Shenandoah Assembly of God

In 1837, Edward Mote wrote the lyrics to My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, a hymn cherished by many throughout the world. The now famous chorus sings, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” While beautiful, these lyrics beg the question: What does it mean to stand on Christ the solid rock?

In I Peter 1:3-5 it says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.” Our living hope is eternal; something that will never pass away nor fade.

Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). His presence and promises do not come and go as the wind or ebbing sea. He will not shift like sand but, rather, is a firm foundation for us to stand. He is a safe place for us to invest our hope and faith and an anchor in the worst of storms.

Where do you stand today? Are you lost in the chaos of shifting sand, or have you firmly placed your feet on the Solid Rock?

July of this year marked 32 years that I have served the Lord. Daily, I have kept the same prayer: God, let your will be done. However, I have discovered through hardship that this prayer is easier said than done. When my will is done, it leads to confusion that God must clean up. While I haven’t enjoyed those parts of my Christian walk, it has made me realize just how important God’s will is than mine and has helped me learn to follow His voice.

This reminds me of the Book of Nehemiah. The walls of Jerusalem had been torn down and burnt leaving the Jewish remnant in great trouble. Nehemiah, being the cupbearer to Artaxerxes (king of Persia), was in great distress over the king’s willingness to allow him to return home to rebuild the wall. When Nehemiah approached the king to request permission (Nehemiah 2:1-8), he knew it would come at great cost. However, he knew that not fulfilling the Lord’s will to return home would come at an even greater expense.

Like Nehemiah, we must commit to fulfilling the Lord’s will in our own lives. He may not be calling you to the same things He is calling me, but He is calling you to do something. Maybe He has already told you to share your faith with someone you know. Maybe He has already told you that certain things you are doing are sinful and to stop. Whatever it is, commit to doing His will today.

-David Samuels, board member

Read Jeremiah 30:1 through 33:26

Published: Aug 2, 2017

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation” (Jeremiah 33:23–24).

When the nations of the world looked at the trials and tribulations of the children of God, they came to the conclusion that God was finished with Israel and Judah. They did not see the remnant of God’s people as a nation of any importance.

But the world forgets that, in the beginning, the nation was promised to Abraham before he had a child. The son, through whom the promise was fulfilled, was born despite the advanced age of Abraham and his wife Sarah. God takes the smallest of hopes and builds greatness for His own glory.

It does not matter what the world thinks of God’s people. Even today, God calls out from the nations a people for himself. The church has been designated to share God’s love with the world. When the world sees the church as of little importance, hold fast to God’s faithfulness.

Challenge for Today: Trust in God and listen to His promises.

Quick look: Jeremiah 33:19–26