Amazing love; amazing grace . . .

One of the all-time favourite hymns that is sung all around the world is John Newton's hymn Amazing Grace. The story behind the hymn is now legend, its connection to the slave trade and the realisation of that trade's offensiveness in God's eyes being well-known.

Sometimes it's good to read the words slowly through, out loud, experiencing the emotion that John Newton must have felt as he was inspired to write them down.

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I'm found;

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fear relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

We have already come.

'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far,

And grace will lead us 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.

And when this heart and flesh shall fail

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil

A life of health and peace.

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 first begun.

Verses 4 & 5 are not generally sung any more, the popular version being verses 1 to 3 together with the last verse, shown here in italics, which was in fact not written by John Newton but, I believe, by Harriet Beecher Stowe in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.

However, whichever version you prefer, or even if you prefer to join the two together, it's a beautiful hymn that tells of the wonderful grace of God towards mankind; not only wonderful grace, but also overwhelming love towards His creation. So great is that love that He died in order that we might live. Spend an hour or so thinking about that!

How incredible God is the display of His love towards us.