What if you were perfect? Would God love you more?

“What If” by Jadon Lavik asks God the “what if…” questions:

What if I were perfect, would you love me more, God?
What if I were a total failure, would you love me less?

And the answer those questions comes in the chorus of the song:

You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you. I’m in awe of why you do!

Jadon Lavik, like me, is in awe of God’s love that never changes, no matter what we do. The fact is that, if you believe in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to pay the total penalty for your sins, then you are a child of God.

You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
Ga 4:6-7 (The Message)

Paul wrote these verses to the Galatians to convince them that God’s love for them did not depend on their obedience to the law but on their faith in Jesus’ sacrifice. The truth is that there is nothing we can do and nowhere we can go to escape God’s love. God will not love us more nor less based on how well we “perform” for Him.

Then how should we live? Jadon Lavik answers that question too.

What have I done to deserve your son sent to die for me?
What can I give? I want to live. Give me eyes to see!
In a world that keeps changing there’s one thing that I know is true
Your love is staying, there’s nothing else I’ll hold onto.

We should live from hearts of gratitude for what God has done for us. We should ask God daily “What can I give? I want to live [for you today] Give me eyes to see!” Paul puts it this way in Galatians:

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.
Ga 5:13-14 (The Message)

Aside from this we should hold on to, lean on and trust in the staying, enduring love of God for us.

Father God, thank you for your enduring love for me. Open my eyes to see what I can give for your Kingdom today. Help me to live from a heart of gratitude for all you have done for me.

Lyrics:

What if I climbed the mountain, what if I swam to that shore
What if every battle was victorious then would you love me more
Would you love me more
What if I were everyone’s first choice, what if I went farther than before
What if I stood high above the rest then would you love me more
Would you love me more

Chorus:
You say I belong to you apart from the things I do
You say I belong to you I’m in awe of why you do
Why you do, why you do, I’m in awe of you, ooh

What if I ignored the hand that fed me, what if I forgot to confess
What if I stumbled down that mountain then would you love me less
Lord would you love me less

What if I were everyone’s last choice what if I mixed in with the rest
What if I failed what I passed before then would you love me less
lord would you, would you love me less, oh no oh no oh no

Chorus

What have I done to deserve your son sent to die for me
What can I give I want to live give me eyes to see
In a world that keeps changin’ there’s one thing that I know is true
Your love is stayin’ there’s nothing else I’ll hold onto

Chorus (2x)

The way you love me, the way you do
The way you do, the way you love me, you love me, you love me
The way you do the way you do the way you love me