Just to Be Close to You — A Motown Moment with a Deeper Meaning

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this quiet moment to reflect, rest, and reconnect with You. You are not a distant God, but One who draws near to the brokenhearted, who walks with us through every season, and who desires intimacy with Your children. As we pause and listen—not just to music, but to the movement of Your Spirit—tune our hearts to hear Your voice.

Let every lyric, every word, every memory stir within us a deeper longing… just to be close to You. Quiet the noise of the world, and draw us into Your presence. Remind us, Lord, that You are not far. You are near. And nearness to You is our greatest joy.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

From the time I was a young teen, growing up with a record player in my room and a stack of 45s, lots of albums, and a heart full of dreams, music has always been part of my soul. And not just any music—but the timeless, soulful sound of Motown. Artists like The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and the Commodores shaped the soundtrack of my life. Their voices were smooth, their harmonies unmatched, and their lyrics—well, they often said what the heart couldn’t.

Even now, when I need to unwind and reconnect with a simpler time, I’ll draw a hot bath, dim the lights, and let the soothing sounds of the Commodores wash over me. That’s exactly what I did this evening. One song after another played, but then I got stuck—beautifully stuck—on one track: “Just to Be Close to You.”

Here are some of the lyrics that echoed through my soul:

"Just to be close to you, girl, Is my desire, Just to be close to you, girl, You know I'll do anything, Just to be close to you..."

Now, I know Lionel Richie and the Commodores were speaking to romantic love—but in that moment, as I soaked in the warmth of the water and the words, my heart heard something else. I heard a deeper cry. A holy longing. A spiritual reflection.

“Just to be close to You, Jesus…”

It’s my desire. I’ll do anything. I'll run, I'll kneel, I'll surrender. Just to be close.

That song, though written for human connection, beautifully mirrors the soul’s yearning for divine intimacy. The very kind David cried out for in Psalm 27:4:

"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple."

David, like me soaking in a moment of worship masked in Motown, understood what it meant to desire nearness to God—not out of duty, but out of love.

Too often, we get caught up in religious routine—church attendance, serving, checking boxes. But Christianity, at its heart, is about relationship. It's about closeness. About intimacy. About abiding in the vine (John 15:4).

And in that moment of relaxation and reflection, the Commodores unknowingly ushered me into worship.

"I wanna be close to you and do all the things you want me to..."

Isn’t that our cry as believers? To be close to Jesus. To do what pleases Him. To walk with Him in the cool of the day, like Adam once did.

So maybe, just maybe, that old Motown song carries more than a romantic message. Maybe it’s a soul song. A spirit anthem. A reminder that deep down, we were created not just to love music—but to love our Maker. Which is why I can truly appreciate the Commodores’ other timeless track, “Jesus Is Love.” It stands out not just as a musical masterpiece, but as a spiritual declaration. It affirms the truth that our longing for love, closeness, and connection ultimately points us to Christ—the truest Love of all.

And to close out this blog, here are the lyrics that still move hearts today:

🎵 "Jesus Is Love" – The Commodores(Written by Lionel Richie)

Father

Help your children

And don't let them fall

By the side of the road, mmm

And teach them

To love one another

That Heaven might find

A place in their hearts

'Cause Jesus is love

He won't let you down

And I know He's mine forever

Oh, in my heart

We've got to walk on

Walk on through temptation

'Cause His love and His wisdom

Will be our helpin' hand

And I know the Truth

And His words will be our salvation

Lift up our hearts

To be thankful and glad

That Jesus is love

He won't let you down

And I know He's mine

Deep down in my soul

Jesus is love

Oh, yes, He is

He won't let you down

And I know He's mine, He's mine, He's mine, He's mine, all mine

Forever, oh, in my heart

Help me, heart, heart

Ooh, ooh

(My heart)

I know, I know, I know, I know

Ah, 'cause His love's the power (power)

His love's the glory (glory)

Forever (ever and ever)

Ooh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Ooh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Ooh, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)

I wanna follow your star

Wherever it leads me

And I don't mind, Lord

I hope you don't mind

I wanna walk with you

And talk with you

And do all the things you want me to do

'Cause I know that Jesus

(Jesus is Love, I know)

I know, Lord

(And if you ask, I'll) show

(Love is the word) forever and ever and ever

Who can bring you love? (Jesus)

Who can bring you joy? (Jesus)

Who can turn your life around? (Jesus), oh

Ooh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Yeah (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Hey

Who will pick you up? (Jesus)

Ooh, when you fall? (Jesus)

Who'll stand beside you? (Jesus)

Who will love us all?

Hey, hey, Jesus (yeah, yeah)

Jesus (yeah, yeah)

Oh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

One thing I wanna say

Who can heal your body? (Jesus)

Who can make it strong? (Jesus)

Who can help you to hold out? (Jesus)

A little while longer

Ooh, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Yeah (yeah, yeah)

Jesus loves you (yeah, yeah)

Jesus wants you

If you call Him, He will answer

(Jesus) call him in the mornin'

(Jesus) call him in the evenin'

(Jesus) call him in the midnight hour

Hey, hey (yeah, yeah)

Yeah (yeah, yeah)

Yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)

Yeah, y'all say it

(Jesus is love)

Just to be close to You, Jesus...That's my desire.

Reflection:

1. When was the last time you truly desired to be close to Jesus—not out of obligation but love?

2. What songs, scriptures, or memories help draw you near to Him?

3. Can something secular, like a Motown ballad, become sacred when the heart turns it toward God?

Music may change, and seasons may pass, but the longing to be close to Jesus remains timeless.

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the invitation to draw near. Thank You that Your presence isn’t reserved for the sanctuary alone but can meet us anywhere—in a worship service, in a song, even in a bathtub filled with stillness and reflection. Help us to never take for granted the access we have to You. Deepen our desire to walk with You daily—not out of habit, but out of love. Just to be close to You… that’s our heart’s desire. Let that longing shape our lives, influence our decisions, and steady our souls. May our days begin and end with You.

We love You. We need You. And we want to be close. In Your name we pray, Amen.