If Your Eye is Healthy, Then...

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23 ESV)

If we look up the word “eye” in a dictionary or thesaurus, we should learn that the word means more than just the physical eyes on our physical faces. The first word to come up on my thesaurus, in fact, is the word “judgment.” Words that followed that were “discernment” and “sense” (like in common sense, i.e. wisdom and/or logic, perception, insight, and awareness). And this is the kind of “eye” being referred to in this passage, I believe.

And a lamp is what gives light so that we can see what is in front of us or all around us or ahead of us or behind us (if we turn around). And our physical eyes are what help us to see all these things, too. But in a spiritual sense, and in the sense of the “eye” being our judgment and discernment, the eye (lamp) being referred to here is what helps us to see through spiritual insight and discernment, and which helps us to make good judgments.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet

    and a light to my path.” (Psalms 119:105 ESV)

But where we should be getting our wisdom and discernment and good judgment is from the Lord and from the teachings of the Scriptures which were written down for us that we might learn what it means to believe in God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. For through the written word is one of the ways in which God speaks to us to show us what he has for us to do. But he has also given us the Spirit to live within us to counsel and to teach us the ways of the Lord, but in agreement with the written word.

So, if our eye (discernment, judgment, wisdom) is healthy, what should that look like? Well, first of all what is this light here? Jesus Christ is referred to in the Scriptures as the Light, and his word is the light, and the light is truth and righteousness and all that is of God and that is holy and upright. So if our judgment is healthy, our whole being will be filled with Jesus and with his word and with his truth and holiness and righteousness, put into daily practice in our lives. Our discernment will now be based on God’s word.

But if our eye (discernment, judgment, wisdom) is unhealthy (bad), then what? Our whole being is filled with darkness. And darkness is the absence of light, and it is sin and what is evil and is contrary to the character of God and of the teachings of the Scriptures. And this is what is leading many people into sin, because their “judgment” is from the darkness and not from the light. And darkness is often disguised as light, too, so be careful about “the light” that you are receiving and are putting into practice. Lies abound!

And this is HUGE! So much deception exists now within the gatherings of what are called “churches,” most of which appear in America to be businesses of human origin being marketed to the people of the world. And in order to “draw in large crowds of people from the world” they, thus, have mostly all altered and diluted the gospel message to make it more acceptable and appealing to human flesh and to the people of the world who they are trying to attract to their gatherings. For they want more people.

But this is going on within and without the gatherings of the church (in person), but this is carrying over to the internet and to social media and in the blogging world and on TV and on radio and in videos and writings and memes and songs and cartoons, et al. And mostly what they are doing is cutting everything so short, much of it deliberately, so that a false gospel message is what is being taught as the truth. But it is the Word taken out of context and made to say what it does not teach if taught in context.

So, how do we, as followers of Christ, discern these lies from the truth? We have to first of all be in genuine fellowship with God via death to sin and walks of obedience to his commands. Our lives must be surrendered to the Lord to do his will. Then we need to be serious students of the Scriptures who study them in their full context so that we understand their true meaning. And this needs to be led by the Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth if we are willing to receive it, even if it conflicts what we believe.

For not all of us were taught the truth. And many of us were taught Scriptures out of context and thus were taught a meaning to them other than what is evident when taught in their appropriate context. So we need to also be people who examine and who test everything and everyone against the teachings of the Scriptures taught in their full context. But don’t put people in a religious box. God has made us individuals for a reason. But who we are and what we do must not contradict God and his Word.

Now, the truth of the gospel can be summarized in what Jesus taught us in Luke 9:23-26 ESV:

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

Also: [Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 24:9-14; Matthew 28:19-20; John 1:12-13; John 6:35-58; John 8:31-32; John 10:27-30; John 14:15,21,23-24; John 15:1-11; Acts 26:18; and more]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer 

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg 

Caution: This link may contain ads

If Your Eye is Healthy, Then…

An Original Work / January 9, 2025

Reposted March 31, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Treasures on Earth and In Heaven

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 NASB1995)

Treasures on Earth

What is a treasure? It can be wealth (riches). Or it can be possessions of any kind. Or it can be treasured thoughts stored up in the heart and mind. It can be anything which we value, which we consider a prize or a treasure. It could even be a sinful habit that someone treasures above all else and will not relinquish. So a treasure stored can be anything we hold on to that is unnecessary for us to possess, or it can be things which are evil in nature.

