Are You Called According to His Purpose?

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NASB1995)

If we are loving God, what should that look like in our lives? It means that we are preferring what God prefers, which is all that is holy, righteous, godly, morally pure, upright, honest, faithful, and obedient to his New Covenant commands. It means we are preferring to live through Christ, choosing his choices, and obeying them in his power and strength and wisdom. So he is our Lord, and serving him with our lives and obeying his commands is what we do because we love him and we want to please him.

And what does it mean to be called according to his purpose? What is his purpose? Well Jesus left heaven and he came to the earth and he was born as a baby to a virgin woman, conceived of the Holy Spirit. And when he lived on the earth he was both man and God (God incarnate), the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And he spread the true message of the gospel to the people. But he was hated and put to death on a cross because he spoke the truth that they did not want to hear.

But in his death on that cross he put our sins to death with him, and he was resurrected from the dead, so that, by faith in him, we will now die with him to sin and walk in obedience to his commands in holy living, by the grace of God, in the power of God. He is now King of our lives. And he is the one directing our steps and not the flesh. And our lives are surrendered to him to doing his will day by day in going where he sends us and in saying what he commands and in doing whatever it is that he has planned for our lives.

We are clay in the hands of the Potter (God) being molded into the likeness of Jesus Christ as we cooperate fully with God’s work of grace in our lives in changing us and in purifying our hearts. And God causes all things to work together for good for us. But this is not by a human definition of “good,” but by God’s definition of “good” which has to do with what originates from God and is empowered by God in our lives, i.e. what is for our spiritual benefit, our eternal benefit, to make us more like Jesus in our walks of faith in him.

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; Romans 2:5-10; 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; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18] 

Have Thine Own Way, Lord 

Words by Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907 

Music by George C. Stebbins, 1907

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! 

Thou art the potter, I am the clay. 

Mold me and make me after Thy will, 

While I am waiting, yielded and still. 

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! 

Search me and try me, Master, today! 

Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, 

As in Thy presence humbly I bow. 

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! 

Wounded and weary, help me I pray! 

Power, all power, surely is Thine! 

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! 

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! 

Hold o'er my being absolute sway. 

Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see 

Christ only, always, living in me! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11avpKNLsA 

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Are You Called According to His Purpose?

An Original Work / March 13, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

In Troubled Times

On March 21, 2020, I did my first video talk (devotion) titled, “In Troubled Times.” It was during the beginning of the Covid Pandemic, but the message is not limited to just that period of time. For it is a message of hope and healing during times of trouble and distress, which definitely applies to where we are in the world today. For the world as we know it seems to be coming apart at the seams presently, looking more and more apocalyptic as the days progress.

Now public speaking has never been my forte, but the Lord was encouraging me to do this. So, what I did is I just talked about what the Lord was putting on my heart, about what was going on in our world at that time. And then I read a Scripture, and then I just shared what I was getting out of it at that moment, as related to the times in which we were living at that time, and as the Holy Spirit was speaking to my heart. So this was not preplanned other than the Scripture. And it still fits with where we are today.

In Troubled Times

https://youtu.be/ZFiz_L9O8LE

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An Original Work / March 21, 2020

Reposted on March 12, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

By Way of Reminder

“Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.” (2 Peter 1:12-15 NASB1995)

Have you ever noticed how much the Scriptures repeat the same messages over and over again? And do you ever have the tendency to skip over those repetitive messages, thinking, “I already know that”? But did you know, too, that as human beings, we can easily be distracted, and we can easily get off course if we do not have those regular reminders? And we can begin to take in other messages, and then find ourselves not where we ought to be?

So, what specific things was Peter reminding the people of? He was speaking of a faith in Jesus Christ that was equal to the faith of the apostles. And this faith was to result in the believers in Christ partaking of the divine nature of our Lord Jesus, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. So this is a faith resulting in us being 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 servants of God and of his righteousness, in his power.

And this faith is to be producing in us such things as self-control, godliness, perseverance, brotherly kindness, and love. And love prefers what God prefers, which is all that is holy, upright, morally pure, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord and to his commands. And if we have these qualities, in practice, in our lives, they render us neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

So, we need these reminders to keep us on course, especially in today’s world where we are getting so many messages fed to us daily from so many different sources, many of which are contradicting the Scriptures. We need to be reminded that faith in Jesus Christ must result in us denying self, dying to sin daily (in practice), and us following our Lord in walks of obedience to his commands (in practice) – all in the power of God and not in our own flesh, and all to the glory of God, and not to our own glory and praise. 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Romans 2:5-10; 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; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18] 

Myopic  

Based off 2 Peter 1:3-11

An Original Work / August 19, 2013

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Jesus has given ev’rything

Needed for life and godliness.

His great and precious promises

Free us from our sin and distress.

Add to your faith His goodness;

Knowledge; patience; godliness;

Brotherly love and mutual affection;

Kindness and unselfishness.

If you possess these qualities,

Growing in your maturity,

They will keep you from vanity.

You will bear fruit effectually. 

Nonetheless, if you lack them;

Forget you’ve been cleansed from sin,

Nearsighted are you; you can’t see Jesus.

You have closed your heart to Him.

Therefore, beloved, confirm, then,

Your calling and your election.

Do this by showing diligence:

Obey your Lord; be repentant.

Practice all these qualities

God provided on a tree.

