There is one thing that levels this playing field of life. The amazing grace that is available to all.
We were a part of the group to sing at the Gospel Mission in Spokane last evening. When our songs were almost ended, the director asked for the men there to help us sing a few songs.
There Is Power in the Blood was a song that a few of them knew. You could see some of them searching in their minds for the words to go with it. I noticed one man especially became animated and you could tell he must have had a background with hymns in it.
But then we sang Amazing Grace.
And my heart wanted to both weep and rejoice. For almost every single man there knew that song.
What is it about the song Amazing Grace that touches us so? What makes it cross all boundaries, hurtle the different races, and climb over walls built between countries, societies, and genders?
Why do we want to stand at attention when this song is being sung?
Perhaps it is contained within the history behind it. The story of John Newton and his profane life as a slave trader. How he probably heard the slaves singing this tune within the belly of a slave ship . . . and how God brought him to his knees. If God could save a vile and profane man who sold other humans for a living . . . then He could save the most wretched of sinners.
Perhaps it is contained within the first few lines of the song itself.
“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.”
The grace is there. For every sinner who ever walked this earth. This grace that stands waiting to be received. Or rejected.
It can take down strongholds, heal broken lives, and mend hearts full of bitterness at wounds received. It saves wretches and lost souls. It is all-encompassing, never-ending, as wide as forever, and covers it all . . but it came with a price.
The price that was paid by our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What does this grace mean to me? I shared this on facebook last week, so this might be a replay for some of you. But this is what the amazing grace of my Lord means to me.
This grace took hold of the cup of God’s fiery wrath… And said, “I will drink it.” For her.
It endured every curse ever written, every torment hell had to offer, and every debt of sin I piled on Him. For me.
Someday I will thank Him…face to face. But for today I aim to live out my thanks with every breath I have left, every word to be spoken, and every day I am given. For what a grace this is!
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Regina S says
Such a beautiful hymn. Sadly though today’s mainstream churches sing it totally different with a more contemporary sound and I just don’t like it. Amazing Grace is a hymn you don’t mess with. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Kendra says
😉 Amen! My husband uses that saying alot…..and I think I will agree that Amazing Grace is better with the original tune!
Mom Graber says
Every single one of us needs that wonderful grace, no matter how well we were brought up! Fifty years later, I can still easily picture our Beachy bishop, Jake Hershberger, behind the pulpit, leading out that song with heartfelt emotion.
Kendra says
It is a special song in many ways to so many people!!