Now, if it is something sinful, like a sinful habit, or pride, envy, bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, and the like, it is obvious that these are things we should not treasure (hold on to), but they are things we should cut out of our lives. But physical possessions are things that we use every day such as shoes, clothing, coats, towels, wash cloths, sheets, blankets, dishes, pots and pans, cups, plates, and the like. So how much to keep of these?

A couple of weeks ago I sensed the Lord leading me to go through my shoes and clothing, which are not in a large number by American standards, and to give away all that I don’t really need or that I am not using but is just being stored for future use. And he had me donate to charity a good number of items of clothing, shoes, sweaters, hangers, socks, and other items I don’t need and that I am just storing and not presently using. And that was good.

So, how much is too much, or what to keep or not to keep, is something we must determine between us and God. And then where it should go has to be between us and the Lord. For if we don’t need it, and someone else can use it, then it should go someplace where they will give it away or will not charge a large fee for something they received free of charge. Like I said, if it is something sinful, it has to go, no doubt! Otherwise, we pray for wisdom.

Treasures in Heaven

And we are to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, for where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. So, what should that look like? Well, first of all we must believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives. And that involves us dying with him to sin and us being 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 obedience to our Lord’s commands.

[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] 

And then we follow our Lord wherever he leads us in ministry, in doing what he has called us to do, in going where he sends us, and saying what he gives us to say, as his servants and messengers. We commit our lives to him to doing his will, which involves us giving of ourselves and our time and our resources to ministering to the needs of others, which can be physical needs, emotional needs, and/or spiritual needs. And we share with them the gospel.

[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; James 5:19-20]

Obviously, if we are married, this has to be worked out between the two people married to each other. But doing the will of God, and obeying his Word, should always be at the forefront. We should never submit to anything sinful, impure, or against the teachings of the Scriptures, taught in the correct biblical context. Any changes of location (moves) my husband and I made, we made in agreement with one another. Same with our giving. 

The most important thing here for us is that we remain in the center of God’s will, doing what he has called all of us to do, obeying his commands, forsaking our sins, and doing what pleases the Lord. We need to have our ears tuned in to hearing his voice so that we follow his leading in everything. And if he says, “You don’t need that, give it away,” then that is what we must do. But make sure it is his voice speaking, and then obey the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord Always!  

Based off Phil. 4 & Col. 3

An Original Work / January 26, 2013

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Rejoice in our Lord God always.

I say again: “Rejoice always!”

Let your love and kindness show forth.

Our Lord Christ will soon appear.

Do not let yourself be troubled.

Do not fear your circumstances.

In all of life’s complications,

Pray to God with thankfulness.

God will give you peace and rest.

Set your minds on things of heaven:

What is true and right and lovely.

Do not focus your attention

On the things that pass away.

Therefore put to death your old self.

Clothe yourselves with God’s compassion.

Put the word of Christ in practice.

Let God’s peace rule in your hearts.

Sing songs of praise unto God.

In all of life’s circumstances

I’ll learn to trust; be contented.

Whether I have none or plenty,

I will give thanks unto God.

I can live my life to please Him,

Because Jesus gives me His strength.

My God will meet all of my needs,

From his treasure chest in Christ.

Glory, praise be unto God.

https://vimeo.com/117317580

Treasures on Earth and In Heaven

An Original Work / March 31, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Don't Be a Hypocrite

“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18 NASB1995)

Living as a Hypocrite

What does it look like to be a hypocrite? What are their characteristic traits? Well, mainly a hypocrite is someone who willfully puts on a performance, to pretend something they are not, to fake their true identity so as to give a false impression to others of who they really are. It means to be a fake, a phony, a pretender, but in order to deceive others and to get others to think better of them than who they really are, in practice, by lifestyle. For they want to look good in the eyes of others to make a good impression.

From a Christian perspective, a hypocrite is someone who claims faith in the One True God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – but who lives the opposite of the faith they profess. They put on a show (performance) of righteousness while secretly they are engaged in deliberate and habitual sin against God, most often in the category of sexual immorality, idolatry, and adultery, although certainly not limited to just those sin areas. For they want the praise of humans.

Basically, a hypocrite is someone who fakes who they are and what they are doing and how they are doing it and for what purpose in order to draw attention to themselves so that others will think well of them, or so that others will sympathize with them. And it is to gain the sympathy and/or the approval of others, such as in the case of the example given us in this passage of Scripture, in order to be noticed by others as those who are doing what is something sacred or righteous or godly in nature.

