March 25, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, March 25.
On this date, in 1807, a law was passed in England banning the slave trade throughout the mighty British Empire. John Newton was a leader in the abolitionist movement that made that moment possible. Newton is famous for another reason too. He wrote the classic gospel hymn “Amazing Grace”.
The anti-slavery movement was a surprising place for John Newton to be, considering he began his adult career as the captain of a slave ship. But when he trusted Christ as his Savior, everything in his life went through a radical change. After leaving the sea, Newton became a pastor. He died just a few months after the Slave Trade Act was ratified - an amazing man, an amazing life.
Exactly two hundred years later, in 2007, the Contemporary Christian songwriter Chris Tomlin composed a new ending to Newton’s old song. Knowing the story of the slave ship captain, he began with the lyrics - “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free!”.
Amazing song. Amazing story. Amazing grace.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
