You are the One is an original worship song co-written by Justin Sabai and Marcus Lee. The duo used to lead worship at their youth service in Church of Our Saviour. This is the full story behind the song, which depicts the personal journey of returning to God, and is also a declaration of Jesus being the One.

JUSTIN’S SONG STORY

The chorus of You are the One first came to me in 2004. Back then, I had crashed and burned in ministry under the weight of my flawed character and hidden sins. I was then in the process of recovery and the opportunity to lead worship in cell group was part of my restoration.

However, I was fearful. I was afraid that I would corrupt the gift of singing and worship leading that God has deposited in me. I was scared that pride would enter in and that I would crash once again.

Yet in the face of such fear arose a cry similar to that of David in Psalm 51.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:11-12)

It was my spirit crying out to God that He would be the only one I worship. Not elevating my gifting before men, not seeking self glorification over how great the worship set was, nor the praises of men for a job well done.

It was my spirit crying out that He would be the song that I sing.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.” (Psalms 40:3)

It was my spirit crying out that He would be my Lord, my God and my everything. To affirm my allegiance to Him. To be submitted to His lordship and to walk out my trust in Him for all my needs.

It also became a cry unto the Lord that no matter what circumstances I find myself in – be it valleys low or mountains high – that I would continually worship and praise Him because Jesus always is the better choice.

I was leading worship for my cell group 2 years later when I was so enraptured by His faithfulness that suddenly this private and personal song, now the chorus of You are the One, came out from my heart.

You are the One I will worship
You are the song that I sing
You are my God
You are my Lord
You’re my everything

We sang this chorus as an overflow of worship to God then and there.

I’m humbled to hear that this song, a song that came out from my own brokenness before the Lord, has been continually touching the hearts of many who resonate with it.

MARCUS’ SONG STORY

10 years after this short song was birthed, I was at a songwriting camp organised by my church’s Chinese ministry when we were tasked to form groups and write a song by the end of the day. While we were discussing ideas, this simple composition came to mind. I mooted the idea to make it a full song as our group’s submission.

I felt that the additional portions of the song would need to describe why I was compelled to sing these few existing lines, to worship God this way. As I reflected, I was overwhelmed by God’s love and the cost that Jesus paid on the Cross for us, that He made the choice to love us before we ever knew of Him (1 John 4:19).

I thought of the chorus of the song “Your Love Never Fails” and pondered the depth of agape love as proclaimed by Paul in Romans 8. From that, the verses that came alongside the chorus naturally arose.

Coming back to You
Back to Your heart
You are the love that never fails

Today, this song has become an anthem for our youths to declare their commitment to God, to return to Him in praise for who He is and what He has done.