In Defense of One's Own Honor

1 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NKJV

 

“1For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.”

 

There are times in our Christian walks when we are sharing with others the truth of the gospel that we will be opposed, sometimes strongly, by those who do not believe what we do, and who do not practice what we do. Jesus faced this on a consistent basis by many who opposed what he taught, and what he practiced, with which they did not agree. And he defended himself. And Peter and John faced the same, even being told that they had to stop speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus to which they responded..

 

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20 NKJV

 

The apostle Paul, in his years of ministry, faced enormous rebuke and persecution because many people disagreed with what he was teaching. And so he was beaten, stoned, left for dead, falsely arrested on false charges and held as a prisoner for many years. And there were multiple times, which are recorded for us in the Scriptures, where he came to his own defense. Why? In defense of the truth of the gospel and for the salvation of human lives, and so that the people would not believe the lies and turn from the Lord.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:4-9 NKJV

 

“4But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.”

 

So many people today who profess faith in Jesus Christ, including many (or most) pastors of churches here in the USA, are teaching a diluted, altered, and softened version of “the gospel” in order to please other humans and in order to keep the people coming back for more of the same. So many have removed God’s requirements for repentance and obedience to God, or else they have just made them optional, while they are teaching that we can be saved and on our way to heaven based off a verbal confession of faith only.

 

But Paul declared that he and the other apostles did not speak in order to please other people. They did not use flattering words, nor did they appease human flesh and give an open door for people to keep on in deliberate and habitual sin. Their exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. They were straight up with the people in declaring to them the gospel as Jesus himself taught it to the people. For they were not looking for human approval. They were kind, but they did not appease human flesh.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 NKJV

 

“10You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

 

They were men of integrity, honesty, and uprightness who taught the people the truth. They were holy, righteous, and faultless in their conduct toward the people. And, like a loving father who treats his children in a loving manner, they encouraged, exhorted, and urged the people that they should walk (in conduct, in lifestyle) in a manner worthy (suitable, fitting, proper) of God, who calls us into his own kingdom and glory. And this would be living in righteousness, holiness, honesty, faithfulness, integrity, and moral purity.

 

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

 

So, don’t shrink back from speaking the truth of God’s Word to the people out of fear of how they might treat you in return. Be loving, be kind, but be truthful and bold in sharing what Jesus and his apostles taught the people.

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

Seek the Lord 

 

Based off Isaiah 55

Musical Instrumentation by Mark Bradley

An Original Work / July 20, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

“Come to Me all you who thirst; come to waters.

Listen to Me, and eat what’s good today,

And your soul will delight in richest of fare.

Give ear to Me, and you will live.

I have made an eternal covenant with you.

Wash in the blood of the Lamb.”

 

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him.

Let the wicked forsake his way, in truth.

Let him turn to the Lord, and he will receive mercy.

Freely, God pardons him.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,”

declares the Lord, our God.

 

“My word that goes out of My mouth is truthful.

It will not return to Me unfulfilled.

My word will accomplish all that I desire,

And achieve the goal I intend.

You will go in joy and be led forth in peace.

The mountains will burst into song… before you,

And all of the trees clap their hands.”

 

https://vimeo.com/379408296

 

In Defense of One’s Own Honor

An Original Work / June 27, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Let the Peace of God Rule

Colossians 3:15-17 NKJV

 

“15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

 

The Peace of God

 

What is the peace of God? According to the Greek interlinear it means “to join, tie together into a whole,” “properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; God’s gift of wholeness.” It also means “entirety, totality, unity, fulness, and completeness.” We are to let this wholeness, this completeness in Christ to rule in our hearts. We are to rest in the Lord, to put our full confidence in him and in his word, and to not be troubled by what is going on outside in the world or by difficult circumstances we face.

 

According to the Pulpit Commentary it is “The peace of Christ,” and it is “that which he effects in reconciling men to God, and to himself as their Lord” and it is “the source of inner tranquility and health of soul and of the outward union and harmony of the church, the body of Christ.” Colossians 2:18: “Let not the deceivers decide against you, but let the peace of Christ decide in your hearts.” “The peace of Christ dwelling within the heart is to be the security of the believer against the threats of false teachers.” End

 

Interesting! So that took me back to Colossians, chapter 2. There was concern that the Christians might be deceived by persuasive words. And they were to beware lest anyone cheat them through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. And then, in Colossians 3:2-3 we read, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Keep focused on God!

 

So, what is this teaching us?

