Despised and Forsaken

“He was despised and forsaken of men,

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

And like one from whom men hide their face

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” 

(Isaiah 53:3 NASB1995)

This passage of Scriptures in Isaiah 53 is about Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God (who is God), born to a virgin mother, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and not of man, so he was not born with a sin nature as we are. And when Jesus Christ lived on the earth, as fully God and as fully human, he never sinned against God. But he healed the sick and afflicted, raised the dead, delivered people from demons, fed the hungry, comforted the sorrowful, and preached repentance for salvation from sin.

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).

Although he had large followings right up close to the end, mainly because of his miracles of healing people from their infirmities, and raising their dead back to life, and delivering them from demons, and feeding large crowds of people miraculously, he was not admired by everyone, and not everyone who followed him were his true followers, either. And he had enemies among the religious who claimed faith in the one true God, and who taught the Scriptures, and who were rulers or people of influence in the Temple of God.

For they were jealous of Jesus’ temporary popularity among the people, and they were threatened by him, and they were worried they might lose their own positions of power and rule and authority among the people. And they did not believe that he was who he said he was, so they would not accept him as their Messiah. And they laid psychological traps for him, hoping to trip him up with his words so they might have cause to accuse him of wrong. But when that didn’t work, they arranged for him to be crucified on a tree.

But Jesus surprised them when he did not remain dead, but he was resurrected back to life from the dead as he said he would be. And he appeared to his disciples (the 11, for Judas was dead) and to many other people for about 40 days before he ascended back to the Father in heaven. And after some time he then sent his Holy Spirit to indwell those who were his true followers, i.e. all who by faith in him were crucified with him in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as servants of God in obedience to his commands.

[Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 9:23-26; Luke 17:25; John 1:1-36; John 6:35-58; John 8:24,58; John 10:27-33; John 20:28-29; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-24; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 1:8-9; Hebrews 2:14-15; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 3:4-10]  

But here we are today in 2026, about 2000 years past when Jesus died on that cross (tree). And he is still being despised and forsaken by the many, many of whom are “the religious” who claim him as Lord and Savior, and/or who claim to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but who do not submit to Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. They go through the motions of religious practice, but Jesus is not their Lord for they are still living to please the flesh and to walk in sin and to not obey God in practice.

But the sad reality of it all is that is what is being taught as truth by the majority of what is being called “the church” these days. They are largely teaching that a profession of faith alone assures them of salvation from all sin and heaven as their eternal destiny, but regardless of how they live. And if you teach the truth of what Jesus taught as the gospel, then you are tagged as someone who teaches “works salvation,” even though it is the salvation message Jesus and his apostles taught in the Scriptures.

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).

So, we need to be students of the Scriptures who study them in their correct biblical context so that we are hearing and believing the truth and not the lies. And on that note, I saw a video posted on Facebook by a fellow Christian which fits with this subject. I do not have the lyrics, but if you are able, it would be worthwhile to listen to the message in this video, for it speaks to what I shared today about so many who profess faith in Jesus but who do not believe that they have to die to sin and to obey God.

Dead Faith

A rap song by Reformed & Dangerous

Featuring Paul Washer, evangelist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTt5X5AyBJI&list=RDFTt5X5AyBJI&start_radio=1

Despised and Forsaken

An Original Work / March 30, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Come Out From Their Midst

“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“’I will dwell in them and walk among them;

And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord.

‘And do not touch what is unclean;

And I will welcome you.

And I will be a father to you,

And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’

Says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NASB1995)

Who all are the “unbelievers”? They are not all who make no professions of faith in Jesus Christ, for many people make false professions of faith in the Lord Jesus but their hearts are not surrendered to the Lord. According to the Scriptures, the unbelievers are those who have not died with Christ to sin, by God-persuaded faith in him. And they are all who do not obey our Lord and his commands, in practice. So, habitual disobedience is unbelief, and belief is self-denial, dying to sin, and obedience to our Lord God, in practice.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18] 

So, as followers of Jesus Christ we are not to be partners (in an alliance and cooperation and participation and agreement with) the ungodly, which includes many who give lip service to God but whose hearts are far from God for they are still living to please the flesh and they are not living to please God. And the church at large has made such a forbidden alliance with the world and with the government in the USA via the 501c3 incorporation status. And they have largely turned the gatherings of “the church” into businesses to be marketed to the world, all of which God fully forbids.

