Words of wisdom from the
best selling book of all time!
The most familiar Christian hymn is, unquestionably, Amazing Grace. It has been recorded countless times by a wide variety of artists, including Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus, and even the Grateful Dead. It was even played at Spock's funeral in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
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If you are bored with the original melody, you can also sing the song to the tune of "Greensleeves", "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and even the theme to "Gilligan's Island"— a great rendition to sing in the car during family vacations (Try it...Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...).
Why is this song so popular? In a world where people judge us and are critical regarding what we say or do, it’s like a breath of fresh air knowing that there is a God who is gracious. The Bible says, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Psalm 103:10
It is by God’s grace that He offers salvation to people, and it is by God’s grace that He forgives us when we mess up.
As I was thinking about the lyrics to Amazing Grace, I was thinking about my own level of grace. Am I gracious to those around me when they mess up? Do I repay people according to what I think they deserve?
Just as God is gracious, He desires us to be gracious as well. A great
Bible verse to put into practice is
1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love
covers over a multitude of sins.”
As we learn to overlook offenses and respond to others with grace rather than revenge or unkind words, those around us will truly be amazed. Your spouse will be amazed, and your kids will wonder what happened to you. The key is to realize God’s grace for you and allow His grace to ooze out of your life. If you do, it will be a “sweet sound” to the world around you!
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
