Monday, August 16, 2010

The Overflowing Kindness of God’s Grace

This picture was taken as my wife and I were sightseeing in Amish country in Ohio. As I marveled at the beauty before me I was reminded of God's amazing grace.

A long time ago, a man truly experienced God’s grace His name was John Newton. Though he was brought up in the church as a child, he became a calloused man full of anger, pain, and uncertainty. Because of that, He experienced many troubles.

At one time, he was a commander of a slave ship. He would anchor his ship off the coast of Africa and pack it with slaves They were ruthlessly chained side by side, row after row, one after another just like a can of sardines. Many slaves died on the long voyages and were thrown overboard for the fish to eat.

During a raging storm at sea, John Newton finally gave his life to Jesus Christ. Over the next few years, God brought people across his life in order to disciple him. He later became one of Britain’s most powerful evangelists. Feeling guilty about his past slavery involvement, He triumphantly fought against the slave trade. He wrote many hymns during his ministry years but one has become his most famous one. Maybe you’ve heard of it, it's entitled, Amazing Grace.

Have you experienced God’s amazing grace?

God’s grace can be experienced through His Son Jesus Christ. God’s love letter to us says, “Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness” (Ephesians 1:7 GW, Bible).