It is a really great song based on the parable of the lost sheep. It's about how God's love for us is so deep that He never gives up on us. In stating his motivation for the song, Mr. Asbury has said:
When I used 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's utterly unconcerned with the consequences of His own actions with regard to His own safety, comfort and well-being. ... In fact, all things considered, it’s quite childlike, and might I even suggest, sometimes downright ridiculous. His love bankrupted heaven for you. His love doesn’t consider Himself first... 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. Well, 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?From a human perspective Mr. Asbury is absolutely right. The math does not add up, not just with the 99 sheep compared to the one, but even more so for Jesus, the sinless Son of God who steps down from Heaven, to go chasing after a sinful and wretched man. It does indeed seem reckless, and embody a complete lack of self concern or preservation. And yet when we consider this description we are making a value judgment. We have a assigned a value to that sheep, and determined it cannot possibly be "worth" leaving 99 or risking the shepherd's safety.
In finance there is a term known as market value. It is defined as " the price an asset would fetch in the marketplace." Essentially this means that something's worth is determined by what the general public is willing to pay for it. Now, of course we understand that sometimes an individual person might be willing to pay more for an item than the market value. For example, if it has some sort of sentimental value. And I think this is how we sometimes view God's love. God was so overcome with his emotional attachment to us, that because of his reckless love, He was willing to pay a price vastly higher than we were worth. And so, He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we would not be lost to Him.
But what if God's decision to send Jesus to die on Calvary for us wasn't an act of reckless love but rather deeply intentional love. In Hebrews 12:2 it says that Jesus "for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." To me, this sounds like Jesus did the math. It was not that he did not consider the consequences of His actions, but rather made a calculated decision that enduring the cross, the pain and the shame that accompanied it, was worth it to redeem His people.
Why? Because God, as our creator, knows our intrinsic value. This is our actual value and true worth. It does not change because of what has happened to us, or what we have done. It does not shift with the marketplace's valuation of us. Asha just graduated top of her class, her stock just went up. Oh, her marriage just fell apart, 100 points down. She just won a case, 30 points up. She just gained 10 lbs, 20 points down. This valuation is set by the omnipotent God who knows the true value of everything. Jesus determined that every living soul of his creation, humanity, no matter how fallen was worth enduring the pain and the shame of the cross so that they might be redeemed.
So, here’s what I know: our perception of our value often affects our behavior. If we feel we are worth less (less than the price that was paid for us) then we act less. We believe our purpose is less. And we work to achieve less. If on the other hand, we believe that God sees our value as worth the death of His son just to save us, then how great is the purpose for which he created us?! And how hard should we strive to achieve and live up to that purpose!?!
Hebrews 12:1 says that there is a race that is "marked out for us." He created us having set out a particular course, a specific purpose, and a definitive calling. He left the 99 and came after us, not seeking a quid pro quo of what He could gain from His sacrifice, but rather with a knowledge of what we are capable of achieving for His kingdom if we were no longer lost, but found. So let's live like it! Let's"throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
