Reckless Love

Jesus often spoke in parables (a story used to illustrate a spiritual lesson).  Tax collectors and sinners would come to listen as Jesus taught. The Pharisees and teachers of religious law eagerly showed up as well, but with a different purpose: to criticize and trap Jesus as they didn’t trust that He was the Messiah who could save them. They didn’t agree with Jesus’ choice of the sinners He associated with and accepted.

With foes and friends surrounding Him, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep in Luke chapter 15: (paraphrased)

A shepherd is caring for his hundred sheep when one mindlessly wanders astray. Upon noticing, the man leaves the other ninety-nine to pursue that one lost sheep until it’s safely found. Once located he approaches it without any hesitation, even lifting it to his shoulders and returning it home to the others as the sheep is no doubt weary and weak from its solo adventure.

The next verses tell us that afterwards the shepherd calls together friends and neighbors, saying to them, “rejoice with me because I’ve found my lost sheep.”

But the story doesn’t end there—leave it to Jesus to go all out, He says to His diverse audience, “In the same way, as this parable, there is more joy in Heaven over ONE lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away.”

Don’t miss those words..pause and reflect over them..over the mercy, grace, and joy Jesus has for each ONE of us—when He finally gets us all to Himself, when we finally come to the end of ourselves, when enough is enough, and we allow Jesus to joyfully swoop us up into His arms and over His shoulders taking us straight where we need to be.

The first part of the chorus in the song reads:

Some will listen to this song with the interpretation that our God is a reckless or careless God when in reality that’s not at all the message. Understand that God doesn’t do careless or stupid things. He does, however, have a righteously reckless love for each ONE of us, and will do everything and go anywhere possible to get us, but in a Holy “reckless” way…

You see friends I’ve been the ONE and in ALL of my past mess when I was running from God, He was right there with extraordinary reckless love as His prime motive trying to get me to see Him while I was the ONE being reckless. God met me in my weakness while I was broken and desperate. He hoisted me up on His shoulders, carried me along, and added me to the ninety-nine to be a part of His glory and celebration…it’s pretty incredible.

I hadn’t watched the music video for this song until someone close to me recently sent it to me in a text. Over ten years ago this person and I use to share drunk nights together. Now we’re sharing reminders of God’s faithfulness as He obtained each of us with reckless love, ONE and then the other. I’m not convinced that kind of thing happens by accident, but only by the reckless love of our Lord and Savior.

I’m asking you to listen to this video with open hearts. Allow Jesus to tear down strongholds.

I’ve now shared this song with several others who respond stating ‘goosebumps’ or ‘tears.’

About half way through the song Cory Asbury pauses to explain the meaning of what some interpret as offensive. It’s so worth watching and listening ALL THE WAY through—to see it not just as a performance, but to appreciate the very-real passionate worship as they praise God.