Merrick Nunn

London... what an amazing city with so much history. In the midst of it all, there is a small church. This church is where a man named John Newton pastored for 27 years. He is the author of one of the most beloved hymns, "Amazing Grace." If you know his story, you know why this song poured out of his heart.

While in the chapel, our mission team, along with our missionaries, sang "Amazing Grace." With tears, my mind was flooded with thoughts.

1. God’s grace stands the test of time. He saves sinners like John Newton...and he saves sinners like me. "I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see." Praise the Lord for his grace. Unearned, undeserved, unrepayable. Grace.

2. In the "fastest city in the world," people seem preoccupied with just about everything except their true need. While in London, we saw all that the world seems to have to offer... and yet our real need can only be found through Christ. I’m reminded of my need to run quickly to the throne of grace...

3. We live in a world that needs to hear about the amazing grace of our God. Being overseas while watching and hearing about all the stuff going on in MN was difficult. Our world cares little for order, authority, respect, and even understanding. We are quick to make judgments, pronounce verdicts, and call for things we often know very little about... and yet, we have a God who is the opposite.
- He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
- He is a God of absolute truth and accuracy, not assumption or conjecture.
- He is a God of order, not chaos.

There are so many things I could say from singing one song in one small chapel, seemingly unnoticed by those who walk by it... We live in a world that is too busy to notice the one whom life is all about. And so often... I do the same thing.

Amazing Grace... Lord, grant it to us. Grant it to our country. Grant it to our world.