Amazing Grace

One of my favorite hymns/song is Amazing Grace. No matter how many times that I hear this song, it always speaks to my soul. It just speaks so well to my heart, the idea of being lost but now being able to see. John Newton wrote this song after a huge change in his life from being a slave ship captain to a follower of Christ.

What a huge thing to turn from, the degradation of human beings to wanting to follow Christ with his life.

There are times when we are asked to change how we live or something that we truly love so that we are able to focus more fully on Christ. In Luke 18 and 19 are two great stories that were drawn to my attention from the Radical Renovation study that we are doing at BUMC during Lent.

We have all heard of the Rich Young Ruler and Zacchaeus in Luke, but a great connection was made to me this past week while thinking of these two men. Both of them had a bunch of money, although one was seen as good (the Rich Young Ruler) and the other as bad (Zacchaeus the tax collector). Both desired to know God, but only one was able to do it.

When asked to part with his posessions, the Rich Young Ruler refused and walked away from Jesus. But when Zacchaeus met Jesus, he realized the Amazing Grace that comes from Christ and sold 1/2 of his stuff for the poor as well as paid back all people that wronged him 4 times the amount.

WOW!

This makes me wonder if I am holding onto anything too tightly. Are there things in my life that are keeping me from Christ? Is there something in my life that would make me want to belt out Amazing Grace?

How about you?