Traditional Hymns
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
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1. 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.
2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; he will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
6. When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun.
Devotional Based on the Hymn "Amazing Grace"
Scripture Reference:"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people." – Titus 2:11 (NIV)
Opening Reflection:
The hymn "Amazing Grace" is perhaps one of the most beloved and enduring songs of faith. Written by John Newton, a former slave trader turned preacher, it reflects a deep transformation—a powerful testimony of redemption, grace, and hope. The words of this hymn echo the journey of salvation: from despair and darkness to light and freedom. As we meditate on this song, we are reminded that God’s grace is not only amazing, it is transformative, offering new life to all who receive it.
Devotional Thought:
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me."
These opening lines strike at the very heart of the gospel. In these words, John Newton speaks from his own experience. He was once lost—lost in sin, lost in the pursuit of wealth, and lost in the darkness of his own heart. But grace intervened. Amazing grace. This grace wasn’t earned or deserved. It was unmerited, freely given by God. This grace saves us, no matter where we come from or how far we may have fallen.
Grace is not just a concept; it’s a living reality. In Titus 2:11, Paul writes that “the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” The grace of God is not distant or abstract. It has appeared in the person of Jesus Christ. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we have the opportunity to experience the full measure of God’s grace—a grace that saves, heals, and restores. Just as Newton encountered this grace and was transformed, so too can we.
Reflections on Redemption:
The second verse of "Amazing Grace" says:
"’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved."
In our journey of faith, we often encounter fear and doubt. It’s natural to question our worthiness or to wonder if God’s grace is truly for us. But this grace doesn’t leave us in our fear; it transforms it. Grace teaches us to acknowledge our need for God and brings peace to our hearts. The fear of God isn’t a fear of punishment, but a reverence for His holiness and love. When we embrace His grace, our fears are replaced with trust, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Living Out Grace:
"Amazing grace" is not just a hymn to sing, but a way of life to live. It calls us to extend grace to others, just as God has extended grace to us. It is a grace that compels us to forgive, to love, and to serve with humility. As we have been recipients of such an amazing gift, we are invited to share it with a world that desperately needs it.
In the final verse of the hymn, we are reminded of the promise that grace will carry us through every trial:
“When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun.”
Grace is eternal. It is a gift that doesn’t fade or run out, no matter how many days or years pass. In our life here and in the life to come, grace will be our constant companion, sustaining us, teaching us, and empowering us to live for God’s glory.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your amazing grace, which has saved us from sin and brought us into Your wonderful light. We acknowledge that we are unworthy, yet You have lavished Your love upon us. Help us to live each day in the fullness of Your grace—extending forgiveness, showing kindness, and walking in the freedom that You’ve given us. May we never forget the depths from which You’ve rescued us, and may we always praise You for Your eternal grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Closing Thought:
As we go about our day, let us remember that "Amazing Grace" isn’t just a song—it’s the story of our lives. A story of redemption, transformation, and eternal hope. May we live as people who have been touched by grace, and may we extend that grace to others, for in doing so, we reflect the heart of the One who gave it to us.
Story of the hymn Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is one of the most beloved and widely recognized Christian hymns in the world. Its origins trace back to John Newton (1725–1807), a former slave ship captain who underwent a profound spiritual conversion.1. John Newton’s Early Life
Born in London, Newton went to sea at age 11, following in his father’s footsteps as a merchant seaman. By his early 20s, he was deeply involved in the transatlantic slave trade, working on slave ships and eventually captaining his own vessel, the Duke of Argyle and later the Greyhound. Newton lived a rough, profane life—gambling, drinking, and openly defying religion.
2. The Storm and Conversion (1748)
On March 21, 1748, while sailing through a violent storm off the coast of Donegal, Ireland, Newton’s ship was nearly destroyed. Fearing for his life, he cried out to God for mercy. Though he had rejected faith earlier, this moment marked the beginning of his spiritual awakening. The ship survived, and Newton later viewed this as divine intervention. He began reading the Bible and Thomas à Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ, gradually turning toward Christianity.
3. Continued Involvement in Slavery
Despite his conversion, Newton did not immediately leave the slave trade. He continued captaining slave ships for several more years, even conducting religious services for his crew. It wasn’t until around 1754, after a stroke ended his seafaring career, that he fully retired from the trade.
4. Ministry and Repentance
Newton became an evangelical lay minister and eventually was ordained in the Church of England in 1764. He served as curate in Olney, Buckinghamshire, where he formed a close friendship with poet William Cowper. Together, they wrote hymns for weekly prayer meetings. Over time, Newton grew deeply remorseful about his past in the slave trade. He became an outspoken abolitionist, supporting William Wilberforce in Parliament.
5. Writing "Amazing Grace" (1772)
Newton wrote the lyrics to "Amazing Grace" as a sermon illustration for a New Year’s Day service on January 1, 1773, in Olney. The original title was "Faith’s Review and Expectation", based on 1 Chronicles 17:16–17 (King David’s reflection on God’s grace). The hymn reflected Newton’s personal journey—from spiritual blindness and moral lostness to redemption through God’s mercy. It was first published in 1779 in the Olney Hymns collection (Book I, Hymn 41).
6. Original Lyrics (First Stanza)
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav’d a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
Newton wrote six stanzas, but the hymn gained additional verses over time, most notably the popular final stanza ("When we’ve been there ten thousand years"), which was added in the 19th century and is not by Newton.
7. The Tune: "New Britain"
Newton’s lyrics were originally sung to various tunes. The melody we know today, "New Britain", was first paired with the words in the U.S. in 1835 in Southern Harmony, a shape-note hymnbook. This haunting, pentatonic melody (possibly of Scottish or Appalachian folk origin) helped the hymn spread rapidly in American revival meetings.
8. Legacy
"Amazing Grace" became a staple in American folk, gospel, and civil rights traditions. It was sung at funerals, revivals, and protests—including during the Civil Rights Movement (e.g., by Mahalia Jackson and Joan Baez). Newton lived to see the abolition of the British slave trade in 1807, dying later that year. His epitaph, which he wrote himself, reads:
"John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy."
Piano download by Clyde McLennan used by permission of Dianne Shapiro at hymnary.org
