Amazing Grace is a well-known and well-worn hymn, one we sang on our very first gathered worship this past Sunday. Nine weeks of pent up praise expressed by the gathered body of Christ was like medicine to our souls and sweet sacrifice to our Lord. Perhaps like few others this hymn expresses the awakened soul’s awareness to the sovereignty of God and His holy and absolute sufficiency.
The author of the text, Captain John Newton was reborn, restored, and released to a life radically different than the one he was living, a life which profited off of the utter degradation of humanity through slave trade as the captain of a slave caring ship. History tells us that John Newton himself was enslaved in 1745. Perhaps, after his conversion, the freedoms for which Captain, come ordained clergyman fought for were made more fervent as one who, with eyes opened to spiritual realities, saw the complete depravity of desperation the human soul fettered by the chains of sin. This would give fire and purpose to his life.
As we phase back into our ‘new-norm’ the challenge is to cherish the discovered treasures of relationships with God, family and friends. How easy it is to return to a pace unmarked by fellowship with the Spirit of God. What an utter travesty. It is the prayer of this sinner, now redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and restored to His Kingdom plan that each day brings ample opportunity to react to God’s wholly different character and proclaim his amazing grace! See you Sunday with a song in my heart.
Morgan Day, Associate Pastor of Worship, North Run Baptist Church