Now, this is not to say that those who are true followers of Jesus Christ cannot share their testimonies or experiences in order to encourage the body of Christ and so that the body of Christ will pray for them. Paul did this on a consistent basis, and we are taught in Scriptures to bear one another’s burdens and to pray for one another and to encourage and exhort one another. So, that is biblical. But we are not to fake it in order to draw attention to ourselves so that others will think better of us than is the truth.

Our Identity in Christ

And hypocrisy really fits with the subject of identity, i.e. who a person really is, not who they present themselves as being. Their true identity is not in who they claim to be but in who they really are in thought, word, character, attitude, and deed. Who we really are is who we are when no one else is around, when no one else is watching. How do we behave when no one else is watching? Is it the same as when they are watching? Are we who we say we are whether anyone else is watching us or not? We should be!

So then this goes to the issue of the subject of “identity in Christ” which is greatly being misconstrued and misused and misunderstood in our present day. So many people are teaching that a profession of faith in Jesus Christ warrants God gifting you with a new identity, which is who you are, they say, regardless of how you behave or whether or not you have denied self, died to sin, and are walking in obedience to the Lord. But the Scriptures do not teach that. Jesus said that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God (Matthew 7:21-23).

What Jesus gifts us with is the faith to believe in him, which must align with God’s definition of faith, which has to do with us being persuaded of God as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to deny self, die to sin daily, by the Spirit, and to walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice, in the power of God. He gifts us with deliverance out of bondage to sin (our salvation) so that we can live holy lives, pleasing to God, in obedience to his commands, so that we can have the hope of eternal life with God (Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23).

For, if we claim to be in fellowship with God, but while we still walk in deliberate and habitual sin, we are liars who do not live by the truth. If we claim to know God, but we do not obey his commandments, in practice, we are liars and the truth is not in us. For it is not the one who claims he is “in Christ” who is “in Christ,” but it is the one who, by faith in Christ, 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 1 John 1,2,&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] 

The Heart of Man  

Based off Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23

An Original Work / April 4, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Listen to me ev’ryone and

Understand this teaching of Christ:

Why do you break the commands 

Of God for the sake of tradition?

When you follow the ways of man,

And don’t obey the words of Christ,

You nullify the words of God,

And you hold to the ways of man. 

What comes out of a man’s mouth is

What makes him unclean and dirty.

The things that come out of the mouth

Come from the heart, from within him.

The heart of man is so sinful;

From his nature, out comes evil:

Lying, cursing, greed and malice,

Lust and lewdness, deceit, slander.

Jesus calls us to obey him;

Turn from our sins; follow His ways.

Yet, his people honor him with their lips, 

but their hearts not with Him.

Their worship of God is in vain.

Their teachings are rules taught by man.

Jesus calls us; gently leads us 

To return and follow His truth. 

https://vimeo.com/125490002

Don’t Be a Hypocrite

An Original Work / March 31, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

A Model Prayer

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 

“Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

‘Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

‘Give us this day our daily bread.

‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’] (Matthew 6:7-13 NASB1995)

Based on the context of this passage of Scripture, this is not teaching us that we need to repeat this prayer word for word by memory, saying the same words over and over again, in a ritualistic fashion. That is not what is intended here. What this does is give us a model of the kinds of things we should be praying, and the kind of attitude we should have toward God in our prayers. 

Now when I was younger I learned that a model prayer should include four things: 1. Adoration, 2. Confession, 3. Thanksgiving, and 4. Supplication, for which the abbreviation is ACTS or A.C.T.S. And I believe this may have been modeled after the “Lord’s Prayer,” as it is commonly referred to. But is it true that every time that we pray that we need to include all four of these items? I don’t believe so. Again, I believe that is a model prayer.

So, what is the danger of us reciting the “Lord’s Prayer,” over and over again? It can become just words that we recite without us even meaning the words that we speak. It can become a ritualistic religious practice, but not anything that we are applying to our daily lives, in practice, and not anything that we genuinely mean from the depths of our hearts. And it can end up superseding the rest of the teachings of the Scriptures with regard to the things that we should be doing and saying, as followers of Jesus Christ.

