Lyrics
Verse 1
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
Chorus
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
Verse 2
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
Chorus
And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
Bridge (x4)
There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me
Chorus
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah
Original Version
This page covers a cover recording of the song. See the original: Reckless Love by Cory Asbury lyrics.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This page presents “Reckless Love” as one continuous text, without section labels, and the structure is easy to trace from the lines themselves. Two verses begin with “Before I spoke a word” and “When I was Your foe,” and each is followed by a chorus that closes with a spoken “yeah.” The bridge then repeats four times, which gives its list of obstacles more weight than any other part of the song.
That list is the center of the lyric: a shadow to light up, a mountain to climb, a wall to kick down, and a lie to tear down. Each obstacle is answered by the same phrase, “Coming after me.” The imagery fits the psalmist's picture of a God from whom no place is hidden, and the chorus again echoes the shepherd in Luke 15 who leaves the ninety-nine. The final chorus returns to the admission “I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it,” so the song ends where it began, with grace received and not earned.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 139:7-12 The psalmist says no place, including darkness, is hidden from God.
- Luke 15:4-7 Jesus tells of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find one that is lost.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul says salvation is a gift of grace and not a result of works.