Reckless Love
In 2010 I was in Afghanistan with the 178th Field Artillery from South Carolina. We were there as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. I was the Chaplain for about 800 Soldiers from SC, Pennsylvania, and Guam. About halfway through our deployment, one of our platoons from PA was moving through a village to deliver medical supplies to a local hospital. The Taliban took a mentally handicapped 15-year-old boy, strapped an explosive vest on him, put him in a burqa, sent him into the patrol, and remote detonated him. Two of the Soldiers were killed instantly, and a third only survived because the weapon he was carrying took the brunt of the blast. It was the worst day of the deployment. As I write this, I still have anger toward those who did this utterly evil, senseless act.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible in Romans 5:8, "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Think about that for a minute. We were enemies of God. We were the terrorists. It was at that time that Christ chose to die for us. That type of reckless love is exactly what the song we're going to sing Sunday is about. God knew the depths of our depravity. He knew the dark places of our souls that we don't even admit exists. And He still died for us.
We are called to have that same reckless love for others also. Pastor Philip has preached on forgiveness for the last two weeks. God's love is reckless, and our love reflects it only when it makes absolutely no sense. Who is God calling you to love recklessly today?
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
Won't Stop Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7AC3u3yidA
Build My Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZW4_8_zCBE
Mighty to Save
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HLVnPjbSaI
Nothing But The Blood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl1P4apA5yw
Reckless Love