[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5] 

And so pastors have largely been turned into entertainers and salesmen and marketeers who have altered the gospel message to make it more attractive and appealing to human flesh and to the ungodly. And the ungodly are all who have not denied self and have not died to sin and who do not obey God as a matter of life practice, but who still live to please the flesh and to continue in their sinful practices (and addictions). And “church” gatherings have largely been turned into stage productions intended to attract the world to their gatherings and to grow their numbers. And Jesus is pushed out.  

We are not to be in fellowship and partnership with such as this. For “the church” is the body of believers in Christ Jesus who obey him, in practice, and for whom sin is not their practice. But it is possible for those of genuine faith in the Lord to fall back into sin, at some point, and to need to be brought back to repentance and to walks of obedience to our Lord. But they should not be those for whom obedience to God has never been their practice and who have never denied self and died to sin, in the power of God. For faith requires death to sin and walks of obedience to God.

[Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

But now all who have united themselves with the ungodly and with the government and have turned the church into a place of business to be marketed to the people of the world, or are participants in this wickedness, must come out from among such partnerships as this and to be separate. We are not to participate in what is contrary to the will of God and that which performs the opposite of what God intends for the gatherings of his people. And we are not to participate in what is a diluted gospel which appeals to human flesh and does not put sin to death in the sinner.

But we are to operate as the biblical body of Christ in being and in doing what God has for us to do as his people, and as his followers.

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; 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 5:11-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]

Only in Him  

Based off Isaiah 30

An Original Work / February 19, 2014

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love 

Woe to those who look to man’s help;

Who turn away from Jesus Christ;

Forming an alliance not in step with God;

Making their own plans, and praying not.

Willing not to listen to truth,

They close their ears to what is right.

Pleasing words are all that they’ll hear;

Feel good messages that bring cheer.

Trust in your Lord; turn from your sin.

Put your faith now ONLY IN HIM.

Do not turn to idols. They’ll not satisfy.

Jesus will save you. That’s why He died.

Your Lord will be gracious to you.

He cares all about you, ‘tis true.

He forgives you all of your sin

When you give your life up to Him.

Oh, how truly gracious He’ll be

When you bow to Him on your knees;

Turning now from your sin; walking in his ways.

He’ll lead and guide you all of your days.

Now you will sing praises to Him.

He delivered you from your sin.

You’ll tell others now of His grace,

So they may see Christ face-to-face. 

https://vimeo.com/87181019

Come Out From Their Midst

An Original Work / March 29, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

If We are In Christ

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NASB1995)

It is a very popular teaching today that we can be “in Christ” by a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ, no dying to sin and no obeying God required. For they call that “works salvation.” Therefore, they can continue living in deliberate and habitual sin with no requirements for obedience to our Lord’s commands in holy living. So, when they sin habitually, if they begin to feel guilty about their sin, many of them are being taught to just “claim who you are in Christ,” and they are given a list of things to claim.

But we are not “in Christ” via lip service only. We are “in Christ” when by biblical faith in Christ, which comes from God, and not from ourselves, we deny self, die to sin daily, and we walk in conduct in obedience to our Lord and to his commands – all in the power of God living within us. For to be reconciled to God means that, by faith in Jesus Christ, we exchanged our old lives of living in sin for our new lives in Christ in obedience to his commands so that sin is no longer our practice, but we now obey our God in practice.

For God not counting our sins against us is not accomplished by us giving our Lord lip service only. While it is true that we do nothing in ourselves to earn or to deserve our own salvation, it is not true that we are saved from our sin and on our way to heaven if we do not change, and if we continue living in deliberate and habitual sin against our Lord, and not in walks of surrender to his will in obedience to his commands. For Jesus taught that we must deny self, die to sin, and follow our Lord in obedience to be “in Christ.”

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18] 

To My Beloved  

Based off I Peter 5:6-9; Ephesians 6:10-20; James 4:4-10

An Original Work / November 14, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Be strong in the grace of Christ, and

Put on His full armor in your fight

Against the enemy of your souls,

And resist him with all your might.

Take up the shield of your faith within you.

Salvation’s helmet – you put it on.

Put on the belt of truth, 

And walk in the Spirit,

And you’ll not be ashamed.

Love your Lord Jesus; call His Name. 

Call on your Lord and Savior, Jesus, and

Make Him Lord and King of your hearts.

Obey all of His teachings He has given

To you to follow in all His ways. 

Repent of your sins. Return to your God.

Follow Him where’er He leads you now.

Humble yourselves in full

Surrender to His will

For your lives today.

