Amazing Grace (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 779)
1 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.
2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
3 Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
4 The Lord has promised good to me;
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
5 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.
Text: John Newton; Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony; Public Domain
Devotion
“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!” This hymn was written in 1772 by John Newton, originally a slave trader, but who was caught in a severe storm off the coast of Ireland, and in fear for his life, promised God he would devote the rest of his life in God’s service.
The hymn was actually written to be used in his New Year’s Day service in 1773. Yet he realized that the words penned spoke powerfully of his own personal experience of grace. God had seen him through toils and dangers. Newton had been spiritually lost but yet God had physically and spiritually rescued him and led him home. Newton had personally experienced God’s love and forgiveness which is exactly what this hymn reminds me about. God’s grace is Amazing!
Prayer
Loving God, thank you for your Amazing Grace. You never give up on us even when we are our most wretched and blind to what you freely give to all your children. Amen.