“I want to read this scripture to us. It’s out of Luke 15. Sometimes people get confused by it, but I feel like the Lord’s all over it tonight. I want to read it to us.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The religious people are mad. It sets the stage and Jesus pipes up.
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Man, He’s that good. I want to just read a couple thoughts to share a little bit of the story behind the song and then we’ll sing that bridge one more time and we’ll go nuts; we’ll see what happens.
So when I use the phrase “the reckless love of God,” when we say it we’re not saying that God Himself is reckless. He’s not crazy. We are however saying that the way He loves is, in many regards, quite so. But what I mean is this: He is utterly unconcerned with the consequences of His actions with regard 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, for me. His love doesn’t consider Himself first; it isn’t selfish or self-serving. He doesn’t wonder what He’ll gain or lose by putting Himself on the line. He simply puts Himself out there on the off chance that you and I might look back at Him and give Him that love in return. His love leaves the ninety-nine to find the one every time and, to many practical adults, that’s a foolish concept. But what if He loses the ninety-nine in finding the one, right? What if finding that one lost sheep is and always will be supremely important? His love isn’t cautious. It’s a love that sent His own Son to die a gruesome death on a cross. There’s no plan B with the love of God. He gives His heart so completely, so preposterously, that if refused we would think it irreparably broken. Yet He gives Himself away again, and again, and again, and again; time and time again.
Make no mistake, our sins do pain His heart and seventy times seven is a lot of times to get your heart broken. And yet He opens up and allows us back in every single time. His love saw you when you hated Him and all logic said, “they’ll reject me.” He said, “No, I don’t care what it costs me, I lay my life on the line as long as I get their hearts.”
To make it personal, His love saw me: broken-down kid with regret as deep as the ocean, my innocence and youth poured out like water. And He found me and He put me on His shoulders. And He carried me home. Cause He’s just that good. He’s just that kind. He’s a Father that never gives up.
So as we sing this bridge and chorus one more time just let it break down those walls tonight. There’s no shadow…”
Ellie Proctor 