Bow before Him, and humbly pray. 

Be strong in the grace of Christ, and

Obey your Lord in ev’rything, always

Keeping His teachings in your hearts near you.

Walk with Christ in ev’ry way.

Resist the devil. He will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and He’ll be near you.

Wash your hands you sinners

And double minded.

Weep and wail o’er sin.

With Christ, your new lives begin.

https://vimeo.com/125863190

If We are In Christ

An Original Work / March 29, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Be Reconciled to God

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB1995)

What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ? It means to be his representative, i.e. a trustworthy, loyal, respected, knowledgeable individual who represents the Lord and the truth of the Scriptures according to the truth taught in the Scriptures. And it means to preach (to proclaim the word of God; to prophesy), but according to the truth of the Scriptures as taught in the correct biblical context, and as authorized to speak by God, so as called of God to proclaim his Word to the people, as led by the Holy Spirit.

And we who are his representatives, who are ambassadors for Christ, are to be those who are making God’s appeal to the people to be reconciled to God. And to be reconciled to God means that we change so that we are not the same people we were before, living like we did before, but we are now new creations in Christ Jesus created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. For by faith in Jesus Christ we exchanged our old lives of living in sin for our new lives in Christ in obedience to our Lord and to his commands.

It means we change from being God’s enemies to now being united with him in friendship, fellowship, and partnership with God, united in heart, mind, and purpose with God, no longer to make sin our practice, but to now live for the will of God in doing and in being what and who God desires that we do and be for his praise, honor, and glory. For we have, by faith in Jesus, exchanged the old life of sin for the new life in Christ so that sin is no longer our practice but obedience to God and to his commands is how we now live.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB1995)

Jesus Christ was born to a virgin mother, but conceived of the Holy Spirit, so he was not born with a sin nature as we were, and he never sinned once, although the Scriptures teach he was tempted in all things as we are (see Hebrews 4:15). While on the earth he was fully God and fully man. And Jesus’ ultimate purpose in coming down from heaven to the earth to be born into this world as a baby, and to grow to manhood, and then to preach the truth to the people, was that he would then die on a cross for our sins. 

And in Jesus’ death on that cross he took upon himself the sins of the entire world, putting our sins to death with him, so that by God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in him, which comes from God and is not of our own doing, we would now die to sin and live for God in walks of purity of devotion to our Lord in holy living, in surrender to the will of God, in walks of obedience to his commands. For he died and rose from the dead that we might die to sin and live for God from the time we believe until we breathe our last breath.

[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] 

Your Word  

Based off Psalms 119

An Original Work / December 27, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Praise You with an upright heart as

I learn of Your righteousness.

I seek You with all my heart;

Do not let me stray from Your law.

I have hidd’n Your word in my heart

That I might not sin against You.

Open my eyes that I may see

Wonderful things in Your word.

I am a stranger on earth.

I have chosen the way of truth;

My heart is set on Your word.

I will walk about in freedom,

For I have sought out Your truth.

Teach me knowledge and good judgment, 

For I believe in Your law.

Your hands made me, and they formed me;

Give me understanding, Lord.

I put my hope in Your word.

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light unto my path.

You are my shield and my refuge;

In Your word I put my hope.

My heart trembles at Your word, Lord.

May my lips o’erflow with praise.

May my tongue sing of Your truth, Lord.

Your salvation, Lord, long I.

Your word, Lord, is my delight. 

https://vimeo.com/125862410 

Be Reconciled to God

An Original Work / March 29, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Women in Ministry

“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. (1 Timothy 2:9-10 NASB1995)

I believe this is one of the most difficult passages of Scripture to interpret in the Bible (including verses 11-15), or else it is one of the most controversial, and is thus often avoided. First of all, I believe the instruction here on how women are to dress is cultural, to some extent, yet we can learn from what is taught here in principle. 

We are to dress ourselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly. We should not purposefully draw anyone’s attention to parts of our bodies, which are sensual in nature, by revealing too much, or by wearing extremely tight-fitting clothing, which then just accentuates our female forms, and which might tempt men to lust after us. Instead, we should adorn ourselves with godliness, holiness, goodness, kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, love, mercy, joy, and faithfulness, etc.

"A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.” (1 Timothy 2:11-15 NASB1995)

Women, of which I am one, should follow the instructions in Scripture on the subject of authority and submission. God is over man (and woman), and man is over woman. Women should not be in positions of authority over men, nor should they be in positions as teachers (instructors) over men within the church as regards authoritative instruction, such as we have received from Jesus and from the apostles. But there may be exceptions to this rule if there is a shortage of biblically qualified men to do the job.

