Amazing Grace

There is probably no song to which more people know the lyrics than "Amazing Grace". The song was written in the 1700s by John Newton, a man who underwent a truly radical transformation.

Amazing Grace

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

There is probably no song to which more people know the lyrics than "Amazing Grace". I remember even as an atheist young girl who had never been to church or heard the Gospel, I still knew at least the first verse.

The song was written in the 1700s by John Newton. John is infamously known for having been a reckless slave trader who lived a life full of sin and brutality while transporting enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. Not exactly the most likely candidate to write one of the most famous hymns ever! Yet even for the greatest of sinners, our Lord is an even greater Savior.

One day, a particularly violent storm threatened the survival of John's ship, and he deeply feared for his life. With the thunder rolling and the waves crashing, John found himself crying out to God for help and begging for his mercy in this storm. God answered, and miraculously, the storm calmed, and the ship and those aboard survived.

While John did not in this moment have a dramatic transformation, it sparked the beginning of his spiritual journey. He began to seek God and read the Bible, and over time, he did begin to follow Jesus! John eventually became an Anglican priest and was key in working with William Wilberforce to bring an end to the British slave trade.

John was a man who experienced the amazing grace of God, and when he wrote this hymn, he wrote from personal experience of being profoundly lost and blind to the things of God but having his eyes opened to be able to truly see.

Knowing John Newton's story, read through these familiar lyrics yet again and reflect on the graciousness of our God:

Amazing Grace,
How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost,
But now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught
My heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious
Did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers,
Toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought
Me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised
Good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield
And Portion be,
As long as life endures.

The earth shall soon
Dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me
Here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we've been there
Ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days
To sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

John records having been inspired for this song by David's humility and marveling at the grace of God in 1 Chronicles 17:16-17. The passage reads, "Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, 'Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O Lord God!'"

Who is David that God would show Him mercy? Who is John Newton that God would show Him mercy? Who are we that the holy God of all creation would show us His great mercy?

God's amazing grace can turn a slave trader into a priest and leader of the abolition movement.
God's amazing grace can turn a great sinner into a saint.
God's amazing grace can save you and me.