In 2017, Cory Asbury composed a song, “Reckless Love of God” that became popular—and controversial among theologians at the same time.  The controversy was over the word “reckless”.  Theologians had a hard time because they believed God is never reckless but perfectly on time in all His ways to rescue us.  Asbury’s critics argued that describing God’s love as reckless implies carelessness, a lack of planning, or irresponsible behavior, which they believe misrepresents a holy, all-knowing, and sovereign God. I remember singing the words of this song when I was overwhelmed by a world of lies and betrayal within the church body for my soul was in need of rescue with truth—who is Jesus!

So, what if we look at this from the point of view of the songwriter who woke up early in the morning, remembering how God had miraculously saved and rescued him from being a broken, on the run prodigal, who suddenly experienced the overwhelming, unconditional love of God?  What God does for us might indeed look “reckless” in the view of the church.

In fact, there are those in leadership today who would have people seek order, discipline, practice and service in their ways and in their timing upon accepting Jesus; in other words all new believers must become like the veterans of faith versus becoming like Christ.  This practice brings on even more overwhelming obstacles and is a sin in Jesus’ view and teaching!  Jesus stated (mostly to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law within earshot) that it would be better for an offender to have a heavy millstone tied around their neck and be drowned at the bottom of the sea than to hurt or cause a believer to stumble. This powerful metaphor highlights the gravity of damaging someone’s faith—even with teaching people to be “good”.

“But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.”—Jesus, Matthew 18:6-7, MSG

Asbury touched the hearts of thousands of the redeemed who knew their redemption is and always will be purely the work of God through His son Jesus. We do not earn it. We do not deserve it.  God’s rescue does seem reckless to those who want to punish us for all the deeds we have done and have gossiped over us as they work to make us feel guilty forever for that way keeps us under their control!  Could this be the work of the Accuser? I will leave that right there.

Asbury left the Christian music scene for a while as the accusations flew but still humbly expressed his gratitude for God whose love does seem reckless to the world but perfectly acceptable to those needing His rescue. What seems reckless to us is God’s perfectly timed salvation of love, mercy, and grace.  It is up to us and no one else to accept, repent, believe, and be redeemed forever with the promise of eternal life. Too hard to believe? Believe it!  This is the reckless, unconditional love of God at work!

RECKLESS LOVE

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, I don’t deserve it, still You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

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

Bridge

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

Lyrics by Cory Asbury. © 2017 Bethel Music Publishing (ASCAP) / Watershed Publishing Group (ASCAP) (adm. by Watershed Music Group) / Richmond Park Publishing (BMI). 

At the beginning of David’s song of prayer to the Lord, he is begging for the Lord to answer. Do we beg for God when we want Him to act, asap?  David wanted an answer now! Though he was not sinless; David was innocent of the charges his enemies were making against him and he was being treated as though he were guilty. Will God understand? God always understands and stands with us in these times of questioning.  In fact, this scenario reminds us of our Savior, who was sinless yet treated like a transgressor when brought in and bullied to the Caiaphas, the High Priest who had already judged Jesus and decided His fate—crucifixion by the Romans!  According to Warren Wiesbe, theologian of truth, Jesus quoted Psalm 69:4 in the Upper Room conversation with His disciples! (John 15:25).

Psalm 69

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

God, God, save me!
I’m in over my head,

² Quicksand under me, swamp water over me;
I’m going down for the third time.

³ I’m hoarse from calling for help,
Bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God.

⁴ I’ve got more enemies than hairs on my head;
Liars and cheats are out to knife me in the back.

What I never stole
Must I now give back?

⁵ God, you know every sin I’ve committed;
My life’s a wide-open book before you.

⁶ Don’t let those who look to you in hope
Be discouraged by what happens to me,
Dear Lord! God of the armies!

Don’t let those out looking for you
Come to a dead end by following me—
Please, dear God of Israel!

⁷ Because of you I look like an idiot,
I walk around ashamed to show my face.

⁸ My brothers shun me like a bum off the street;
My family treats me like an unwanted guest.

⁹ I love you more than I can say.
Because I’m madly in love with you,
They blame me for everything they dislike about you.

¹⁰ When I poured myself out in prayer and fasting,
All it got me was more contempt.

¹¹ When I put on a sad face,
They treated me like a clown.

¹² Now drunks and gluttons
Make up drinking songs about me.

¹³ And me? I pray.
God, it’s time for a break!

God, answer in love!
Answer with your sure salvation!

¹⁴ Rescue me from the swamp,
Don’t let me go under for good,

Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;
This whirlpool is sucking me down.

¹⁵ Don’t let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.

¹⁶ Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.

¹⁷ Don’t look the other way; your servant can’t take it.
I’m in trouble. Answer right now!

¹⁸ Come close, God; get me out of here.
Rescue me from this deathtrap.

¹⁹ You know how they kick me around—
Pin on me the donkey’s ears, the dunce’s cap.

²⁰ I’m broken by their taunts,
Flat on my face, reduced to a nothing.

I looked in vain for one friendly face. Not one.
I couldn’t find one shoulder to cry on.

²¹ They put poison in my soup,
Vinegar in my drink.

²² Let their supper be bait in a trap that snaps shut;
May their best friends be trappers who’ll skin them alive.

²³ Make them become blind as bats,
Give them the shakes from morning to night.

²⁴ Let them know what you think of them,
Blast them with your red-hot anger.

²⁵ Burn down their houses,
Leave them desolate with nobody at home.

²⁶ They gossiped about the one you disciplined,
Made up stories about anyone wounded by God.

²⁷ Pile on the guilt,
Don’t let them off the hook.

²⁸ Strike their names from the list of the living;
No rock-carved honor for them among the righteous.

²⁹ I’m hurt and in pain;
Give me space for healing, and mountain air.

³⁰ Let me shout God’s name with a praising song,
Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks.

³¹ For God, this is better than oxen on the altar,
Far better than blue-ribbon bulls.

³² The poor in spirit see and are glad—
Oh, you God-seekers, take heart!

³³ For God listens to the poor,
He doesn’t walk out on the wretched.

³⁴ You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth;
Also ocean and all things that swim in it.

³⁵ For God is out to help Zion,
Rebuilding the wrecked towns of Judah.

Guess who will live there—
The proud owners of the land?

³⁶ No, the children of his servants will get it,
The lovers of his name will live in it.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

David not only prays for himself but for all who believe and follow God.  He also prays for his enemies but unlike Jesus told us to pray for our enemies!  There is the difference between David, a human and Jesus, Our Redeemer. 

Many today preach “be like David, bold like Daniel, faithful like Abraham”, but we need to remember they are human like us in need of God’s character and power to be in them to do what they did—just like us.  Paul demands to all who will listen and written down in his letters to the church then and now—don’t be like me a sinner saved by grace—be more and more in every way like Christ who gave His live for us!  Truth!

We truly love Jesus and others as long as God’s love flows through us for God is love. (1 John 4) “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)  God’s Love is recklessly controlled, forever stable, and unchanging—unlike the world’s view of human love.  God’s love is holy, pure, and perfect. This is the love we seek and desire to imitate.

Oh Lord,

May we daily remember your overwhelming love that rescued us and brought us out of the deep waters meant to drown our faith. Our Accuser has no power over my soul—all because of You!

In Jesus Name, Amen