As I sat in church on this fine Easter Sunday, I felt the grace of God in a way I never had before. Yeah, I knew that I was forgiven and I was made whole and righteous through Jesus, but I hadn’t quite felt it.

The lyrics to Reckless Love flashed upon the screen as worshipped, and I read them and understood them as I sang. (If you know me, you know that I often don’t know the actual words to songs so it was incredible to really know what I was singing). But this morning, I heard the lyrics..

“Oh the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine”

As those lyrics ran through my head I couldn’t help but think of God’s love for me. Matthew 18:11 explains that the Son of Man has come to save the lost. It says that when just one of a Shepard’s 100 sheep wanders away, won’t he leave the 99 in search of that one? And when he finds that one sheep he rejoices! And verse 13 says, “And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over the sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray.” That sheep is me! How crazy and amazing is it when you see God as this kind of Shepard? That when we wander away, although He has 99 other sheep that have been good and faithful and can be used, He comes and gets us because he wants us too! He wants all of us.

The song ventures on..

“I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away”

Wow. I couldn’t earn this righteousness even if I tried. I don’t deserve it either. Do I often look at my salvation as such a precious gift? no. not really. But, how powerful and freeing that Jesus paid the price! That I can wander away and God will come find me, that there is no shadow He won’t light up, no mountain He won’t climb up coming after me. There’s no wall He won’t kick down, lie He won’t tear down coming after me.

And the song goes on..

“When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me”

This hit me. I struggle with self worth. I often have a hard time finding value in myself and struggle to see that I am loved for all of me, including my flaws. And that I am perfect just the way I am and that THAT is good enough for God. When I felt no worth, Jesus paid it all for me. What amazing love He has for me. What amazing love the God of the universe has for YOU. I felt God’s love for me in this line. I felt God’s mercy and forgiveness and patience and His grace for me in a way I never had.

On this day, we remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most incredible sacrifice ever made and one that changed history forever. Jesus, the breaker of death and of sin and made us righteous in the eyes of the Lord Almighty.

HE IS RISEN!