Ministry Musing

By Donna Kelly

This last Youth Sunday, we had 8 kids ranging from 1st to 12th grade singing at the 10:45 service. Hearing and seeing them singing, “Oh the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God…” touched my heart in an amazing way. My heart ached and tears filled my eyes as those children sang of God’s love for them, and for us all.

It also led me to think about how Jesus’ love is reckless. The dictionary defines reckless as, “marked by lack of proper caution: careless of consequences. It also lists synonyms as: adventurous, venturesome, daring, rash, foolhardy; meaning exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense”.

And isn’t that just how Jesus is? He came to live among us, knowing that we humans don’t always show good sense. He lived, healed, taught, ate with sinners, touched the unclean, and called out the self-righteous. He came to show us who God is; how God loves without counting the cost. I’m sure he knew that many would take advantage, be unappreciative and unreceptive. Most likely he knew his actions could very well lead to death, maybe even the cross. But Jesus chose to love…to not draw back, hide away, or place conditions on his love, but to love recklessly up to the very end. He loved those whom society said were unlovable, unclean, unworthy, sinners. He also loved those self-righteous he called out, trying in every way possible to help them see that love.

And he calls us to love the same way, “Love one another as I have loved you. By this everyone will know you are my disciples”. That says to me that our love is called to be overwhelming, never-ending and reckless. Not to just love those who look or act like us, but those our society is trying to make unlovable, unclean, unworthy, sinners. We are called to be daring, rash, foolhardy and reckless in our love; open and unconditional.

Jesus’ love was “overwhelming, never-ending and reckless, and we are called to be the same!

Donna Kelly

email Donna at: donna@sotpmail.com