Amazing Grace

This week, through the grace of God and the powers of negotiation, we’ve seen the first release of women, children, and men held captive by Hamas for seven weeks. This brings a small ray of hope that conflicts can potentially be mitigated through diplomatic and humanitarian means.

Would the release of hostages have taken place had the world not been free to express its moral outrage? Likely not. The beliefs of the majority still hold sway over the leaders of the world’s democracies. This collective voice, so loud and clear, can only be seen as the grace of God at work. Ask and you shall receive.

For this week’s Listening For Peace pledge, I’ve chosen “Amazing Grace” performed by Nana Mouskouri and Gospel for 100 Voices.

The hymn was written by John Newton, a former captain of slave ships and investor in the slave trade, who following his conversion to Christianity said: “I hope it will always be a subject of great humiliating reflection for me that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart shudders.”

We can only pray that those who enable, justify, or participate in any form of enslavement will find God's grace within and experience their own personal conversion away from darkness.

If you would like to read my previous pledges in this series, please click the back arrow "my pledges" by scrolling above.