Reckless Love

If you know me, you know I’m a thinker.  I love thinking.  I do it all the time.  I especially love thinking about puzzles and solving problems. This makes me good at my job but sometimes slows me down because I want to think about things from every angle, trying to go beyond the solution to understand the why and how of the problem itself.  I have run across a few things are not understandable no matter how much I think on them.  God’s love for me, for example.

This Holy Week, I made the decision to consider Jesus’ journey to the cross at a personal level instead of thinking only about the big picture.  When I think in a big picture kind of way, I tend to distance myself from the situation.  I become an observer, not a participant.

Cory Asbury sings a song called Reckless Love about the extremes God will go to to reach us.  This song, like Jesus’ actions throughout his life, has generated controversy.  Many people don’t like hearing the word “reckless” to describe God’s love.  I think reckless is the perfect word for it. Reckless can mean that someone proceeds with an action despite the consequences.  Cory says, “When I use the phrase, “the reckless love of God”, I’m not saying that God Himself is reckless. I am, however, saying that the way He loves, is in many regards, quite so. What I mean is this: He is utterly unconcerned with the consequences of His actions with regards to His own safety, comfort, and well-being.”

God’s love for me is personal, so I decided to take it personally this year.  I spent time walking in the shoes of different people in the Bible along Jesus’ journey to the cross.  I lay palms down on the road for Jesus to ride his donkey over as He entered Jerusalem.  I looked into His eyes as He passed and wondered why He looks so serious for someone going to claim His kingdom.  I look down in wonder as Jesus washes my feet, because I am so unworthy to be served by Him.  I sit at the table with Jesus, sharing a meal and listening to His voice as He tells me about things yet to come that I don’t quite understand.  I feel the heat of His disappointment that I fell asleep in the garden after He asked me not to.  I see the pain in His eyes at His betrayal.  I imagine my sin being the one to drive a nail into Jesus’ wrist.  I look up and see Him struggling to breathe as He hangs suffering on the cross and listen as He uses one of His last precious breaths to ask God to forgive me.  I witness in fear as the world turns dark at Jesus’ death and feel the ground shake beneath me.  I mourn.  I go to Jesus’ tomb on the third morning, and feel the shock as I see it empty.  I question and doubt, and Jesus still pursues me, coming to me to show me His wounds. That someone could love me so much He is willing to die so I can live is inconceivable.  I’m so undeserving of this kind of love, yet here it is, given willingly, mine to accept.

_______________________________________________

The video is definitely worth watching!  Click on the link below:
Reckless Love
Cory Asbury
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
Songwriters: Caleb Culver / Cory Asbury / Ran Jackson
Reckless Love lyrics © Bethel Music Dba Bethel Music Publishing