Since I've been listening to Christian radio, in particular, Positive Life Radio, they have been playing this song . . . "The overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God. It chases me down. Fight 'til I'm found. Leaves the ninety-nine. I couldn't earn it. I don't deserve it. Still, you give yourself away . . ." By definition, reckless means: (of a person or their actions) without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.
Honestly, God's love is not reckless. It can't be. Why? Because it thought and cared about the consequences and the implications of the ultimate action of God. I understand that for the heart and mind that cares not about God, His action of dying on the cross seems reckless and His love misplaced . . . but to the heart and mind of those that love God, why, that is the greatest demonstration of true-life-transformative love.
This idea of recklessness is at best misplaced, however, the concept of the reckless love of God can still be seen in a story nestled in the Old Testament that still speaks volumes to the reader today. In fact, the story reeks of recklessness and absolute insanity . . . however, herein lines the greatest lesson ever learned by a man called by God. Last week we looked at the Great Controversy and the character of God. I shared that Israel failed in their call by not trusting in God.
Trusting God when you understand is manageable. However, trusting God when you don't understand is divine! In today's sermonic thought, I will share with you a time when a man didn't understand God but trusted in His promise. It's a story that has been the backbone of many mythologies and story lines and still has a direct implication to our lives today. The actions of God dying on the cross are a mystery, yet it is amazing.
May you, this Sabbath, hear God telling you, "This is how much I love you. Where your knife stopped, my knife continued . . ." What knife am I talking about . . . wait and see and hear and listen and learn. May God bless you this Sabbath day as we seek to understand, Our Reckless God.
So until the nest time, this is Pastor Tello reminding you that thoughts do change lives!
Pastor Howard Tello