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 of “Reckless Love” shows the chorus with an unusual break: “I couldn't earn it,” sits on its own line, followed by “And I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away.” The split gives the admission of unworthiness two separate beats before the line about God giving himself. The same pattern appears in the second chorus and again in the final one.
The verses describe care that comes before any response, with God singing over the singer and breathing life into the singer. The second verse names the singer as a foe with no worth, which makes the later words “You paid it all for me” the turning point. The bridge repeats four times and lists shadow, mountain, wall, and lie as obstacles that love overcomes. The overall message matches Paul's teaching that salvation is a gift received by grace, and the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine is the same image Jesus uses in Luke 15.
Related Scripture
- Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul says salvation is a gift of grace and not a result of works.
- Romans 5:8 Paul writes that Christ died for sinners while they were still sinners.
- Luke 15:4-7 Jesus tells of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find one that is lost.