a wretch becomes lily white

"How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure. That He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure..."

I've heard this song a couple of times this week at a conference in Orlando. It has more verses, but this one I really like. It's about Him. His great love for us. He made me - this wretch that I am - one of His greatest treasures!

I don't get that. I really don't get that. And I'm not sure that I ever truly will. His love is wide and long and high and deep - it is vast beyond all measure.

But I - I still feel like that wretch. Undeserving of His kindness and mercy and love. And yet, it is lavished on me day after day. I long for things outside of Him. All the time I do. And I confess that. I'm not sure why He treasures me. I never will understand it. It is of no merit of mine, but simply on the merit of His Son.

Oh - to meet Jesus. How I long for that day. I want to ask Him, what made Him do it? How did He die for this wretch like me? How could He choose to suffer on my behalf? His image, His human self, His body and soul, dripping with the dark death and blackness of MY sin - and on the other side of it all - I come out as lily white. Pure and set apart for His purposes.

I do long to fulfill that deep calling upon my life. But, somedays I just don't deserve to be declared lily-white. But, if I got what I deserved - well I'd be in a pretty horrible place.

I am thankful. And I want my life to be set apart for Him. 1 Day at a time - "I will arise and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms. In the arms of my dear Savior, oh there are ten thousand charms..."