MikePeercy.com

It was just a few months ago that I first encountered a group (duo really) known as Land of Color. It left a strong impression upon me.

This particular song has been one I have come back to again and again over the last several weeks. In a season of seeking and questioning, this song has been a tool of reminding me what must be weighed when examining my life and its value to this world.

I want to suggest that you let it play for a moment and soak in these words.

Show me what it means to love
Show me what it means to love
Open up my eyes to see what I’m scared of
Show me what it means to give
Show me what it means to give
What I need to sacrifice so others live
Show me what it means

When everything’s stripped away
The only thing that remains
Is the love I gave away
The love I gave away
On my final day
All that will count as gain
Is the love I gave away
The love I gave away

I don’t wanna live this life
Only for the sake of mine
Show me where my selfishness
Must go to die
Show me that I have enough
I don’t need to store it up
Everything I hold too tight
Will turn to dust
Show me what it means

When everything’s stripped away
The only thing that remains
Is the love I gave away
The love I gave away
On my final day
All that will count as gain
Is the love I gave away
The love I gave away

I spoke in tongues of the angels
Was it love?
In the darkest of places
Did I love?
I spoke in tongues of the angels
Was it love?

You probably see why I love this song in all of its beautiful simplicity and clear, convicting questions.

If you have been walking with Jesus for any significant amount of time, then you are probably familiar with what we often reference as the Great Commandment. When questioned about which command was the greatest, He answered:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22.37-40

This powerful clarification of God’s priority is so pivotal. It sets the bar of genuine obedience. It presses us to beg the Spirit’s teaching like this beautiful song has just reminded us. “Show me what it means to love… Show me what it means to give… What I need to sacrifice so others live…”

If we put our own actions and motivations to the test, the only thing that passes is what we have done out of love for God and for others. And these brothers (Land of Color) rightly question their own lives… as should we. This is not something that anyone else can do for you. And even then, only the Spirit of God can really show you the answers.

But there is one line there in the second verse that just grabs me every time: “Show me where my selfishness must go to die.”

It seems that over and over and over again I find myself wrestling in prayer and begging God to purge the selfishness from my heart.

But is it possible that you and I are called to be like those disciples passing out bread and fish to thousands of people? The way I read those accounts, it seems like their napkin full of pieces of bread and fish didn’t suddenly overflow. They just never ran out. Isn’t that how we’re called to live?

We pour out what we have—even if it’s the very last morsel. We give of ourselves in worship to God and in care for others. We don’t have to ration the servings and regulate the portions. We have only to share what we have.

So that prayer echoes… “Show me what it means.”

It’s never been about what great deeds we have done or what astounding acts of worship we have accomplished. When everything is stripped away, what remains is love. Paul taught us that even faith will end in the perfection of eternity and hope will become a useless term. But love… Love remains forever.

Go back and listen again and join the prayer:

Father, show me what it means to truly love. Show me where my selfishness must go to die. Show me how to love You and love others well. Show me, Lord.