So, should we be thanking and praising the Lord Jesus every day of our lives? I believe that we should. But we need to be more specific in our expressions of praise and thanksgiving, as applied to whatever it is we are going through on any particular day and with regard to what the Lord is doing in our lives today. Like I will thank the Lord for a good night of sleep and/or for another day of life to serve him. And I will thank him even for opponents, for through opposition I am strengthened in my walk of faith.

And I pray for the salvation of all people and that my loved ones will all surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. And I pray for the prayer needs of other people. And I pray for physical and mental strength just to make it through each day, because I am growing old and some of my mental and physical agility is beginning to decline, which often happens to people as they age. And in prayer I choose to forgive those who have sinned against me, and I pray that I may love my enemies as my Lord loves and forgives me.

And I do pray that the will of God will be done in my life and that God will use me for his purposes and for his glory. I pray that he will guide me in what I am to write each day, that he will put the thoughts in my mind that he wants me to have and to share. And I pray that I will have the right attitude in my life’s situations and that the will of God will be accomplished in my life each day. For my goal in life is to serve the Lord Jesus with my life in being who he created me to be and for his purposes.

And then if we are to pray and to ask the Lord for forgiveness, I believe that we need to be more specific in what we ask forgiveness for and that we understand what all the Scriptures teach on that subject. For they teach that if we claim to be in fellowship with God but while we walk (in conduct, in practice) in darkness (sin), we are liars, and that if sin is what we practice, and not righteousness, and not obedience to God, that we will not receive forgiveness of sins and we will not inherit eternal life with God (1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Romans 6:1-23; Galatians 5:16-21).

So, the Lord’s prayer is a good model for us to follow with regard to the things we should be praying about each day, but we should guard against making that our only prayer and against being ritualistic about it to the point that it has no meaning in our lives, or to the point to where we neglect to pray for other people and their needs, or where we fail to pray more specifically about the things going on in our lives each day. For our prayers to the Lord need to be current and specific and relative to our lives today.

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

A Model Prayer

An Original Work / March 30, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Pierced for Our Transgressions

“Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried;

Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,

And by His scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all

To fall on Him.” (Isaiah 53:4-6 NASB1995)

This is talking about Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who is God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He always existed with God but then he left his throne in heaven, came to earth, and humbled himself to the point of being born as a baby to a human mother, but conceived of the Holy Spirit, so without sin. So, when he lived on the earth he was fully human (man) and fully God (God incarnate). 

Deity of Christ [John 1:1-36; John 8:24,58; John 10:30-33; John 20:28-29; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8-9; 1 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Peter 1:1]

As a grown man Jesus began his earthly ministry, calling 12 men alongside him to be his disciples and to minister alongside him. And he preached repentance (death to sin and change of heart, mind, and behavior) for the forgiveness of sins. He taught that to come to 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, in his power. For this is what faith looks like.

But he was hated by the religious rulers in the temple and by people of influence who wanted him dead. So they plotted out his crucifixion on a tree (cross), which was carried out by the Romans. But it was God’s will that Jesus should suffer and die, for in his death he took our sins upon him, putting them to death with him, so that by faith in him we will die to sin and live for God in walks of obedience to his commands in holy living.

For we all are born into this world with sin natures, in the image of Adam, separate from God, and unable within ourselves to be approved by God. And not one of us can even come to God unless God draws us to Christ. And even the faith to believe in Jesus is not of our own doing, but it is gifted to us by God, and it is persuaded of God. So by faith in Jesus we now surrender our lives to God to do his will, to live holy lives which are pleasing to Him.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; Acts 26:18; 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; Colossians 3:1-17; 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]   

Praise Be Told!  

Based off Various Scriptures 

An Original Work / December 28, 2013

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

He was pierced for our transgressions.

He was crushed for all our sin.

Our chastisement was upon Him.

By His stripes, we now are healed.

He has witnessed all our trials,

And the sins we choose to wear.

Yet, while we were dead in our sin,

Jesus died, our sins to bear.

He himself bore all of our sins

In His body on a cross,

So that we might die to our sin,

And live for His righteousness.

By faith in the pow’r of Jesus

And His blood shed for our sins,

We can be forgiven our sin,

And have life with God in heav’n.

He will lead us and He’ll guide us

In the way that we should go.

He will comfort and protect us,

Because Jesus, we do know.

Though He disciplines for our good,

He will heal us – Praise be told!

Do not fear, your Lord is with you.

