One of the most important things in my life has been going to camp. Whether it is a summer camp or a mission trip, time away with God has always been special to me. I have found that my favorite moments are during worship, and over the years, one song has helped form my faith. The song is, Reckless Love by Cory Asbury. The chorus says, O’ the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless Love of God! Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘till I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine.
I’ve always connected to the words, but felt confused by using the term “reckless” to describe God’s love. Reckless tends to be a negative term that means someone does something irrationally; someone’s actions don’t make sense. Some have taken offense to describing God’s love as reckless because they feel that it is an insult to God. But I’ve come to realize that the term reckless is appropriate because God’s love for us doesn’t make sense in comparison to the way the world usually views love.
In my life, I’ve made mistakes – all of us have. We have said things that weren’t kind, failed to show love when we needed to, and, at times, turned away from God. But despite the things we’ve done or left undone, God loves us. The world views love as something offered in response to things that are given. It seems natural to love those who are kind to you. But God has and will always love us no matter what we do. And it is in that sense of the word that it is appropriate to describe God’s love as reckless. It doesn’t make sense to the world that God loves us whether or not we love Him. What is more reckless than to offer unconditional love?
Each time I hear this song, it makes me incredibly emotional, because not only has God chosen to love the world, but God has chosen to love me. Lent is a season where we can reflect of the love of God. What is our response to God’s faithfulness?
The final line of the chorus sums up God’s love by saying, I don’t deserve it, I couldn’t earn it, still, you give Yourself away. It isn’t what we do or don’t do that causes God to love us. We have done nothing to merit God’s love.
What is more reckless than God giving His deepest, purest love to those who will continue to fall short? It is the very same love of God that forgives us and frees us from guilt so that we might live full and meaningful lives. Take a moment today and throughout the season of Lent to reflect upon the reckless love of God for you.
Brooks Lambert, Ministry Intern
