For today’s “Hymn of the Day” we will sing “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” (CW 420). John Newton (author of “Amazing Grace”) first published this hymn of William Cowper in 1774, originally entitled, “Light out of Darkness.” The title evidently referenced Cowper’s mental afflictions, but highlights Bible-based meditative thoughts to strengthen Christians, when God’s ways are mysterious.
Truly, our God works in (humanly speaking) “mysterious” ways. According to human logic, one “doesn’t get something for nothing.” But with our gracious God, He saves us entirely by His grace through Jesus.
Christians well know how Paul stressed this truth, when he wrote, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9) [EHVTM]. Perhaps a better “mystery” would be: “Why did God save anyone, when all sinners deserved His everlasting punishment?”
How wonderful to hear the assurance of the gospel, “that God was reconciling the world to himself through Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19) [EHVTM]. As God’s people, we rejoice in that comforting and powerful message of salvation.