Day 3

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

from the reading plan


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.

Post Comments (227)

227 thoughts on "My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less"

  1. Adam says:

    Jesus truly is the only way to heaven and honestly the only thing that even matters. We were put on this earth to bring glory to Him and sing His praises. Next time I am faced with a decision of right and wrong, I pray that God reminds me of my purpose and gives me the strength to live for Him.

  2. Jason Henderson says:

    The simplicity of the hymn mimics the simplicity of the Gospel. My salvation isn’t built on theology or doctrine, and it’s certainly not built on denominations. It’s built on Jesus’ blood. Praise God!

  3. Jared Phillips says:

    I LOVE this hymn. Such a simple but deep picture of the foundation Christ has laid for us through His sacrificial death, resurrection, and giving of the Holy Spirit before His return. The premise is simple: I cannot trust in the strength and longevity of any foundation that is not Christ. Money will fail me. Government will fail me. Materialism will fail me. People will fail me. Christ never fails!

  4. Dillon Davis says:

    My hope is built on nothing less….Christ is my solid rock. Not my wallet or my job. It my passing fancies or love life…Christ alone…Cornerstone. Lord I have been a fool. You will come again. This much is clear. Please lord, deliver me from myself and my awfulness. Your blood saves me from myself. May I never forget what matters. Not fame or fortune…but you.

  5. Logan says:

    Christ is forever the most solid foundation to build one’s life on. Without Him, we will surely build a life easily torn down. His love endures and has a incomparable strength.

  6. Jared Paul Wilson says:

    My father has told me to always come back to the cross. Growing up I found that an odd phrase of advice. Wouldn’t someone desire to grow beyond the cross? But as I grew older, the wisdom made sense. As my life becomes shaken by tragedy, struggle and despair, I may always turn back to the cross for reflection and regain my balance on a firm foundation of what Christ has already done for me.

  7. Jared Besse says:

    As a college student, this is amazingly reassuring to hear. Christ is our solid rock. I pray that I keep him in my mind and love him as the center of my being.

  8. Isaiah Gray says:

    One of my favorite songs ever. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly trust in jesus’ name! When he shall come…oh may I then in him be found. Each day is a day closer to that day. Lord may you walk with me through trials as I strive on to your coming.

  9. Radell says:

    God is the solid rock and foundation for a spiritual life. I need to meditate and reflect on that simplicity every day. I need to become an instrument to reach the lost and skeptical. It is my job as the head of my family to make sure we keep the intensity of the flame of our faith roaring. We need to be in faith every single day without exception in some way whether through devotion, worship, fellowship, ministry and outreach,or prayer. To this I shall commit for the betterment of my life and that of my household. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!

  10. Nathan says:

    He is unmovable, unshakable, and unending. He does not leave you in the depths of Sheol. He is the solid rock on which I stand and I will build on nothing less. Amen.

  11. David says:

    This song shows the basis of what it means to be a Christian and to love God. God is and will always be our solid rock. It is so true that our anchor holds within the veil. This whole song is just a fantastic song of praise and it shows the true strength of God.

  12. Sam says:

    God gives us His word so that we can be strong in times of heartache and trouble because our foundation has been made strong. That hymn is amazing. All we need to do is fully trust in Jesus as we walk through life.

  13. Laban Erbe says:

    The words of this song depict the life as a Christian very well. We will face many storms but we rest apon the unchanging grace of Christ Jesus who saved us. It shows how we must rely on him daily because without him we will fail

  14. Dustin says:

    God is the foundation. He has to be first and foremost in my life, my marriage, my family, my work. Even with Him as the foundation, it is easy to build up what seems stable in this world: a house, retirement, good savings, etc., but that will all burn away in His fire. “If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” – 1 Corinthians 3:15.
    Though my soul may be saved, that which I have built will be counted as a loss. I focus far too much on building up worldly treasures and not enough in building God’s kingdom. My physical comforts and wants won’t last, but His Work will. I need a change in vision and desire so that I seek His will.

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