Image from PxFuel.com
In the fall of 2017, Michelle and I attended a Christian conference in Lancaster, PA. The music for the conference, in part, was led by Bethel Music and Cory Asbury. During that conference, we were introduced to Cory's yet-to-be-released song, "Reckless Love".
Michelle and I were both touched by this song and found ourselves singing it everywhere we went. Then, in 2018, we were so happy when it was released and we could hear it on the radio. We never tired of singing about God's reckless love.
At that same time, I was still an active member and leader of the worship team at my church. And despite some of the public controversy around this song, I decided to introduce it to my team and congregation.
I prayed about how to introduce this amidst controversy - mainly which was about using the word "reckless" to describe the nature of God's love.
I searched and found an interview with the song's writer, Cory Asbury. In the interview, he said that he was inspired by the three-fold parable in Luke of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost (aka prodigal) son.
As I read those stories again (Luke 15) my eyes were opened to the human understanding of what Cory described as reckless. In our logic, it doesn't make sense to leave 99 sheep to search for one. Just write off the loss, right? And the coin? Who would really turn their house inside-out to find one coin? It doesn't make any sense. It seems reckless, doesn't it?
But then the final story is about the lost son and how the father runs to greet the son and clothes him in a new robe, sandals, and a ring. It doesn't make sense, at least not in our human understanding, does it? This is why this type of love is described as "reckless".
Mark Lowry, one of the singers from the Gaither group, once described the way God shares His grace like this: "God spreads grace like a 4-year old spreads peanut butter-He gets it all over everything."
But then the final story is about the lost son and how the father runs to greet the son and clothes him in a new robe, sandals, and a ring. It doesn't make sense, at least not in our human understanding, does it? This is why this type of love is described as "reckless".
Mark Lowry, one of the singers from the Gaither group, once described the way God shares His grace like this: "God spreads grace like a 4-year old spreads peanut butter-He gets it all over everything."
That is precisely how I've experienced His love, grace, and mercy. It's simple, it's everywhere, and it gets all over everything. It doesn't make sense, does it?
If you find this challenging, may I suggest setting aside your confusion and offense and just worship God and let Him pursue you and love you.
Here is Cory Asbury singing today's song, "Reckless Love".
If you find this challenging, may I suggest setting aside your confusion and offense and just worship God and let Him pursue you and love you.
Here is Cory Asbury singing today's song, "Reckless Love".
~~Ken
#monthofworship #CoryAsbury #BethelMusic #Luke15 #praisinggod2023 #30DaysOfWorship
No comments:
Post a Comment