Amazing Grace

For several days, the ship Greyhound had been severely battered by the strong waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Aboard was John Newton, an extremely immoral atheist sailor who was notorious —even among his fellow degenerates— for his cursing and blasphemy. For no apparent reason, John picked up a copy of the great Christian classic The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis and read it with his usual indifference.

But early next morning, March 10, 1748, he was awakened by the blast of a violent wave that opened a huge hole in the ship’s side.

Everyone aboard thought the ship would sink.

Then one of the sailors suggested one last attempt at shoring up the ship. Worried at the outcome, John said, “If this will not do, the Lord have mercy on us.” John was surprised by his own words. Instead of his usual oaths, blasphemies, and rude rejections of God, he spoke the Lord’s name with respect and reverence.

While working in the West African slave trade, John became ill with a fever and finally professed his full faith in Christ. In 1764, John Newton was ordained as an Anglican priest and became an influential abolitionist.

As a songwriter, he penned some 280 hymns.

His world-famous “Amazing Grace” is autobiographical, telling the story of his conversion as reflected in the first stanza: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I am found, Was blind, but now I see.29 Perhaps your own life experience is not as dramatic as John Newton’s or the prodigal son’s (Luke 15:11–32). But remember, all of us are sinners and in need of God’s saving grace (Romans 3:23). Thank You, Lord, for Your merciful grace, which reaches each of us and makes us citizens of Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.