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MY HOPE IS BUILT
ON NOTHING LESS
My hope is built
on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
no merit of my
own I claim, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain
On Christ, the
solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness
veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev’ry high and
stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. (Refrain)
His oath, his
covenant, his blood sustain me in the raging flood;
when all supports
are washed away, he then is all my hope and stay. (Refrain)
When he shall
come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in him be found,
clothed in his
righteousness alone, redeemed to stand before the throne!
(Refrain)
Text: Edward Mote, 1797-1874,
alt.
The hymn above
and a contemporary Christian song together show a paradox that is
present in our lives. Artist Todd Agnew has a song entitled “If
You Wanted Me.” Part of it is about Peter’s response to Jesus
walking out on water and inviting Peter to come to him: “If you
wanted me to walk on water, why did you make the solid ground seem
so right?”
Jesus urges us to
have faith in him. Oftentimes, we need answers to our questions
before we can make the plunge. These two songs present conflicting
images. One shows Christ as the rock, solid and firm. The other
portrays an enduring test of faith, telling us that we are to walk
into places that we know are unstable – or sinking sand.
So which is it?
Matthew 14 tells us the story of Jesus walking on water. Peter
asks Jesus, “If it is you, command me to come to you on the
water.” Jesus answers, “Come.”
Come. This
invitation clears the paradox up for us, and for Peter.
“My Hope Is Built
on Nothing Less” is referred to as the Navy hymn. One verse reads,
“In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.”
In the storms of our lives, the places where we find ourselves
unsure, our faith in Christ is our anchor. We can stand on the
rock of Christ, the rock of salvation. Christ invites us to come
into the places in our lives that we are unsure of – and come
closer to him. This is the solid ground, the firm anchor that
holds us closely. As our relationship with Christ deepens, the
raging sea turns into a rock.
Father, we thank
you for the solid ground you give us. Invite us to walk with you
in unfamiliar situations, trusting in your grace and mercy.
Provide for us when we feel we are sinking and give us courage for
uneasy times in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Chris Deines
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