We should receive instruction quietly and with entire submissiveness. But we are not to submit to false teachings or to abuse. We do not have to subject ourselves to abuse or to lies and deceptions. We do not have to join in with the crowd and unite ourselves with what is against God and is against the teachings of the Scriptures. If we are partnered with the ungodly and with the world via the church’s partnership with the government and with the world, we are to come out from among them and to be separate.

[Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-17; Acts 5:27-32; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 3:18-19; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22; Revelation 13:5-8; Revelation 18:1-5] 

This Greek word for “quiet” is the same as was in verse 2, where we read that we (all believers) are to pray for all people, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. For this word “quiet” means peaceful, restful, and calm. It is the opposite of boisterous, clamorous or raucous. In other words, we women are not to cause a disturbance in the church by being loud and unruly or by usurping authority over men, but we should be submissive, reverent, and calm. 

And for all of us, by praying for all people and for those in authority over us, i.e. by taking these matters of concern to God in prayer, it helps us to remain calm and dignified, to not become raucous or clamorous, and to lead godly lives, because we are bringing our burdens to God. This, however, does not mean us women are restricted from all teaching or from using our spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. There is just a proper order and place for things, and we must follow that order. 

Women can teach women, and they can teach children, and they can post their quiet times with God on the internet where anyone can read them (male and female), but where they have no authority over any man, but are subject to the authorities that exist on the internet itself and on various websites. After all, the gifts of teaching and prophecy were given to women, too (Acts 2:16-18). And to prophesy is to proclaim (to preach). So women can prophesy (preach). They are just not to be in authority over men.

For Jesus used the woman at the well to spread the gospel to men, and God used the women at the tomb to take the good news of the resurrection to men (Christ’s disciples), and it was ok for Priscilla and Aquila to approach Apollos and to take him aside and to quietly instruct him in some matters of the gospel on which he was not yet well versed. And women prophesied (preached, proclaimed God’s Word) alongside men on the day of Pentecost as empowered by the Holy Spirit in a mixed gathering of men and women.

And in the case of the women at the tomb, they were acting under the authority of God. In the case of Priscilla and Aquila, she was acting under the authority of her husband and God. The woman at the well merely responded in excitement to what Jesus told her about himself, and she wanted to tell others, but this was God’s plan, which is why Jesus spoke with her. Jesus essentially led the woman to take the gospel to the people.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit gifts women just as he does men, and he has a place for each of us in the body of Christ so that we may encourage and strengthen one another in the faith. So, we need to pray, and we need to be in submission to proper biblical authority (not to those spreading lies; not to those who abuse), and we need to act under the authority of God, and not be raucous and unruly, but to obey and honor God in all ways. And God will make a way for us where there seems to be no way, to fulfill his purpose.

[Matthew 26:6-13; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 5:25-34; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 2:36-38; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 10:38-42; Luke 24:1-12; John 2:1-11; John 4:1-42; John 8:1-11; John 20:1-18; Acts 2:17-18; Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 11:5]

Fear Not, Little Flock 

 

Based off Luke 12  

An Original Work / February 10, 2016

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Fear not, little flock, your Lord’s always near.

Jesus will come and wipe every tear.

Trust in His mercy, rest in His love.

He’ll give you comfort from heaven above.

Our precious Redeemer, Jesus, our friend,

He will be with us, true to the end.

He will not leave you, faithful He’ll be.

Believe His promises, rest on His knee.

Our God, and provider, He knows our need.

He’ll not forsake you. Follow His lead.

He’ll love and comfort you to the end.

Know, on His Word, you can always depend.

https://vimeo.com/154896384

Women in Ministry

An Original Work / March 28, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Foot Washing

By Sue Love

Saturday, October 13, 2007

I spent the day today in VA/WV. My husband Rick’s employer, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, sponsors regular mission trips to Bradshaw, WV. This was their big annual mission trip and it was my first mission trip ever, I think. So, I had no expectations. I just wanted to serve the Lord. 

We arrived last night and enjoyed dinner and fellowship with a group of about 50 volunteers who came here just because they love Jesus. The Lord worked it out that we invited a married couple from NC to ride to dinner with us – a couple we had not met previously, and we ended up eating dinner with them and fellowshipping with them and with a man from Ohio. Their excitement for the Lord was very apparent. 

