Real Jesus: The Story Behind The Song

I was reading through Psalm chapter 40 when I stopped on the second half of the third verse… "many will see and fear and put their trust I the Lord" (NIV).  I was struck by the fact that it says "many", but not all.  This implies that there are those who will not see, fear and trust.  See... fear… and trust.  So then I thought, "Am I one of those?  The 'many'? 

See…fear…and trust.  Am I ready to be one of those and all that it implies?"  The devil himself will see and fear, but to see, fear and trust is to have faith, to believe.   That would require me to live a real Christian walk, free of compromise, full of the Holy Spirit, and to bear fruit as evident by the power of God.  I thought "I can't! I am simply a man, broken." 

Then it occurred to me, to live a real walk I need real Jesus in my life as I can do nothing of my own accord!  By no means am I saying that Christ is not real or that the Christian walk is not genuine; just that it is too easy to substitute the details of our faith, the 'religion' if you will, for the authenticity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The Challenge is to have a real walk throughout our real, everyday lives.   So my interpretation, acceptance, and perspective in regards to God's grace and mercy need to be genuine at all times.

This concept of living a genuine faith in spite of the trials of life has led me to some interesting questions, for example…How do I as a worship leader get a congregation member to sing "How Great is Our God" and mean it when he or she can't get over "how great" their bills are?  How do I identify with someone who is struggling with their sexuality and at the same time lead them into worship that will leave them humbled and affected?  How do I encourage someone to sing songs of hope when their abusive spouse is at home waiting for them?  Ultimately, how do I communicate the sincerity and effectiveness of worship beyond the depravity of life?  I can not, but Jesus can.  That is what 'Real Jesus' is all about.  It is having a real relationship with Jesus in spite of real pain real suffering, real sin, real life. 

The determination to see real Jesus manifested in our life does not make us any less fallible, or any more righteous, holy or acceptable.  We are made righteous by faith, holy and acceptable by the blood of the lamb for the atonement of our sin.  It is then that we can move beyond where the veil once hung, into the holy of holies, and the very presence of God himself.  It is then that we can approach the mercy seat, and bow before the Father with our sacrifice…our sacrifice of praise.

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined to me and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth - praise to our God; many will see it and fear and will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3 NIV