Amazing Grace, perhaps one of the most famous hymns in history: 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. Most of us have heard this song many times, but have never taken the time to research the message and meaning of the words or phrases.
What about the author, John Newton; what was his inspiration? Some people may wonder if the word wretch (a miserable person: one who is profoundly unhappy or in great misfortune, despicable, or vile person) is an overstatement or rather if he was doing too much calling himself that. John Newton didn’t think so and his life speaks to the reasons why. John Newton was born in 1725 and was raised by his Christian mother who taught him the Bible at an early age. (Yes, train up a child…) His mother died of TB when he was 7 years old. He then took on the characteristics of his father and set sail as a slave trader. Even as a teen he would be labeled a troubled child.
Today, he’d likely have been placed in foster care or juvenile detention. His rebellious behavior developed into a pattern that would go on for years While things may have seemed bleak and John destined for hell, things were about to change in his life. In 1747, and on its journey home, Newton’s ship was overtaken by an enormous storm. Newton had been reading a book called The Imitation of Christ and was struck by a line about the "uncertain continuance of life." He also recalled the passage in Proverbs 1:24 (New Living Translation) "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.”
John Newton was converted during that storm at sea. After leaving the slave trade, he later held Bible studies in his home in England and was ordained into ministry in 1764. In 1769 Newton began a Thursday evening prayer services. For almost every week’s service he wrote a hymn and out of this effort came Amazing Grace. He was also noted as an Abolitionist spreading the Good news until his death in 1807. After learning more about how the song was birthed out of John Newton’s pain, the words have new meaning and new life. The message is timeless.
We all have a story filled with life experiences with some degree of pain, disappointment and trouble. If not, then keep on living as the adage says. What a blessing to know that no matter how far away we are from God, he’s never far from us. No matter the time or distance, we’re never too old and it’s not too late to repent, accept the gift of salvation and live for God. The free, unmerited favor of God; His Grace, is Amazing!
*Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Minister Pamela Nance Johnson
What about the author, John Newton; what was his inspiration? Some people may wonder if the word wretch (a miserable person: one who is profoundly unhappy or in great misfortune, despicable, or vile person) is an overstatement or rather if he was doing too much calling himself that. John Newton didn’t think so and his life speaks to the reasons why. John Newton was born in 1725 and was raised by his Christian mother who taught him the Bible at an early age. (Yes, train up a child…) His mother died of TB when he was 7 years old. He then took on the characteristics of his father and set sail as a slave trader. Even as a teen he would be labeled a troubled child.
Today, he’d likely have been placed in foster care or juvenile detention. His rebellious behavior developed into a pattern that would go on for years While things may have seemed bleak and John destined for hell, things were about to change in his life. In 1747, and on its journey home, Newton’s ship was overtaken by an enormous storm. Newton had been reading a book called The Imitation of Christ and was struck by a line about the "uncertain continuance of life." He also recalled the passage in Proverbs 1:24 (New Living Translation) "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.”
John Newton was converted during that storm at sea. After leaving the slave trade, he later held Bible studies in his home in England and was ordained into ministry in 1764. In 1769 Newton began a Thursday evening prayer services. For almost every week’s service he wrote a hymn and out of this effort came Amazing Grace. He was also noted as an Abolitionist spreading the Good news until his death in 1807. After learning more about how the song was birthed out of John Newton’s pain, the words have new meaning and new life. The message is timeless.
We all have a story filled with life experiences with some degree of pain, disappointment and trouble. If not, then keep on living as the adage says. What a blessing to know that no matter how far away we are from God, he’s never far from us. No matter the time or distance, we’re never too old and it’s not too late to repent, accept the gift of salvation and live for God. The free, unmerited favor of God; His Grace, is Amazing!
*Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Minister Pamela Nance Johnson