We all met for devotions this morning before traveling to the mission site. The options for ministry were listed. There was one that was planned evangelism - where I would have the opportunity to share the gospel with people one on one. There was only one catch – I had to wash people’s feet. It just so happened that this is the ministry group of which this couple was a part. 

Now, I am not a foot person. I don’t generally touch people with my feet, and I don’t like to have anyone touch my feet, and I don’t touch other people’s feet, except for maybe my grandchildren’s. So, this was going to stretch me, but I figured I could use the dose of humility – can’t we all?

This ministry group, who was washing people’s feet, was also supplying them with new socks and shoes, so the first thing we did was to unbox the shoes, remove papers from inside them, etc. so they were ready to be placed on people’s feet. They asked for the first four volunteers to wash people’s feet, but since I had never done anything like that before, I wanted to watch first. So, I went and observed. I listened to see what kinds of things they said, how they approached the gospel, and just in general how they did the service of foot washing. 

The man in charge walked in and asked me if I was ready to begin washing feet, but I told him I would just serve as prayer support for right now. I just wasn’t ready to get my feet wet. Then, I talked with the Lord about it. I said, “Lord, you talk with me all the time. Let me know what you want me to do.”

The Lord immediately gave me this verse:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). 

Immediately the Lord plugged into my mind that washing people’s feet and giving them new shoes to wear symbolized the truth of this passage of scripture. Then, I knew I was ready. 

So, I sat down on the stool to wash the first person’s feet. It was a man. I imagined that this was going to be difficult for me, but the Lord just took over and it was amazing because when I was talking about Jesus to people and washing their feet, it really felt how I had imagined many times over in my mind that I was Mary washing Jesus’ feet with my tears and my hair. Now, I was his hands and his feet and his voice, too, to these people who came to get a new pair of shoes. And I really did not even think twice about washing their feet. It was as though I had always done it, like the Lord just took over my hands. 

I found this a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel with people. First off, I don’t do something just because everyone else is doing it or because it is the thing to do. So, I asked myself, “Why are we doing this? What is its purpose? What does it mean?” Since I wondered that myself, I figured other people might have the same question, so I began by asking them if they knew why we were doing this. 

Some people knew it was an act of humility and servanthood and that Jesus had set an example for us when he washed the feet of his disciples. I knew that, too. Others didn’t know and still others saw it as a religious ritual that they did at communion but really didn’t know why they did it. But, the Lord gave me a picture, not only of servanthood and humility, but of the gospel message.

He helped me to see that just as people came in there with dirty feet and needed to have their feet cleansed, many of them also came in there with dirty hearts. We are all born with dirty hearts (born into sin) and we need to have our hearts cleansed just like we were washing their feet. Also, just as they removed their old shoes (or we removed them for them) and we put new shoes on them after we washed their feet, the Lord has provided the way that we can have our old dirty hearts removed and we can leave there not only with new shoes, but with new hearts. 

I saw the symbolism of new shoes to be really interesting from another viewpoint, too, and that is that shoes are made for walking, so when the Lord cleanses our hearts and gives us new hearts, they are like new shoes – they are made for walking. In other words, He gives us a new walk. He doesn’t save us just so we can go to heaven one day, though that is certainly a wonderful promise, but he saves us to give us a new walk, i.e. a new direction in life; a new life period. 

Also, another thing stood out to me. No one could have clean feet or new shoes just by standing there and believing that they had clean feet or new shoes. They had to humble themselves, sit down, remove their old shoes (or we removed them), put their feet in the water and allow us to put new shoes on their feet. So, this was faith in action. It showed them that faith is action, not just words or a state of mind, but we have to come to the Lord and we have to humble ourselves and bow before him and allow him to remove our old hearts, to cleanse us and to give us new hearts. That, to me, is awesome!! But it all begins with the Father drawing them first. They also could not have clean feet and new shoes if we had not showed up and we had not invited them to come in and to receive this cleansing and these new shoes. 

I could see in the looks of some of the people that the Holy Spirit was drawing them to himself, but at least three of the ones I spoke with have said they are not ready. One young lady said she knows God is calling her and is drawing her to himself and I could see it in her eyes, yet she still would not give her heart to Jesus. It broke my heart. Jesus is calling so many to himself, but they just aren’t ready, like I wasn’t ready to wash their feet until the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “the old has gone and the new has come,” and then I knew I was ready. But, I still had to say “yes.” I pray that the people whose feet we washed today will say “yes” to Jesus because they got to see Jesus in action today through the lives of these ministers of HIS. 

