“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.”
These powerful words were written by a man named John Newton, a slave ship
captain in the 1700’s who was far from the Lord. One day, while making a voyage
across the sea a great storm overtook his ship, and though an atheist at the
time, asked the Lord to have mercy on he and his crew. Newton and his men were
spared and his life would never be the same. He gave his life to the Lord and
gave up his old ways…he became a powerful speaker and songwriter of God’s great
love, mercy and forgiveness – penning a song we still sing in our churches
today…He simply titled it “Amazing Grace.”
Newton understood that even though he had a past, he
was forgiven, but I wonder if we are able to do the same. Today you may feel
like your past is still with you, that the mistakes you made will haunt you
forever. But let me let you in on a little secret… In Christ you are a new
creation, the old is gone and the new has come! The #1 thing Satan does not
want you to believe in is God. The #2 thing is that your past is forgiven
through Jesus Christ. Do you believe that you are covered by the love, mercy,
and forgiveness of the ONLY person in the entire universe that really matters?
That you are truly made new in Him? If not, repeat after me…I am a child of God
in whom He delights; I am forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ and forgiven by
His GRACE. May you joyfully reflect with a thankful heart that you are made new
in HIM!
In the Name of Jesus may it be so!
AdditionalThought:
Understanding God’s Grace was one of the greatest revelations I have ever had.
To know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am forgiven and my past is not held
against me opened the door for me to live my life for Christ. As a Christian,
mistakes we make are forgiven eternally and our place is with Christ, but
mistakes do have earthly consequences (example: Crime leads to jail.) The good
news is what Satan would wish to condemn us with, God can restore for His glory
when we decide to fully live our life for Him! If you have made a mistake, had
a struggle, or needed a change of heart, share your story of God’s Grace with
someone that they might be healed; you never know who God will draw closer to
Himself through the life change that happened in you by His AMAZING GRACE!