Is Grace Amazing to You?

One of the most beloved hymns of all time, Amazing Grace, starts with " Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..."

When I was in college, my friend would joke that every time she sang that hymn, she would change the sentence "that saved a wretch like me" to "that saved a wretch like YOU". As she sang that, she would look at her clueless friend gleefully and give the poor girl a painful jibe in the elbow.

I used to laugh at her antic and her ingenuity at changing that particular sentence of the hymn. Now in retrospect, it has struck me that to my friend at that time, there was nothing amazing about grace because she never felt that the word "wretch" described her in any way at all.

It has finally dawned on me that only those who really know how wretched they are will truly understand why grace is so amazing and how sweet that word sounds.

Amazing Grace Lyrics
John Newton (1725-1807)Stanza 6 anon.

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.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

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.