 

In this life we are going to be faced with opposition and with circumstances and with difficulties which try our faith, and which test our peace. Some people will challenge our walks of faith in obedience to the Lord, and they will bring into question what we are sharing with regard to the teachings of Christ and of his New Testament apostles. And we will be challenged by unkind remarks and by opposing beliefs and practices because not everyone is going to believe the same as us, or teach the same as what we do.

 

Some opposition may be short-lived, while others may be more elongated and persistent, like what Jesus faced when he walked this earth. Jesus was opposed fiercely by many who were of the same faith as him, of the same race, of the same descent coming from Abraham, of the same community, and even by his own half-brothers. He was different, and what he taught ruffled some feathers, i.e. it upset, annoyed, and irritated some people who were not in unity with him and with what he was teaching them.

 

But Jesus did not let that hinder him from continuing to speak truth to the people. He persevered despite the opposition and the critical remarks and the things said to him or about him which were unkind and offensive. And we are to follow his example. We are to keep teaching and admonishing one another with the wisdom of God from the Scriptures, and we are not to let any opposing forces get us to be fearful and to give up. But we must make certain that what we are speaking is the truth of God’s word to the people.

 

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 4:31-38; John 10:27-30; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 10:14-15; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-14; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9,21,24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

 

As the Deer

 

By Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

 

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after You

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

 

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZv3jzOTE70

 

Caution: This link may contain ads

 

Let the Peace of God Rule

An Original Work / June 27, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Put on Tender Mercies

Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV

 

“12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

 

The Old Self and New Self

 

The apostle Paul had just finished teaching on how we, who profess faith in Jesus Christ, are to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth. We are to put to death all spiritual and moral uncleanness in our lives, i.e. all evil desire, all wickedness, all disobedience to God, all idolatry, and all wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying, etc. For, if our faith is genuine, we should have put off the deeds of the flesh, and we should now be walking in obedience to our Lord. And then he gave a warning that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons and daughters of disobedience to God.

 

All throughout the New Testament writings we are given instructions as to what we should put off (out of our lives) and what we should put on (in place of what we put off), by faith in Jesus Christ, in the power of God. So here we have a list of what we are to put on in place of what we should have first put off. So I am going to be going through this list and talk about what these things are that we are to be putting on, and what that should look like in how we live on a day to day basis. Now this is not teaching absolute sinless perfection, but sin should no longer be our habit, our go to by habit.

 

Put Offs and Put Ons: [Matthew 5:27-30; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-17; 1 Peter 1:14; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10] 

 

Our New Character

 

As the elect (chosen) of God, holy (unlike the world of sin because we are being molded into the likeness of Christ by God, in full cooperation with God), as the beloved of God, there are things (qualities, actions, behaviors) we are to be putting on and into practice in our daily lives, in the power of God, by the grace of God. And first is listed for us that we should put on “tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.” “But above all put on love.”

 

Now, there are many ways in which these may get realized and interpreted, depending upon how someone defines each of these character traits and how they believe they should be applied to our everyday lives. For these can get interpreted in opposite directions. For many people in the institutional “churches” of our day and time are redefining what these mean. And they are giving the impression that to show mercy and kindness, et al, is to go soft on sin, and to not call people to repentance and obedience to God.

 

But Jesus, who was all these things and so much more, allowed himself to be put to death on a cross that he might put our sins to death with him, and then to rise from the dead, but in order that by faith in him we will now deny self, die to sin, and obey God, in practice. That was mercy. That was grace. That was kindness, humility, meekness and forgiving one another, et all, and it was definitely love in action. He insisted on repentance. He insisted on obedience to his commands, or else we would not have eternal life in him.

 

So, one of the most loving, kind, humble, meek, and merciful things we can do for others is to tell them the truth of the gospel that Jesus taught, and that his New Testament apostles taught, and to never pamper people in their sin by giving them the impression that God will never judge them for their sins. For speaking half-truths deliberately to pacify human flesh is never kind, and it is not merciful, and it is not loving. We can be super nice to people so they will like us, but we curse them to hell if we lie to them.

 

And willfully and knowingly withholding truth that is necessary and critical for all people to hear is a form of lying to people, too. It may feel like kindness, but it is not kind if we give people the impression that they do not have to repent of (turn away from) their sins, and that they do not have to obey God, or that those things are optional and not required of God. For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return for his faithful bride.

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

A Still Small Voice 

 

An Original Work / May 23, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

In a still small voice He calls you.

Won’t you hear and let him in?

He’s still speaking, oh, how gently.

He died to save you from sin.

Softly He speaks to our hearts.

His mercy and love imparts.

Won’t you come to Him today?

