“Amazing Grace,” ELW 779 and LBW 448
1 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.
2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
3 Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
4 The Lord has promised good to me;
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
5 When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.
Devotion
Four years ago, my husband and I had the privilege of adopting our son, who is now five. Although his skin is darker than ours (he’s Guatemalan), he is our son. When asked what his name is, he proudly states, “Benjamin Joseph Ziems.” He calls us mom and dad, and we call him ours. It’s the same thing with our heavenly Father. As sons and daughters of God, we have been adopted into God’s family; not because a judge signed a document saying we were, but because of Christ’s blood that was shed for us on the cross. Did we deserve it? No! Can we earn it? Never! But we are adopted nonetheless, and for that, I am grateful! Why? All because of God’s unmerited grace. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” We are saved, not because of anything we do, but because of what Christ has done for us.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for adopting us into your family, forever! Amen.