Grace is an amazing gift. It frees one person from condemnation and another from hate. It empowers justice to become a tool for restoration instead of destruction.
It's been sung by generations in the darkest times. But this beloved hymn is more than a cultural touchstone. It's a presentation of the Gospel we desperately need.
Author Jerry Bridges once noted, "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace."
Humans cannot change human hearts. We can make our lives better, but not different. We will find transforming grace for others and ourselves when we first receive it from Jesus.