Hi  ,

"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 song was on my heart this morning and for the first time, I understood that Grace has a SOUND. Do you remember when you first accepted Jesus as your Savior? Perhaps someone shared the gospel with you and/or you heard a still, small voice calling you, influencing your heart to accept Him as Lord.

That is what grace is: it is God's divine influence upon hearts. When you listen and heed the Spirit of Grace (another name for the Holy Spirit) you will experience God's unmerited favor in your life.

Notice the lyrics say that the man was once lost, but now he is found. He was blind, but now he sees! Do you see the change? The change could not have occurred if the man had ignored the sound of Grace.

Grace was always available to him, but change happened when he started heeding Grace's voice.

"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."

Grace is a teacher. But how can Grace teach if the student refuses to learn? Unfortunately grace has been misunderstood. Some people think of grace as a "hall pass" to keep sinning! They'll justify the sin by saying, "I'm not under law; I'm under grace."

Yes, as a Believer in Jesus Christ, you are under grace. But grace is the Spirit of the living God speaking to you! Seeking to fulfill God's will for you is the evidence that you are allowing grace to guide your life.  

Romans 6: 1-4 makes it plain: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Grace is calling you to a new life. The opposite of that is remaining in bondage to the same sins year after year! In Grace is freedom.

The lyricist says that Grace taught His heart to fear. Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." 

I LOVE the definition of "fear of the Lord" as put forth by the late pastor Ray Stedman:

"The 'fear of the Lord' mentioned in the Old Testament isn't a craven sort of fear that God is going to do something to you. There are two kinds of fear. There is the fear that God might hurt us, a fear experienced by those who are trying to run from God. But the fear spoken of here is the fear that we might hurt HIM [emphasis is mine] -- that something we do might offend him or might grieve his loving heart in concern for us. This word 'fear' really means reverence or respect. Obviously, if God has all the answers, then the one who has the key to life is the man or woman, boy or girl, who learns early to respect God and believe him and understand that he tells us the truth." 

So with grace is always a reverence and respect for God. A repentant heart is one who fears the Lord. It is one who recognizes the value of grace and is under (submitted) to grace's leading. A repentant heart is one tender towards God, not hardened by self will. 

You see, that's the danger of continually ignoring God's grace, which tries to show you a better way. Eventually, your ears grow dull of hearing and your heart hardens. Like clay hardening in a mold, you become "stuck in your ways."

The lyricist also says that grace relieved his fears. That's "fears" with an 's' on the end. Grace traded the man's multiple fears (the ones associated with his sins, which is torment) for one fear, the fear of the Lord (in which there is peace). I'll take that trade any day! 

According to 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

We love, honor, reverence, and respect God because He first loved us. He loved us so much He sent His son Jesus to die for us. After you accepted Jesus as your savior, he sent the Holy Spirit to live in you so that the Holy Spirit can take what Jesus has and declare (speak) it to you (see John 16:13-14).

End this meditation just as the lyricist did - reflecting on the hour you first believed.

Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith (Jesus 12:2). He paid the price for your sins at the cross. The more sin conscious you are, the more in bondage you are. Don't misunderstand me. Yes, you certainly should recognize when you have sinned. But because you are in Christ and have a tender, obedient heart, you do what scripture teaches you to do immediately when you sin: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)."

When you go to God with a repentant heart, you find mercy. You are forgiven of your sin. Second, you find grace. Grace is your Help, the ultimate teacher who can show you how to get off the sin merry-go-round so that you can go forward in God.

Remember, you never walk alone. 

"Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far

and Grace will lead me home."