Just have faith in Christ your Lord.

https://vimeo.com/112335646 

Video Talk on the Same Subject

https://youtu.be/IOiFyV0EO04

Pierced for Our Transgressions

An Original Work / March 30, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

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

Caution: This link may contain ads

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

According to Our Works

“Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work.” (Psalm 62:11-12 NASB1995)

This is taken from the Old Testament, but the New Testament also teaches the power and the lovingkindness of God, and that God recompenses us humans according to our works. And this is not works based salvation, for not one of us can come to faith in Jesus Christ unless God draws us to faith in our Lord. Even the faith to believe in Jesus comes from God and is gifted to us by God, and is persuaded of God, and is not of our own flesh. But “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

Yet there are the works God had planned for us to walk in them, empowered and led by God, and then there are the works of the flesh and of the devil which we are not to engage in. And then the Scriptures teach us that God is going to judge us according to our works. And he will reward us according to our works. And not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one doing (obeying) the will of God. So, if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess (see Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26).

Works: [John 15:1-11; Romans 2:1-11; Romans 6:1-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Galatians 5:6,16-24; Galatians 6:7-8; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 5:3-6; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:21; Titus 2:11-14; Titus 3:8; James 2:17; 1 Peter 1:17-21; 1 Peter 2:24]

So, faith in Jesus Christ, which comes from God, is not absent of all works, but they are the works God prepared in advance that we should walk in them, as directed by God, and as led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and not of our own human flesh. All throughout the New Testament books we are taught what we are to do and what we are not to do as followers of Jesus Christ. We are instructed in the ways of the Lord and that we are to walk in them. And we are taught what we are to put off, and what we are to put on, and that we are to be living pure and holy lives, pleasing to our Lord.

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 3:5-11; 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]  

So, if someone tries to convince you that faith in Jesus Christ is absent of all works, please do not believe them. For Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross to put our sins to death with him, so that by faith in him we will now die to sin and live for God in walks of obedience to his commands. And if they try to convince you that God will not judge you according to your works if you profess faith in Jesus Christ, don’t listen to them. Read the Scriptures referenced above, because works are required of us, and all of us will be judged according to our works. And some will hear, “I never knew you.”

Teach Them  

Based off various scriptures

An Original Work / May 24, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Open up the blinded eyes of

Those who walk in sin’s darkness.

Turn them to the light of Christ

And to His righteousness.

Turn them from the pow’r of Satan.

Turn them to the peace of Christ,

So they may receive forgiveness

And eternal life. 

Teach them to put off their old selves

And their former way of life,

And to put on their new self,

Reborn to be like Christ;

To not copy worldly customs;

Be transformed in life and mind;

Obey freely His word in them,

Pleasing unto God.

Teach them how to love their neighbors

Truly as they love themselves;

Be a witness; share the gospel;

Satan’s lies dispel;

Comfort all who mourn in sadness;

Share Christ’s love and joy today.

Do this through your life and witness

For your Lord always. 

https://vimeo.com/125485489 

According to Our Works

An Original Work / March 27, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

The Rock of My Strength

“On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:7-8 NASB1995)

Whatever we are going through in life, if God is the one who we serve, if Jesus Christ is our Lord (Owner-Master), and if we are following our Lord in surrender to his will, in obedience to his commands, he will carry us through it all. This doesn’t mean he will always rescue us from our difficulties. Look at the life of Jesus and the lives of his New Testament apostles, for example. They all went through some pretty rough stuff. And many of them were put to death for the things they did and said. But God was with them always.

God may sometimes remove us from difficult circumstances, and other times he may just ask us to trust him with our circumstances. For him being our salvation (deliverer) doesn’t always mean physical deliverance. Sometimes it just means that he rescues us from hate, revenge, bitterness, and/or a tendency to just want to escape reality and to drown in our sorrows. He may just rescue us from wrong responses to what we are having to endure while he teaches us to put our hope and trust in him for all things and in all ways.

“How long will you assail a man,

That you may murder him, all of you,

Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;

They delight in falsehood;

They bless with their mouth,

But inwardly they curse. Selah.” (Psalm 62:3-4 NASB1995)

Presently we live in a day and time when lies and deception abound just about everywhere you look, even within the gatherings of many of what are called “churches.” We cannot put our trust in other humans to tell us the truth, for so many of them speak lies as a matter of life practice. Even ones we might (or might have) regarded as truth tellers could be lying to us. For pastors speak lies, as do government heads, as does the news media. This is why the Scriptures teach us to test everything we hear, for many speak lies.

