robe of His righteousness. She became beautiful because of His love reflected through her. I love the lyrics in Derek Webb's song "The Church" where the Lover says:

I have come with one purpose
To capture for Myself a bride
By My life she is lovely
And by My death she's justified

His love is so strong and true...so much more so than anything else the world tries to offer.

Finally, He must leave. He has betrothed her to Himself, and now He is building her a home. But before leaving, He gives her some instructions for His absence.

"Beloved listen to Me
Don't believe all that you see
And don't you ever let anyone tell you
That there's anything that you need
But Me"

Oh that's so good for me to hear! So often I forget and turn to chase after those things that others tell me I need...when really I only need Him. When I follow after these things, I find it is vain and meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Can you imagine? The church as His beloved is so unfaithful, always going after other lovers. But He is still so faithful to bring her back to Himself.

And I'll send out an army just to bring you back to Me
'Cause regardless of your brother's lies oh you will be set free

How faithful He is when I am unfaithful! How loving He is when I am unlovely! Why do I look for any love story other than this? My greatest love story is already written.

My favorite song on the CD right now is called "Take to the World." It's about my preparations for the marriage.

And take to the world this love, this hope and faith
Take to the world this
rare, relentless grace
And like the Three in One
Know you must become what
you want to save
'Cause that's still the way
He takes to the world

What an amazing love story! To think that it's mine!