Everyone I know, Christian and non-Christian, has a special place in their heart for the reverend hymn, “Amazing Grace.” It was written by minister and hymn writer John Newton. It is the one hymn you always hear being played by bagpipes at a Police and Firefighters Memorial Service.
Newton was born in London, England in 1725. His mother gave him some religious training, but she died of tuberculosis when he was only seven. He received little formal education before going to sea with his father, the commander of a merchant ship, at age eleven. In 1743, he was forced to serve aboard the H.M.S. Harwich and soon deserted. He was captured, flogged, and degraded to a common seaman. After asking to be exchanged for a slave ship, he suffered brutal persecution before being rescued by a friend of his father. Newton later said that in the course of these wanderings, he lost all sense of religion. But, during a severe storm on the homeward voyage, he experienced a strong religious conversion.
Newton married a childhood sweetheart. He also successfully educated himself, learning Euclidean, Geometry, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Syrian. For a time, he commanded a slave ship, attempting to repress the swearing and immoral conduct of his sailors and reading Liturgy twice each Sunday with the crew. But, during his last voyage as a slave ship captain, there was once again a severe storm to send him a message. The Lord told John Newton that he was doing something good but not enough because he hadn’t realized that slavery was wrong either. As the spirit moved upon him, he realized that he was no better than anybody else because everybody was somebody, and all men and women were free by the Grace of God.
When Newton returned safely home after the storm, he fell on his knees in prayer; as he was praying, a part of verse 10 from the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians came into his mind: “By the Grace of God I am what I am, “he said, “I am not what I ought to be.”
How imperfect and deficient I am! I am not what I wish to be. Though I am not what I ought to be, I can truly say that I am not what I once was – a slave to sin and Satan.” He heartily said to Paul, “By the Grace of God, I am what I am!” Then he rose from the floor, sat down at his desk, and wrote these lovely, soul-stirring, and lasting words:
“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 fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear?
The hour I first believed!
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word, my hope, secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come
“Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home!”
This is Rev Dr. Wm. Rocky Brown, 3rd, letting you know that GOD and I Love you, and we approve this message because we want to motivate your mind, body & soul. So be happy and enjoy the blessings of The LORD today, my friend! Please subscribe to my website to receive these messages daily at http://www.yourspiritualmotivation.com.
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