The Reckless Love of God
As this week draws to a close, let’s spend a little bit of time thinking about the quality or characteristic of life that we want to count this week. Up until now our focus has been on why we are counting – and what we are counting. By no means do I want to imply that loving kindness is not worth spending a week exploring, but it felt important to spend time thinking about why we are doing this. When we are trying to describe the love of God, let’s use the word “reckless.”
The Hebrew word hesed is the word commonly translated “loving-kindness” (KJV) or “steadfast love” (ESV). This characteristic is central to understanding the love of God and is found in the Old Testament time and time again. The chart below lists twelve of the verses. It appears this love is based in an eternal covenant that God makes with His people and demonstrates that nothing can separate us from this love.
| Psalm 17:7 | Isaiah 54:8 |
Psalm 63:3 | Jeremiah 31:3 |
| Hosea 2:19 | Psalm 98:3 | Psalm 136:1 | Nehemiah 9:17 |
| Isaiah 63:7 | Psalm 36:10 |
Psalm 117:2 | Titus 3:4 |
steadfast love
Let’s talk about the two ideas that make up this steadfast love. It is hard for me to understand everlasting, enduring, or forever. We live in a world that doesn’t last. What is the oldest thing that you have in your home? A pair of shoes? A winter coat? Pictures in a scrapbook from a long time ago? We buy things knowing they will break. Family members may be with us for years. But children leave home and we see them on occasion. Things always change. Life goes on, right?
I used to not understand when people became so upset when a pet died. I am not a “pet person.” But I have come to realize a part of the connection is the length of time and the consistency of presence. The pet has been through a lot with you. There is a reason we call them faithful friends. But it is difficult for me to wrap my mind around “everlasting.”
We also sort of understand the love of God. I nodded my head when the incredible book by Francis Chan ran across my desk. He called it “Crazy Love.” It was my first exposure to Chan and I thought yes – crazy captures the essence of God’s love. Bethel Music produced a praise song that many of us are comfortable singing
Oh the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.
Reckless is such a powerful, descriptive word. We know an automobile driver who is reckless. We have seen the results of the bull in the china shop. But to call God’s love reckless? It still startles us a bit.
The first person I ever heard call God’s love “reckless” was Rich Mullins. I wish I could say that Rich and I were close friends, but we were more good acquaintances. We sang in a men’s chorus at college. We were in a few classes together. But I think everyone at Cincinnati Bible College was in awe of Rich Mullins. We didn’t know many people like Rich.
reckless love
Rich was able to capture concepts in words that few people were even able to express. Somehow he could then weave those words together with the threads of music. Rich penned a song he called “The Love of God.” Listen to the words of the first verse.
There’s wideness in God’s mercy
I cannot find in my own
And He keeps His fire burning
To melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning
Keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God.
The song ends with these words:
Joy and sorrow are this ocean
And in their every ebb and flow
Now the Lord a door has opened
That all Hell could never close
Here I’m tested and made worthy
Tossed about but lifted up
In the reckless raging fury
That they call the love of God.
raging fury
The love that I am used to could rarely be called reckless. But the love that I am used to doesn’t seem to last. It changes. It deteriorates. Love has ebbs and flows, has its ups and downs. Won’t that be how God is? He loves me now, but there are probably days when I bet He doesn’t like me very much.
Eventually He’ll get fed up with me – with how I am – with the times I wander, with the times I sin when I know better.
It may sound crazy.
It may sound reckless.
But no, He won’t.