He died for our sins so we’d be given

Life with Him eternally. 

https://vimeo.com/115839336

By Way of Reminder

An Original Work / March 12, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Godliness and Self-Control

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” (2 Peter 1:5-11 NASB1995)

The whole purpose of the word “salvation” has to do with being rescued, with being delivered, with being brought out of the place where we once were to a new place, not like the old place. Like if someone rescued you from the mouth of a lion and brought you to a place of safety where the lion can no longer reach you. You aren’t still hanging out with the lion (sin) hoping to not get bit or devoured, but you are now in a place of safety.

But so many people today are not teaching salvation like that. They are teaching that a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ saves them from the penalty of sin so that they can go to heaven when they die, but while they are still hanging out with the lion (sin), hoping to not get devoured. But you can’t be two places at once. You can’t still be hanging out with sin and expect that God is going to rescue you from hell, just because you said so.

For the purpose of our salvation is that we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. So we are to put off such things as “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB1995)

And we are to put on the qualities mentioned in these verses from 2 Peter 1, and others. 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 (Titus 2:11-14). All throughout the Scriptures we are given lists of things which must be put out of our lives, and of the things which should now be put on in our lives.

And all throughout the New Testament Scriptures we are taught that if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to our Lord, that we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess. And that is what it is teaching us here in 2 Peter 1, as well. For our salvation and God’s grace are not freedom to keep on in deliberate and habitual sin, but they are there to rescue us out of our slavery (addiction) to sin so we will now serve God with our lives in walks of surrender to him in obedience to his commands.

Put Offs and Put Ons: [Matt 5:27-30; Matt 7:21-23; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10; Gal 5:16-24; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 3:5-11; 1 Thes 4:1-8; 1 Tim 4:7; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 12:1-17; 1 Pet 1:14; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]  

Near the Cross  

Hymn lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, 1869

Music by William H. Doane, 1869 

Jesus, keep me near the cross; 

There a precious fountain, 

Free to all, a healing stream, 

Flows from Calvary's mountain. 

Near the cross, a trembling soul, 

Love and mercy found me; 

There the bright and morning star 

Sheds its beams around me. 

 

Near the cross! O Lamb of God, 

Bring its scenes before me; 

Help me walk from day to day 

With its shadow o'er me. 

Near the cross I'll watch and wait, 

Hoping, trusting ever, 

Till I reach the golden strand 

Just beyond the river. 

In the cross, in the cross, 

Be my glory ever, 

Till my raptured soul shall find 

Rest beyond the river.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5gong-PNmY

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Godliness and Self-Control

An Original Work / March 12, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Partakers of The Divine Nature

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB1995)

We live in a present age, at least here in the USA, we do, when so much of what is called “the church” is disregarding the teachings of Jesus Christ and of his New Testament apostles, and they are teaching an altered “gospel” designed to appease and to appeal to the lusts of the flesh. They are not teaching the critical nature of dying to sin and walking in obedience to our Lord’s commands, but they are teaching a “cheap grace gospel” which caters to the flesh, and which permits the sinners to keep on in their habitual sin.

And they call that “God’s grace.” But 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. But is God’s grace forgiveness of sins? Yes! But provided that the sinners have renounced their lives of living in sin to now walk with God in obedience to his commands. And this doesn’t mean we will be perfect (1 John 2:1-2) but that sin must no longer be our practice, but obedience.

[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] 

Near the Cross  

Hymn lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, 1869

Music by William H. Doane, 1869 

Jesus, keep me near the cross; 

There a precious fountain, 

Free to all, a healing stream, 

Flows from Calvary's mountain. 

Near the cross, a trembling soul, 

Love and mercy found me; 

There the bright and morning star 

Sheds its beams around me. 

 

Near the cross! O Lamb of God, 

Bring its scenes before me; 

Help me walk from day to day 

With its shadow o'er me. 

Near the cross I'll watch and wait, 

Hoping, trusting ever, 

Till I reach the golden strand 

Just beyond the river. 

In the cross, in the cross, 

Be my glory ever, 

Till my raptured soul shall find 

Rest beyond the river.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5gong-PNmY

Caution: This link may contain ads

Partakers of The Divine Nature

An Original Work / March 12, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

The Faithful God

“Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB1995)

This was taught to God’s people (Jews only) under the Old Covenant, but this was also taught to God’s people (Jew and Gentile, by faith in Jesus Christ) under the New Covenant. Yes, as believers in Christ we are not under the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, sacrificial, purification, circumcision, dietary and Sabbath laws. But we are not lawless, as God’s people. We still have to, by faith in Jesus, deny self, die to sin daily, by the Spirit, and walk (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord’s commands, as a matter of practice.

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).

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).

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 Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (See Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10) 

And we learn in 1 John 1-3 that if we claim that we have fellowship with God, but yet we walk in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we claim that we know God, but we do not obey his commandments, in practice, we are liars. 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.

Additional Scriptures

[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; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 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 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22] 

The Faithful God

An Original Work / March 11, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Not Well

Starting late last night I began to not feel well. Around midnight I began to vomit and to have Diarrhea simultaneously, and this continued all throughout the night, probably as many as 9 times. And after about 12 hours of this it stopped, but I feel very weak and I am sleeping a lot. My husband started to be sick 2 days before me so I think I probably got this from him. And I am still vomiting. So that is why I didn't post anything on here today until now.