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Posts Tagged ‘John Newton’

Daily Challenge-Transformation

January 27th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to step into the light of transformation.

This process starts with a proper view of God’s mercy. His mercy spares us from the punishment that we deserve because of our sin. John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace, observed near the end of his life, “I remember two things clearly, ‘I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.’”

Romans 12:1 says, “In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Transformation happens when we respond to God’s mercy with a heart of gratitude and worship, and renew our mind to follow Gods’ will.

Take the daily challenge to walk in the transformation that embraces God’s purposes on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Reason To Believe-Conversion of John Newton

June 15th, 2016 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the conversion of John Newton.

In the 1700’s, John Newton was moved by his relationship with Jesus to leave behind the slave trade and become an ordained minister of the Gospel.

His famous hymn and epitaph reflect the contrast of his life before knowing Christ and after his conversion.

The lyrics to his famous hymn begin this way: 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.

His epitaph reads: John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.

Ephesians 2, verses 4 and 5 shows us how change is possible: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-It is by grace you have been saved.”

The conversion of John Newton was a life-changing moment and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com