Lyrics
Verse 1
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been 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
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
Verse 2
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been 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
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
Bridge (x3)
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, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Outro
(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, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away)
(Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God)
Original Version
This page covers a cover recording of the song. See the original: Reckless Love by Cory Asbury lyrics.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This version of “Reckless Love” changes two small phrases in the verses: “You have been so good to me” and “You have been so kind to me,” without the doubled “so.” The rest of the song keeps its familiar order of verse, chorus, second verse, chorus, bridge, and a closing chorus. After that comes an outro written as four lines in parentheses, which repeat the chorus as a softer echo.
The words “good” and “kind” carry much of the meaning. They describe God's character before they describe any single act, and the Bible uses the same pair of ideas when it speaks of the Lord's goodness and kindness toward sinners. The chorus then supplies the action, with love that “chases me down” and “leaves the ninety-nine,” as in the parable in Luke 15. The bridge, repeated three times, lists the obstacles that love is said to overcome, and the parenthetical outro leaves the song on its central phrase.
Related Scripture
- Titus 3:4-5 Paul writes that the kindness and love of God appeared and saved, not by works.
- Psalm 100:5 The psalm says the Lord is good and his steadfast love endures forever.
- Luke 15:4-7 Jesus tells of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find one that is lost.