John Newton (1725-1807)
READ: Romans 6
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I
once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
The one who penned these words
did so with humble thanksgiving. John Newton was that wretch. He spent years
running from the God whom his mother had loved, only to take her from him at
age 7. He was a man of arrogance and rebellion, immoral to the core. He sought
to sin and to bring others into perdition with him. He defied authority, and
neither lashing nor imprisonment could curb his wickedness. He was forced to
join the royal navy, which he hated, and finally convinced his superiors to
discharge him to a slave ship.
Over the course of time, John came
to captain is own slaver. He was a blasphemous man, and known for it. But the
sovereign Lord had greater purpose for John Newton. During one voyage, such a
storm hit the ship, that all were certain they were destined for a watery
grave. In the height of the storm, however, Newton called out “Lord, have mercy
on us!” and the storm miraculously subsided. Upon reflection in his cabin,
Newton saw clearly the hand of God on the ship and finally surrendered his will
to the Lord right then and there.
It took a few years, but John did
come to realize the sinfulness of the slave trade and abandoned it immediately.
He lived forever with regret for those years, and painfully shared his
experiences with William Wilberforce in hopes of helping him in his mission to abolish
slavery.
Because of the grace he had
received, John Newton was willing to sell himself to the Lord. He died to sin
and was made alive in righteousness. So many have been impacted by his life and
the famous hymn he penned. God gave sight to the blind eyes of John Newton, and
through Newton’s song and testimony, the Spirit has cured the blindness of
countless men and women. John Newton’s life is testimony to the sweet
redemption of Jesus, that “while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.”
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Where do you feel weak in your faith?
2. Ask God how He wants to grow your faith this summer. What does He want to do in your heart?
3. Thank God for what He has shown you, and pray that it would become a reality in your life.
