Letter To Our Children

Hello friends!

Edward Mote was raised by unbelieving parents in central London. However, he was converted at age 15 and was a cabinet maker for the next 40 years until, at the age of 55, he became a Baptist Minister for almost 27 years.

One Hymn

Edward liked to take long walks routinely. On one such walk, he composed the hymn, On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand. He wrote others, but this is the one hymn most Christians know of.

The first time this hymn was sung was not in a large church but in a small home of an elderly husband and wife who were in poor health, which made it extremely difficult for them to leave their home. Mote was visiting the home, and they told him they would read the Bible and sing hymns every Sunday. Quick as a wink, Moat reached into his pocket and grabbed the hymn he had composed while taking that walk the week before, and those three dear people sang away to each other and our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

One Message

The Hymn, again and again, points to the only basis of the certainty he is on about—Jesus Christ, specifically His death on the cross, which is why we are forgiven, given the righteousness of Christ, satisfies God's justice on sin, and gives us an unbreakable union with Christ.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame line in verse one - it means even the most soothing or captivating alternatives to the Gospel or something in life that might attract us. The dark forces of this world, when darkness veils His lovely face, or the brutal and confusing times of trial and suffering we will all go through, are no match for the Anchor of Christ which holds! (Verse 2).

The truth of the line (verse 3), His Oath, His covenant of blood, supports me in the whelming flood comes to me like the force of electric shock. Amen, amen a thousand times, amen to its truth. Amen, because this has nothing to do with me, other than my sin, which has been dealt with finally and savingly at the cross.

One Big Thought

What does this have to do with Christmas? Well, think along with me. What I most enjoy thinking about this story is the oneness aspect of it, especially in light of Christmas.

Only one name under heaven is given to men and women that they might be saved- Jesus Christ. We are all the same, aren’t we? There is only one human race needing one person- Jesus. He is the only one who is a sure and trustworthy foundation for our lives. There was only one day when Jesus Christ was born into this world- God made flesh. There was only one day when Jesus died for our sins. Only one day, three days later, He rose from the dead for our justification. (Romans 4:25) There is only one thing everyone needs: turning to Christ in repentance and faith. Reverend Mote had only one hymn we remember, sung for the first time with one lovely couple, which speaks to our one hope in life and in death—Jesus Christ.

I am praying that you and your family to have a very Happy Christmas. May God bless you to that end.

Pastor Joe