“Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury is a well-known worship song. It is a beautiful song with its well meaning words. Also, it is one that people could resonate with very well.

However, there is something about this song which meant I found it really hard to sing the words. I disagreed with them as I just could not apply them to my life.

Imagining God leaving the ninety-nine to chase after me, the one who is lost, was something I could not grasp. I couldn’t imagine God busting a gut to chase after me, let alone climb mountains and tear down walls. It made me cry to think God would do any of this:

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

The story behind Reckless Love

The  word reckless comes from the Old English word receleas, which means careless. If your attitude is reckless you aren’t worried about your actions. It could also have a big impact on you and others around you. Reckless, in contrast, is the opposite of considerate or careful.

“Reckless Love” has caused a lot of controversy due to the use of the word reckless. A lot of people don’t agree with the word being associated with God. However, Cory has written on his Facebook profile why he used the phrase, “reckless Love of God”:

“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. His love isn’t crafty or slick. It’s not cunning or shrewd. In fact, all things considered, it’s quite childlike, and might I even suggest, sometimes downright ridiculous. His love bankrupted heaven for you. His love doesn’t consider Himself first.”

He then goes on to say…

“His love isn’t selfish or self-serving. He doesn’t wonder what He’ll gain or lose by putting Himself out there. He simply gives Himself away on the off-chance that one of us might look back at Him and offer ourselves in return.”

God’s reckless love in the past

God wants a relationship with us. Furthermore, he will pursue us and seek us out. His love is not what is reckless but how He wants to engage with us maybe considered as so.

The parables which Jesus told about the lost son and the lost sheep are a prime example. The father accepted his son back into his family. This would have been seen as reckless, especially after the father himself was rejected. Even more so, as his son had spent all his inheritance and didn’t want to help his father out.

It would have looked like the father is being reckless, but Jesus showed this is exactly what God’s love is like. God would give up everything all over again to receive the son (or daughter) back into his arms.

In addition to this, it is the same with the lost sheep. Why worry about one sheep and risk all the others being lost? In His eyes, the ninety-nine sheep are safe and he is willing to seek out those who are lost – no matter what the cost is.

This is, without a doubt, quite a reckless action. However, saving the one person who is lost can have such dramatic consequences. Think of Saul on the road to Damascus and how God met him and changed him. Look at the effect then Paul (who was Saul) had on the increase of believers.

God’s reckless love now

Who would have thought? God’s reckless love for Saul changed the lives of many people to come. Even now, as scripture is read, lives are still changing.

The reason why I struggle singing Reckless Love goes back to what I have written previously about being worthy. It’s the same old story of not feeling worthy enough to receive His love.

I think cory Asbury captures perfectly what God really does. God loves you and will risk anything to save you, and He saves you because you are worth it!

Something to think about…

Listen to “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury and meditate on his words. Let it sink deep into your heart and start to believe the words he has written.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for still believing in me and still chasing after me. Even when I have sinned against you, you still love me and want me back. I am sorry if I have ever turned my back on you. Please never give up on me. Amen