Let Him wash your sins away.

 

In a still small voice He whispers,

Kindly, calling you to Him.

He loves you so much, He’s willing

You not die, but live with Him.

He keeps prodding, gently so,

For His grace, you come to know.

He died so that you’d go free;

Live with Him eternally.

 

In a still small voice He hastens

You to turn your lives to Him,

Humbly walking in obedience,

Making Him your Lord and King!

Turn from your sin, turn to God,

Put your trust in Christ, His Son.

Invite Him into your hearts.

He’ll give you a brand new start.

 

https://vimeo.com/127502844

 

Put On Tender Mercies

An Original Work / June 27, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Receive Christ Jesus The Lord

Walk In Him

 

Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV

 

“6As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

 

What does it look like if we receive Christ Jesus the Lord? It means to take him as the Lord (Owner-Master) of our lives, to accept all of who he is, and what he did for us on that cross, and to apply it to our daily walks of faith in obedience to him and to his commands. We welcome him and his teachings and his will and purpose for our lives into our lives, that we might become the people of God he has planned for us to become, by his grace and in his power, via our submission to him. Now he is to be BOSS over our lives.

 

And what does it look like if we walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith? Well, to walk in Him is to obey him, to do what he says we ought to do, and to not do what he says we should not do. And this coming not only from the written word in our Bibles, but as prompted of the Holy Spirit in our spirits to go somewhere, to talk to someone, or to write on a particular subject, or to not go here or there, or to engage in conversation with some people, or not, i.e. to stop or to go when he says “stop” or “go.”

 

And if we are established in the faith, what does that look like? What is faith? It comes from God. It is authored and perfected by Jesus Christ. It is gifted to us by God, and it is persuaded of God as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to die with Christ to sin and to be raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as servants of God and of his righteousness, in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his New Covenant commands, by his grace.

 

Guard Your Hearts

 

Colossians 2:8-10 NKJV

 

“8Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

 

Who are we to watch out for? We are to watch out for those who cheat, who lie, who twist the Scriptures to their advantage, who ignore the Scriptures they don’t like, and who embrace the “feel good” ones which are often being taught out of context to make them say what they don’t say if taught in the correct biblical context. And this is not saying to only center only on the Scriptures that are hard to hear and to ignore the ones which make us feel good, but that we should not do the opposite, and that we should not ignore the hard truths just because they make us feel sad or uncomfortable.

 

So what is the most popular “philosophy and empty deceit” being taught to prospective Christians and to professing Christians today? They are being taught that they can “pray a prayer to receive Christ” or they can make a verbal confession of him as Lord and claim faith in his death and resurrection and now they are saved for eternity, regardless of how they live. But Jesus taught that to come after him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow him in obedience to his commands. For if we do not, we will not be saved, and we will not have eternal life with God.

 

Therefore, many people are being given the impression that they are now saved for eternity, and that heaven is guaranteed them when they die, but while they continue to make sin their practice and not walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands in daily conduct. Many professers of faith in Jesus Christ are living in addiction to sin, many to sexual sin (idolatry and adultery), but they are being pampered in their sin. And so they continue, some of them for life, because that is what makes them feel good, because that is what feeds their flesh, and that is what they crave above all else.

 

The Solution

 

By God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

 

For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For it is not the one who claims he is “in Christ” who is “in Christ,” but it is the one who has denied self, died with Christ to sin, and who is now walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice, and no longer in sin. We have the hope and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven (see Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1-3).

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

When I Was Walking

 

An Original Work / January 16, 2020

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

When I was walking along the way,

My Lord was with me, and He did say,

“My child I’m with you. I hear you pray,

‘Oh, help me, Lord! Need You today!’”

 

He is my friend, near to the end.

Gently leads me. His servant be.

He helps me pray – knows what to say.

He’s all I need. On Him I feed.

 

When I am wond’ring of what to do,

He gently leads me to what is truth.

He is my helper. He strengthens me.

When I’m in want, supplies my need.

 

He comforts me with all His love.

Gives me His grace from heav’n above.

I heed His call to watch and pray,

To guard my heart throughout each day.

 

When He is calling to come to Him,

To let Him lead you, trust Him within,

How will you answer to Him today?

Will you say, “Yes, Lord, have your way”?

 

Do not neglect to let Him in,

Cleanse you from sin, made new within.

Leave all your sin, obey your Lord,

Trust in His Word – His mighty Sword.

