Grace! 'Tis a Charming Sound

Illness during our Christmas "tour" and many hours of riding in a vehicle allowed me to spend more time reading various books and pamphlets.  During our stay with my Grandpa I discovered he has over 2,000 in his library so my love of a good read has been a family tradition.  But I digress.

I did read a short pamphlet by R. Bruce Steward on the book of John.  He included the lyrics to "Grace! 'Tis a Charming Sound" at the end of the booklet.  I don't know what the melody sounds like, but I love the words. 

"Grace! 'Tis a Charming Sound" 

by Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751, stanzas 1, 2, 4 & 6 

by Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778, stanzas 3 & 5

1. Grace! 'Tis a charming sound, Harmonious to the ear; 

Heaven with the echo shall resound, And all the earth shall hear. 

 

2. Grace first contrived the way To save rebellious man, 

And all the steps that grace display Which drew the wondrous plan. 

 

3. Grace first inscribed my name In God's eternal book; 

'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb, Who all my sorrows took. 

 

4. Grace led my wandering feet To tread the heavenly road; 

And new supplies each hour I meet While pressing on to God. 

 

5. Grace taught my soul to pray And made mine eyes o'erflow; 

'Twas grace that kept me to this day And will not let me go. 

 

6. Grace all the work shall crown Through everlasting days; 

It lays in heaven the topmost stone And well deserves the praise.

Steward ends by talking about the only certain cure for our terminal disease.

Jesus has carefully diagnosed our condition before God.  He also has prescribed the remedy, which is a personal relationship with God through faith in Himself.  He calls you to Himself in many ways.  To the one who knows and owns his sins,  He is the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."  To the one who is perishing in his sins, He is the God-given "Serpent lifted up in the wilderness,"  who gives life to all who believe in Him.   To the spiritually thirsty,  He gives "the water of life" freely.  To the one who senses his condemnation before God, His word, heard and believed, is the passage from death unto life.  To the hungry, He is the Bread of God.  To the one groping in  darkness, He is the "light of the World."  To the one wandering aimlessly ignorance, He is the "Good Shepherd."  To the one who is fearful and sorrowing because of death, He is the Resurrection and the Life."  Tot he one who is filled with doubt and uncertainty, He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."  To the one who is separated from the source of life, He is the True Vine" who gives life to the branches. 

World peace and personal peace can only be found in the One so many ignore.  Have you taken Him for granted today?