And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:17-18
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
Christian Hymn by Edward Mote
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.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils (hides) His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
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.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
As you know, last week was a really painful one for me and Ann and we had to be diligent in our faith. I had severe headaches, visual problems and was super weak physically and emotionally. I was having difficulty breathing, a really hard time thinking, and my memory was failing me which can be typical of my migraine attacks and probably included some detoxing symptoms. But, and this is so important to communicate to you, God kept telling me to keep praising Him and believing He was still in control of my life and that this weak time would lead to more faith and trust in Him. He told me to see this situation through and that it would merely serve to instill in me (and Ann) more of His precious, life-liberating wisdom, compassion, rest, love, mercy, peace and joy.
Ann and I live to love Him. We’re realizing more and more that we’re nothing without His Presence.
That being said…☺
Romans 8:28 allows me to look beyond right now and to remind me that God will work everything together for my good – Just like last week. This keeps my faith stable and strong as I trust God into tomorrow and beyond.
What does it mean for me to be “in Christ?” For one thing, eternal salvation. On a day-to-day basis, in Christ means that Romans 8:28 is for real and that its truth (Jesus, really) will never fail me. For me, in Christ means renewing my mind to His Word and having His victory in my thought life – this is paramount. It means living with Him above the circumstances and conditions of this world and the lies of the devil that try to defeat the life I have come to know in Christ. It means keeping my eye on Jesus and living in the shadow of the Most High by testing the spirit behind each thought, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Who has become the joy of my life. This is how Ann and I live the victorious life Jesus is enabling us to walk and live in.
I’m eternally grateful to God for my precious wife who keeps reminding me of Jesus’ faithfulness by loving me with her unconditional love and support. I can never thank Him enough for the marriage He’s allowed us to have in Him as we continue to daily encourage each other in the Lord of our lives, Jesus.
You can believe it when we (Ann and I) tell you that in Christ alone we stand…He’s truly teaching us that all other ground is sinking sand.
24Therefore whosoever (that’s you and me) heareth these sayings of mine (Jesus), and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock (Christ).
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus is available to all. All other ground (depending on or trusting in anything other than Christ) is sinking sand.
God bless,
Mark