And those who speak lies, as a matter of life practice, are not those who are following Jesus with their lives. For if they are liars who willfully deceive the masses, they are antichrist. They are against God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. And so they will lie to you about what the Bible teaches, and they will twist it to the advantage of the willfully defiant and the habitual sinners. And they will come against those of us who are holding to the truths of the Scriptures, for their goal is to destroy us and our testimonies. But…

“My soul waits in silence for God only;

From Him is my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2 NASB1995)

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-25,34-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Romans 5:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

You Loved Me

A song based off the poem by the same name @ Original Works

Music and lyrics by Sue Love @ Original Works & Tosin Iyawo Ogaga

Vocals by Tosin Iyawo Ogaga & Sue Love

An Original Work / December 3, 2019

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When I was lonely and afflicted,

You were there to pick me up.

You took me in Your arms,

And You held me tenderly.

Your love embraced me.

Your grace sustained me.

When my heart cried out to You

In my fear and my despair,

You never turned away,

But You let me know You loved me.

Your grace forgave me.

You did not shame me.

Then, when I answered the call,

“Here, Lord, send me.”

You sent me to where I must be.

Your mercy held me, did not fail me.

All this, You had planned, to use me.

And, when all trials and scorn

Came to test me.

You gave me all that I would need.

You strengthened me so I’d not fail You.

Your kindness blessed me, it touched me.

And, when I needed the church to lift up me,

To hearten me so I’d not fail,

You blessed me with folks who would love me.

Their presence with me, Your praise hailed!

And, when I walked through the valley

Of the shadow of the death,

And tears flowed from my eyes,

Still Your kindness was there for me.

Your touch, it healed me.

For I believed You.

When now I think about the ways,

Of the many, many ways

That You in Your great love

Show me that You’ll always care for me,

My heart, it thanks You,

And gladness fills me, fills me.

https://vimeo.com/377807796

The Rock of My Strength

An Original Work / March 27, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

For the Greater Progress of The Gospel

“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.” (Philippians 1:12-14 NASB1995)

Not everything that looks hopeless is hopeless. Just because it feels like the world is crashing down all around us, it doesn’t mean that all is pointless, or that all is a failure, or that we will never succeed. For God can use some of our worst experiences in life for good in us, to grow us in him, to mature us in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord, and to make us passionate about getting out the true message of the gospel to the people of the world. Even our worst failures God can turn around for good if we follow his lead.

Now I was part of the gatherings of the church from birth on up. My father was very legalistic, but he was also an abuser. I had a good mother, but she was emotionally distant. I was starving for love and affection of the good kind. I was a hurting child. But I believed in Jesus Christ from age 7 on up. I gave my life to him at summer camp at Beulah Beach, in Vermillion, Ohio (USA). I was not a rebellious child, but I was not perfect. But I loved the Lord and my desire was to follow him. And I loved the Word of God. 

I was learning disabled. I had serious problems with reading comprehension. School subjects that did not require much reading I did okay in. I was good in basic math, grammar, spelling, and music, but I was horrible at history, science, higher math, and literature. I was a very slow reader so I did not ever do well with timed tests. So my final GPA in high school was 1.4 (out of a possible 4.0). I was very lacking in confidence, and I was a very fearful child. I was misunderstood and misjudged a lot, for I was very insecure.

As an adult I was intimidated by my children’s school teachers and by other people in positions of authority. If I was mistreated by other adults, which I was plenty, I would fall apart emotionally. It would just crush me. I would cry much. I hurt. And I wanted to run away from it all, to escape. But the Lord kept encouraging me to stand up, to fight off the lies of the enemy, and to keep going forward by faith in the Lord and in his power. I failed in that for a time, but the Lord brought me back, and in time he called me to this.

He called me to write down what I am learning from him each day as I spend time with him in prayer and in his word, and then to post these writings on the internet. I have been doing that faithfully for nearly 22 years, by the grace of God, and in the power of God. But this is not anything I would have ever dreamed of doing. I would have never imagined this. But everything in my life prior to this, and even during this, even all the abuse and mistreatment I faced, God used for his glory and to make me into the person he wanted me to be in doing the task he had for me to do all along.

