Not Just For Me
Not Just For Me
This song was birthed out of a conversation about how there are tons of worship songs on the topic of how Jesus loves me, died for me, comforts and protects me. But we rarely sing about Jesus’ unconditional love for everyone else. So ”Not Just For Me” is written, questioning this egocentric culture we are all a part of. (Jenny Wahlström)"Not Just For Me is probably my favorite song I’ve ever been a part of. The simplicity of the song makes it easy to sing with any community, but the revolutionary message of the love of God will renew minds and pierce the heart." (Orlando Palmer)
“The heart of God beats for all.” (Stu G)
NOT JUST FOR ME
Written by Jenny Gajicki (STIM), Orlando Palmer (ASCAP), Stuart Garrard (PRS)
© 2018 Common Hymnal Publishing (ASCAP), JenWah Publishing (ASCAP), IAMSON Productions (ASCAP), Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (SESAC), StuGiology Music (SESAC) (admin by IntegratedRights.com). CCLI 7130038.
CHORUS
C5/G C5/A C/E
Not just for me, Jesus, you're
C/F C5/G C5/A C/E
Not just for me, Jesus, you’re
C/F C5/G
Not just for me
VERSE
Am C
You're the God who crosses lines
Am C
To meet the ones who've been denied
Am C G
You're always near, no one's too far from you
Am G/B C G/B
And you're the God that knows the song of
Am G/B C G/B
Every tribe and every tongue, and
Am G/B C Dm7
As we are we all belong to you
More Songs Written By Jenny Gajicki (Jenny Wahlström)
For many years now, we’ve been singing songs about Jesus loving ”me”, meeting ”my” needs, setting ”me” free and being ”my” anchor in the storm. Don’t get me wrong, this is absolutely true. God is FOR us. But we easily forget that he is also FOR the rest of the world. And not only the parts of the world we know about, or have visited. Not only the cultures we understand or think are likeable, but for the whole world. For all mankind. For every woman and every man.
How big isn’t that? When we as humans tend to compare, take sides and want to be on the winning team, Jesus says that the one who wants to be the biggest among us, has to make herself/himself the smallest. God doesn’t think like we do. He doesn’t take sides. He is for everyone. And one day, every tribe and tounge will bow their knees before him and proclaim him to be the king of kings and the Lord of Lords.
"Not Just For me" was a gift that came out of conversation that was had at the Common Hymnal writing sessions. I don’t quite remember what the topic of conversation was, but I remember jotting down the note that read, “God speaks and loves in community”. This was a revolutionary thought that I have been trying to wrap my head around for some time and it seemed like confirmation when somebody spoke those words. For so long, I have subscribed to the “Jesus is my personal Savior” type faith. Which is truth but if not balanced with the intentional walk in community it creates an individualistic faith which can be toxic.
"Not Just For Me" also means so much because it challenges us to think of Gods love outside of the social and faith traditions that we’re accustomed to. It is God’s will to break down any barriers that hinders His love from flowing. This love is to be shared for any and all people that are different from us; Just as Jesus did unconditionally.
I’d been thinking about how much of the Christianity I’ve been a part of has focused on “personal relationship”. I totally get that idea, but the danger is it can become all about me. Reading the bible and seeing how salvation came to surprising places and whole communities, I wanted to explore the idea of the God who hears the cries of the oppressed and those who are different from me.
Of course, Jesus is the ultimate example of this, showing us that the heart of God beats for all. A love that crosses the lines of diversity and leaves no one outside of that love.
It was a treat and a brilliant experience to sit with Jenny and Orlando and flesh this out in a simple song.
Stu G