 

https://vimeo.com/385888176

 

Receive Christ Jesus The Lord

An Original Work / June 26, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Mature in Christ

Colossians 1:28-29 ESV

 

“28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

 

We Proclaim Jesus Christ

 

The “Him” being spoken of here is Jesus, the Christ, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And the speaker here is the apostle Paul, and he was writing to the faithful in Christ Jesus in Colossae. But all of us who are followers of Christ are called of God to proclaim the message of the gospel to the world and to be those who are helping one another within the body of Christ to grow to spiritual maturity in Christ in walks of obedience to our Lord and to no longer live as slaves to sin.

 

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 4:31-38; John 10:27-30; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 10:14-15; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-14; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9,21,24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

 

Warning and Teaching Everyone

 

As followers of Christ, and as fellow laborers in sharing with others the truth of the gospel of our salvation, we who are members of the body of Christ, through biblical faith in Christ our Lord, are to be concerned for and to care about our fellow Christians, that they walk faithfully with our Lord in obedience to his commands, no longer as slaves to sin, but as servants of righteousness in walks of surrender to the will of God for our lives. We are to care more about their walks of faith than we care about how they treat us.

 

So, we are to speak the truth in love, one to the other, based off the teachings of the Scriptures in their correct biblical context. And we are to warn against false teachings and false teachers who lead people astray to a different doctrine of salvation other than the one taught by Jesus Christ, which is a lie they are spreading via their cunning, craftiness, and deceitful scheming. We warn each other so that we all can grow together to spiritual maturity in Christ, when each body part is given opportunity to do their part.

 

Exhorting One Another Daily

 

We, as the body of Christ, are to be those who are letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all biblical wisdom, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We are to be exhorting one another every day so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. And we are to be gathering together daily for mutual encouragement and edification in order to stir up one another to love and good works (this can be done in person or virtually).

 

And sometimes this will involve us being used of God to help restore a fellow Christian back to a right relationship with the Lord Jesus after they have fallen into sin. And this could happen in person (male with male, and female with female) or it could happen virtually through us sharing with others on the internet how to be set free from slavery to sin, and how to follow the Lord Jesus in obedience to his commands, all in the power of God, as they submit to the Lordship of Christ and they put sin to death, by his Spirit.

 

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:9,21; James 5:19-20; 1 John 2:6]

 

No Less 

 

An Original Work / March 19, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

I can do no less than praise You,

Lord, for all You’ve done for me.

You died for my sins to save me,

So I would be set free.

I adore You! Lord, I praise You!

Jesus, Savior, King of kings!

You provided my redemption.

Your grace has pardoned me.

 

I can do no less than serve You.

Lord, Your witness I would be,

Telling others of Your love,

And why You died on that tree.

Tell of how You gave of Your life,

So from sin we’d be set free,

So we could worship You forever,

And live eternally.

 

I can do no less than love You,

Lord, for You have first loved me.

You gave of Your life so willing,

Because You cared for me.

Turn from my sin! Obey freely!

Live for You each passing day.

Read Your word, and follow Your lead,

Lord, as I humbly pray.

 

https://vimeo.com/125493623

 

Mature in Christ

An Original Work / June 26, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

If You Continue in The Faith

Colossians 1:13-14,21-23 NKJV

 

“13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

 

“21And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

 

Redemption Through His Blood

 

The whole purpose of Jesus’ death on that cross, and his bodily resurrection, was to put our sins to death with him, and to rise victorious over death, hell, sin, and Satan, on our behalf, so that we will now, by biblical faith in him, die with him to sin and be raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as servants of righteousness in walks of surrender to God in obedience to his commands. He provided deliverance from the power of darkness (sin, evil) that we might serve God, instead.

 

And redemption has to do with Jesus, via his death and resurrection, buying us back for God out from under our lives of slavery to sin, and him winning us back to God and to his righteousness and holiness. It involves us being rescued from the sin which enslaved us so that we can now live for our Lord and honor him with our lives in holy living (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). It is about deliverance from our old lives of living under the control of sin so that we can now live holy lives, pleasing to God, by the grace of God.

 

The Power of Darkness

 

There are many people, though, including many who profess the name of Jesus, who are still living under the power of darkness (sin, evil), living in addiction to sin, and craving sin, who are deliberately and habitually sinning against our Lord. The lusts of the flesh are what they long for. They want the “feel good” stuff which stimulates their emotions. They want that physical and emotional high, kind of like a drug addict, which they get when they give way to sin and they do the evil that is stored up in their hearts.

