Text: Deuteronomy 32:1-4, Matthew 7:24-29, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Edward Mote wrote just one hymn in his lifetime. From what we know of his life, “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less” was just as much an anthem of his own testimony as it has become for believers all over the world.
Having grown up knowing nothing of God or His existence, Mote first attended church and became a Christian as a young adult. While still a new believer, he was compelled to try his hand at hymn writing. Thus, Mote wrote from a basic, yet profound understanding of his salvation.
Later that same week, he visited a married couple at the wife’s sickbed. Without a hymnal handy to lead them in a song of worship, Mote produced a folded-up piece of paper upon which he had worked out four verses and a chorus. Together, they sang the hymn now known as “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less” for the first time, blessed by the truths of God’s Word in the lyrics.
Twenty years later, as a Baptist minister, Mote was instrumental in securing a building for his congregation. As a show of thanks, the congregants offered to put the deed in his name, but Mote refused, saying, “I do not want the chapel. I only want the pulpit; and when I cease to preach Christ, then turn me out of that!” (Dough 72). Mote understood the profound simplicity of what remains secure and what will always be slipping away.
Christ is the sole means of our salvation. Our hope is truly built on nothing less than Jesus.
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
Edward Mote; William B. Bradbury
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]
His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]
Dough, Whitney J. The Hymnwriters: Our Unknown Friends: A Biographical Guide to British and American Sacred Song. Franklin, TN: Providence House Publishers, 1995.
Like many others, I grew up going to a small church filled with family and old hymns. I love the memories that come flooding back, and also the reminder of the legacy of faith all around me. This morning while I was reading I remembered that my Aunt was able to get one of the old hymnals from that very church (that closed its doors in 2022), and I sat with it and my Bible wrapped in the Bible cover my grandmother used to keep hers in. Though the days are gone of listening to all the voices mingling together in these wonderful hymns, the shared faith is comforting.
Thank you for the prayers for my family’s health….and keep them coming! I was in bed for the last 24 hours with a nasty stomach bug and am finally up on my feet and feeling very weakened. Thankful for a lifestyle of homeschooling that allows us to adapt to life and take the time we need to get well. Praying we can all get a solid night of rest and healing.
I’m praying for the many needs that I read here. Thankful for you all and the mornings with you.
I love this old hymn! It is so true! Christ is our firm foundation! Where would we be without Christ?! Truly humbles me and brings me to tears. Makes me long for Heaven v
Good morning, sweet SRT sisters! I wanted to comment yesterday but had to rush off to a doctor appointment for Jack and didn’t have time. I love the old hymns so much! They remind me of my home church. The one from day two (Wonderful Grace of Jesus) was not one we sang at my church but I knew it because I sang in a Billy Graham crusade choir once and we sang that song. Precious memories! I love praise and worship music but it makes me sad that the generation of today doesn’t even know these old hymns.
TERESA DONLEY—prayers that they will give you a diagnosis and treatment plan sooner than later. I’m so sorry you are going through this!
TRICIA CAVENAUGH—prayers for your children to come to know the Lord and for God’s protection against bullies for Robby.
ADRIENNE—continued prayers for Leo. Thank you for the Caringbridge info. I’ll check it out.
LINDA K—prayers for your sciatic pain.
RHONDA J—prayers for relief from your chronic pain and prayers for protection of Braden and Riley.
MERCY—continued prayers for your weird tech issues at work and for that much-deserved raise.
LAURA and ALEIDA—prayers for your daughter and for Victor. I have a dear friend who is going through the same thing with her son as you are, Laura. She is heartbroken.
Please continue to pray for my friend Gina. I was able to talk to her over the weekend and she has a great spirit about all this. She found out yesterday that the cancer is also in both of her lungs. She is having surgery on Friday. She has a long road ahead of her.
Love you all and thank you for your prayers! I am praying for all of you!
“All other ground is sinking sand“ Glad to be here with all of you, holding one another up. Happy Wednesday sweet She’s.
Another beautiful hymn to remember – so far they have all reminded me of the little church I grew up in all those years ago!…Whenever I read Matthew 7:24-29 it instantly reminds me of the children’s song I sung growing up – “The wise-man built his house upon the rock (repeat 3xs), and the rains came tumbling down! The rains came down as the floods came up (repeat 3xs), and the house on the rock stood firm! The foolish man built his house upon the sand (repeat 3xs), and the rains came tumbling down! The rains came down as the floods came up (repeat 3xs), and the house on the sand went kerplop! (with a loud clap!)…anyone else remember this song?
So thankful and blessed to know that Jesus is the rock of my salvation – that’s where my hope lies. When the storms and rains come, I can stand firm because Jesus is my firm foundation, all other ground IS sinking sand!
Father God, may the world recognize that they need You. They need a firm, unmovable rock to stand upon. This world and everything in it is shaky, unsettled, ready to fall. Open the eyes of the lost show them who You are, call them to salvation, plant their feet on the Rock, Christ Jesus. In Jesus name.
@Laura – I will continue to pray for your daughter, and @Aleida for your son Victor and for all the other prodigals represented here – including my own two sons.
@Adrienne – praying for Leo! What a terrible accident to have happen, and right before starting college. Praise God he is improving! I will continue to pray for him, please keep us updated.
Happy Wednesday my sisters!
Praying for all requests. Yes, the book “Praying Scriptures over your adult children” is one I have used over and over. I also use the one for “Your children” for my grandchildren now. And someone suggested “Praying for your Husband from Head to Toe” a while back and I use it as well.
Nahla is doing well. The new liver is working. Praise God.
Another request for Lauren W. A dear friend of my daughters’. Her son, Brooks, is 14 months old with many health problems (born very premature, on a trache, must have 24/7 nursing care at home…) and was just taken off Medicaid. They are trying to get another insurance carrier or back on Medicaid because without it they can’t get the nursing care he needs. So prayers that everything falls into place for him.
Hugs to all today. ❤️
Love your comments and memories you all have shared! This hymn is more familiar to me than the other 2. I have heard#2 before, but don’t remember ever singing it in church. I don’t remember hearing the first one before this study and I couldn’t really get into the style (even after listening to several versions). THEN!!! I listened to Pam’s Piano version on YouTube and that is the one that got stuck in my head, ADRIENNE! Absolutely beautiful, peaceful, and comforting! She has can extensive playlist – instrumental and I encourage y’all to check her out! LAURA, I was prompted to mention this since you are inspired to dust off your piano! It certainly made me want to do that!
Psalm 97:2- Dark clouds surround him.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Proverbs 10:25- When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,but the godly have a lasting foundation.
Isaiah 28:16-
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,
a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
1 Corinthians 3: 10-11-
Whoever believes need never be shaken.
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have— Jesus Christ.
Amen!
Lifting all in prayer (ROBBY, LEO, TERESA DONLEY – most urgent)!
Yes! I recognize this song because of the version called “Cornerstone” – lol. It definitely has ministered to me and I’ve even spent time meditating on each verse. I can see how each verse can minister to us… That’s how you know a song is a gem IMO :) thankful for the backstory.
@Teresa Donley- thinking of you this morning. Praying God give you rest and peace in His presence. He is with you, always. He sees you. <3