Sunday, October 14, 2007 – Rick and I were on our way home from WV/VA and we were listening to my Avalon CD when the song New Day played. Rick said, “That sounds like your foot washing,” and I agreed. Here is the chorus:

It's a new day

Oh, it's a new time

And there's a new way

I'm gonna live my life

All the old has, passed away

And the new has come

Thank God, It's a brand new day

The Lord gave me one more illustration from my foot washing experience which is based upon this statement that I made above:

They asked for the first four volunteers to wash people’s feet, but since I had never done anything like that before, I wanted to watch first. So, I went and observed. I listened to see what kinds of things they said, how they approached the gospel, and just in general how they did the service of foot washing. 

Just as I observed the washers to make sure they were the real thing, that they were presenting the real gospel of Jesus Christ, and that they weren’t just going through a religious ritual before I would join them, unbelievers are also watching our lives to see if we are the real thing or if we are just going through the motions before they will make that decision to say “yes” to Jesus. So, it is really important that they see that Jesus is everything to us (Everything to Me / Avalon):

We're living in uncertain times

And more and more I find that I'm aware

Of just how fragile life can be

I want to tell the world I found 

A love that turned my life around

They need to know that they can taste and see

Now everyday I'm praying 

Just to give my heart away

I want live for Jesus

So that someone else might see that he is...

Everything to me

He's more than a story

more than words on a page of history

He's the air that I breathe

The water I thirst for

And the ground beneath my feet

He's everything, everything to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAKfTRlnA0I

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Foot Washing

An Original Work / October 13, 2007

Reposted March 28, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Be Discerning What You Pray

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-6 NASB1995)

What kinds of prayers should we be praying for all people and for those in positions of authority over us? The context tells us. Well, the purpose is so we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity, and it is because God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. So, definitely we should be praying for the salvation of all who make no professions of faith in Jesus Christ as well as for all who profess him as Lord but who do not worship him as Lord, for they are still living in sin, going their own way, doing their own thing, regardless of God.

We should not assume that everyone who professes the name of Jesus has come into genuine relationship with him as Lord (Owner-Master) of their lives. For many give lip service to the Lord who are still making sin their practice, and not obedience to God and to his commands. And many of them who have authority over us are “crooked as a dog’s hind leg,” i.e. they are extremely dishonest, untrustworthy, corrupt, wicked, and devious. So even if they claim Jesus Christ with their lips, they are like the Pharisees who were filled with all sorts of evil and sinful practices, some of which were hidden.

And the Scriptures teach us that we are to test the spirits to see which ones are of God. So we shouldn’t believe people just because they give lip service to the Lord, but we should test all their actions, behaviors, life choices, etc., to see if they align with God’s Word, and if they are truly those who practice what they preach. And I am not saying that all of us must be living in absolute perfection with no missteps at all ever, but we should not be those who make sin our practice and whose character reveals the devil and not God in his righteousness and holiness. We must be true servants of God.

The point of what I am sharing here is that we should not just pray for people arbitrarily without thought as to what we should be praying or how we should be praying for them. For we might end up praying for the success of the devil in defeating the godly without realizing that is what we are doing. For there are indeed many who profess faith in Jesus Christ who are praying for the success of those in authority who profess faith in Jesus but who are wicked to the core, and who are against God, if truth be told, for they are really of Satan, and they are the ones doing his bidding, instead.

So, please be aware that 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, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God. 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.

[Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Romans 6:1-23; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; 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 in The Stillness  

An Original Work / September 26, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When in the stillness of this moment,

Speak to me, Lord, I humbly pray.

Be my desire, set me on fire,

Teach me to love always.

Help me to walk in fellowship with You,

Listening to You; sit at Your feet.

Whisper Your words to me, 

Oh, how gently, guiding me in Your truth. 

While we are waiting for Your blessing,

Lord, in our hearts be King today.

Help us to live for you ev’ry moment,

List’ning to what You say.

May we not stray from your word within us,

Help us obey You, Lord, in all things,

Walking each moment, Lord, in Your presence,

Our offerings to You bring.

Help us to love You, Lord, our master;

Be an example of Your love,

Helping the hurting, lift up the fallen,

Showing them Your great love.

Teach them to love You, follow You always,

Bearing their cross and turning from sin;

Walking in daily fellowship with You,

Making You Lord and King.

https://vimeo.com/126984144

Be Discerning What You Pray

An Original Work / March 28, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love