For the grace of God has appeared that brings salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions. (Titus 2:11–12)
“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.” This widely known hymn speaks of God’s grace for us—the grace that is powerful enough to wipe away our most horrid sins. The song was written in March 1748, by an unlikely songwriter: a slave-trading sailor named John Newton, as his ship faced a violent storm in the North Atlantic for over a week.
The weight of sin drags a person down, but God’s grace has the power to lift that weight and free the person to live a life that is pleasing and honoring to the Lord. Furthermore, as grace saturates one’s life and repentance moves in, transformation takes place and turns the once “bad person” into a child of God, a vessel of the Holy Spirit and recipient of God’s gifts.
Newton’s reputation was that of a profane, rude, and coarse sailor who traded human beings as slaves for his own gain. He was known for saying and doing things that made the worst of sailors blush, and yet, God had mercy on him when he sought his grace and salvation.
If you are struggling with sin and unsure whether God would care about you, be encouraged today: God will not forsake anyone who seeks his saving grace.
Turn your sins over to God and let him transform your life.
Luska Natali is a native of Brazil who is passionate about God, her family, learning new languages (she fluently speaks three), and meeting people.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
