The Reckless Love of God
The love of God is not some old, dusty, theological concept that is to be confined to seminary libraries, desert fathers, or just a few elect mystics that “really get it.”
The love of God is for every last person who lives in this world regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic background.
The love God is not simply positive thinking, a wish upon a star, or superstition like finding a penny heads-up. The love of God is as big as, as strong as, as faithful as, and enduring as, as unbreakable as, and as personal as God himself!
When we talk about the love of God, we’re talking about what has literally turned the world upside down and people's hearts inside out.
As the children of God, we’re celebrating right now what we will see and savor for all of eternity–that God would clothe himself in flesh, descend to us in the person and work of Jesus, separate our sins from us, and give us his very own righteousness at no cost to us and immeasurable cost to him.
The love of God causes the most sophisticated to squirm and blush. It brings the proud to a sober understanding that all of life is grace. It lifts up those who've gone too far and and think to themselves "God could never love someone like me."
Singing the children’s song “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” may have a simple melody but the theology it communicates is as rich as any you'll ever read. In fact, it is safe to say that the short phrase “Jesus loves me” is is quite literally the deep end of the theological swimming pool.
I attempted to dive in, and to gloriously portray God's astonishing love in my new book: The Reckless Love of God: Experiencing the Personal, Passionate Heart of the Gospel.
I wanted to help you see "How wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. That you may you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:18-19)
My aim is to tell you that God himself has burned in everlasting love for you before time began and has stopped at nothing in his pursuit of capturing our hearts and demonstrating this life-changing reality.
When we think of the famous parable known as the “Prodigal Son” who Jesus describes as someone who goes off and “squandered his Father’s property in reckless living” many of us know exactly what that looks like.
But rest assured, there is something more scandalous than the son’s rebellion, and that is the astonishing love of the Father!
What changed the prodigal's heart and continues to change our hearts is our Father in heaven's outlandish grace and lovingkindness, put on display in the Father’s running, embracing, kissing, and partying at the sight of his weary son (Luke 15:20).
The “Welcome home, son!” "You belong here!" booms again and again in the hearts of those of us who know we can't do it on our own and need the love, grace, acceptance, and forgiveness of God.
Whether you’ve never heard of the great love of God displayed through Jesus or you’ve been a Christian for 20 years (like me), the love God is for you.
My book, The Reckless Love of God was my feeble attempt to bottle one tiny drop of the everlasting love of God found in the bottomless well of his own Son’s heart.
The table is set. The best drink has been poured. The band is playing. Pull up a seat. You’re welcome at Jesus’ table. He’s been expecting you.
Alex Early is host of the Acts 29 Podcast, director of the Acts 29 West Academy, and author of the The Reckless Love of God.
He has completed two master's degrees (MDiv, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and MA in Aspects of Biblical Interpretation, London School of Theology) and is a current doctoral student (Doctor of Intercultural Studies, Western Seminary).
He has been married to Jana for 11 years and they have two children.