 

Sin has taken them captive, and many have been living in captivity most all of their lives. But this is usually sin which is kept hidden so no one else will know. And so they look for ways to mask it, to cover it up, to make it look like they are doing what is right. They may even fake repentance and put on a show of righteousness so that no one will suspect them of the evil which they are doing in secret under the control of darkness. Much of this today is sadly in the form of porn addiction, and so many will not let go of it.

 

Reconciled Through His Death

 

And to be reconciled to God means that we change, which is also the meaning of repentance. We were going one direction, now we turn, and we go the opposite direction. We don’t keep going the way we had been going. We have a change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior. We exchange our old lives of living in slavery to sin for our new lives in Christ Jesus in walks of obedience to our Lord in holy living. The old has gone. The new has come. For Jesus set us free from our addiction to sin, by his grace.

 

And his purpose in reconciling us was not just so we would get to skip his punishments on the ungodly and so we can go to heaven when we die. But it was to present us holy, righteous, and above reproach in his sight. But there is an “if” statement here which we cannot ignore. We must continue in the faith, in walks of surrender to God, in obedience to his commands, no longer living as slaves to sin but as servants of our Lord. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God.

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

Jesus, Lead Me 

 

An Original Work / July 22, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

Jesus, lead me all the way.

Be my hope and be my stay.

Gently lead me where I should go,

So Your Spirit, I want to know.

Open up my heart to You.

Fill me with Your love and truth.

Make my heart want to obey.

Be my Lord today. Gently lead always.

 

Jesus, lover of my soul,

Cleanse my heart, and make me whole;

Be transformed in my heart today,

As I turn from my sin and pray.

Make Your will known to my heart.

May I not from You depart.

How I long to hear You now,

As I humbly bow. Jesus, hear me now.

 

https://vimeo.com/113559147

 

If You Continue in The Faith

An Original Work / June 26, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Enemies of The Cross

Philippians 3:17-21 NKJV

 

“17Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

 

 

How We Live

 

Our walk is how we live, the things we say and do as a matter of life practice. It includes our attitudes, our beliefs, our behaviors, our actions, and our words. It includes what is stored up in our hearts which is impacting our attitudes and our behaviors. It is how we conduct ourselves day in and day out, whether or not people are watching or listening to us. And what we believe definitely impacts how we behave, as does what is stored up in our hearts. What we hold on to (embrace) definitely does impact how we live.

 

Some people hold on to unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, selfishness, pride, and idolatry. They won’t let go of the anger. They won’t forgive because they didn’t get their way. Someone didn’t play by their rules. Someone didn’t give them everything they craved and lusted after, even though their actions were totally evil. Still, they didn’t get their way, and so they took it out on whoever did not give them everything they wanted. And so they searched elsewhere to have their lustful desires fulfilled.

 

Enemies of the Cross

 

So, the people described above are enemies of the cross of Christ, even if they profess faith in Jesus Christ with their lips. Why? Because they are opposing and rejecting Christ and his gospel message in order to do what appeases their human flesh. They live by their feelings, and not by faith in Jesus Christ, and so their emotions are what control them and what lead them into sin. If it feels good, they do it, without thought or regard to how it might hurt someone else, because they like how it feels, even if it’s wrong.

 

This is how many extra-marital affairs get started, too, which are not just physical in nature, but which are also emotional. So, an extra-marital affair doesn’t even have to be in person with someone, but it could be via the internet and texting or phone calls or emails, etc. Or it could be in a fantasy world with a made-up person in a book or a movie or in pornography. For the heart and mind and emotions are now given over to another person who gives the adulterer (male or female) that emotional high they so long for.

 

Whose End is Destruction

 

Even if they profess faith in Jesus Christ, their end is destruction, because their god is their belly, i.e. what they crave, what they long for and lust after, i.e. what they want more than anything else. They are their own god and therefore they do not worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. For they live by their feelings, by their emotions, by what makes them feel good even if it is absolutely wrong in the eyes of God and hateful and hurtful to those who they sin against.

 

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

 

Our Citizenship in Heaven

 

So, all those who are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ, who have denied self, died to sin, and who are now obeying our Lord and his commands, in practice, in the power of God, have the hope of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. This does not make us perfect in every respect, but obedience to our Lord’s commands and us no longer making sin our habit are required of God for salvation and for eternal life with God, by faith in him. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience, we don’t have Christ.

 

For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

Make Me a Servant

 

By Kelly Faye Willard

 

Make me a servant

Humble and meek

Lord let me lift up

Those who are weak

And, Lord, may the prayer

Of my heart always be

Make me a servant

Make me a servant

Make me a servant today

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pv8bY61S2M

 

Caution: This link may contain ads

 

Enemies of The Cross

An Original Work / June 25, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love