Can You Hear Me Now?

We've all seen the little guy on the telephone company commercial walking around with his cell phone saying, "Can you hear me now?" Then he walks a few steps and repeats the words, "Can you hear me now?" I love that clip so much. I laugh every time. (Ok, I'm easily amused.) Anyway, I thought about that phrase and wondered if I could write an article, with those words. I wondered what the spiritual perspective would be.

I questioned should the Devotion be a picture of us asking God the question, "Can you hear me now?" Many times we wonder if God is aware of what is going on in our lives. Sometimes we may find ourselves asking the question, just to be sure. How silly we can be. Of course we know that God is in control of our lives if we have given our hearts to Him. So that's not the issue.

Then today I heard a song by Bob Carlisle entitled, You're Beautiful. It was off his CD: The Best Of Bob Carlisle - Butterfly Kisses & Other Stories. As I listened to the words I knew what I should write about. The song tells of a new father getting ready to see his daughter for the first time. The doctor stops to warn the excited father with a bit of news that he is sure will upset him. The baby is healthy but not perfect. There is a "flaw" in her appearance. The song never says what exactly is wrong but what followed the conversation with the doctor brought tears to my eyes.

The father went to see his daughter and carefully picked her up in his arms. He held her closely and began to speak the words; "you're beautiful." With all the rejection of imperfect things in the world today, that was not the response I was expecting. This father didn't care what his precious daughter looked like he just loved her. More than that, she was the most beautiful thing in the world to him. In fact he said if he had to choose between her and the whole world, he would choose her. I'm really crying by now. The song is so beautiful.

Then the song turns and points at each of us. It tells of Jesus when He was given the pseudo option to gain the whole world or die for the likes of us. His answer was the same as this child's father; you're beautiful. That is what God sees when He looks at us. He doesn't see us in our "flawed" state, but He thinks we are beautiful. He does not see what we are now, but what we will be; perfect in every way.

Bob Carlisle's song says something like this

You're beautiful. In every way
So beautiful. How I've waited for this day

When the world was offered to me
I just couldn't make the trade
Cause you're so beautiful.

How many of us feel beautiful? How many of us know how much God loves us? Can we really say, "God thinks I'm beautiful?" His love is so great for everyone. Jesus died so that we can know this love. How many times has God said, " You're beautiful. Can you hear me now?"

He is repeating that message to each of us today. It is up to us to hear his words of love as He sings over us. "You're beautiful. Can you hear me now?"

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17