So, no matter where you have been, or what you have done, or what you have experienced in life, whether good or bad, God can turn it around for good if you put your trust in the Lord Jesus, surrender your life to him, die with him to sin, and now walk in obedience to his commands. Like for me, all that I have gone through in life has made me stronger and more determined to keep moving forward no matter what life throws at me. Because of all the rejection I faced, I was ready to answer the call to come to the internet.

Because of all the rejection I faced, the Lord has made me strong in battle against the enemy of my soul, and against all who would come against me. And he made me ready for the internet and for this ministry. And the writings he gives to me each day are going to people all over the world via 7 different platforms where he has me posting these writings. So the message of the gospel is going out every day through what the Lord gives me to write, which is much needed today when so many lies and liars abound.

So, like Paul, my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel. But not the “cheap grace” gospel which is permeating the church of today. For the gospel of Christ teaches that we must deny self, die to sin daily, and walk in (follow him) in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in the power of God, by his grace. And it teaches us that if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, that we do not love God, we do not know God, we are not in fellowship with God, and we do not have eternal life with God.

So, please take God and his Word seriously to obey them, for your life depends on it. Commit yourselves to the Lord and now follow his lead.

[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 Believer’s Prayer 

An Original Work / July 31, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

With my whole heart, Lord, I pray 

To be Yours, and Yours always.

Lead me in Your truth today.

May I love You, and obey.

Lead me in Your righteousness.

When I sin, may I confess;

Bow before You when I pray;

Live for You and You always.

Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.

Life with You will never end.

You are with me through each day,

Giving love and peace always.

You will ne’er abandon me.

From my sin You set me free.

You died on that cruel tree,

So I’d live eternally.

Soon You’re coming back for me;

From this world to set me free;

Live with You eternally.

Oh, what joy that brings to me.

I will walk with You in white;

A pure bride, I’ve been made right

By the blood of Jesus Christ;

Pardoned by His sacrifice.

https://vimeo.com/114796263

For the Greater Progress of The Gospel

An Original Work / March 26, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Approving the Things that are Excellent

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11 NASB1995)

This was Paul’s prayer for the church in Philippi. But this is my prayer for the biblical church throughout the world. For “the church” is the universal body of believers in Jesus Christ throughout the world. We just live in and meet in various locations. But the buildings called “church” are not the church, nor are these gatherings of people called “church” which are incorporated under (merged, joined, partnered with) the government. For the church is not a place we go to and then we leave. We who believe in Jesus are The Church.

So, for our love to abound in real knowledge and all discernment, what should that look like? Well, the word love (agápē) means “to prefer.” And from a Christian perspective it is centered in moral preference, and it has to do with what God prefers. And what God prefers is self-control and all that is righteous, holy, upright, godly, morally pure, honest, faithful, and obedient to God’s commands. So this would be abounding in godliness, moral purity, honesty, faithfulness, and obedience to our Lord in all that we are and do.

And this is taught us in the Scriptures, and so we grow in this through the knowledge of the Scriptures, and via putting into practice what they teach us about holy living in obedience to our Lord. And then we grow in this as we put into practice spiritual discernment so that we make right choices, and so we do not get trapped in sin or wander from the truth of the gospel. And this involves us approving what is excellent in the eyes of the Lord and us rejecting all that is impure in the choices that we make each and every day.

And all of this is so that we may be “sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” And why is this critical? Because our salvation is progressive, and it will not be complete until our Lord returns for his faithful bride. And so we must continue in walks of obedience and in the putting of sin to death, by the Spirit. For those who walk in sin, and do not obey God in practice, they will not inherit eternal life.

[Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:44; Jn 8:31-32; Jn 15:1-12; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 11:17-24; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; 2 Tim 1:8-9; 2 Tim 2:10-13; Heb 9:28; Heb 3:6,14-15; 1 Pet 1:5,9; 2 Pet 1:5-11; 2 Pet 2:20-22; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10]    

Muted Trumpet 

Sung by Jennifer Love Moss

An Original Work / October 14, 2011

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Softly He speaks gently to us,

Giving us His messages, and

He waits patiently for us to

Respond to His words.

Will you listen to Him speaking?

Will you waken from your sleeping?

He is calling; hear Him whisper

His truth unto you.

Jesus speaks His words unto us,

So that He might live out through us,

Giving light to all who need Him,

So they can obey.

He gave His life to die for us,

So that from sin He would free us

To walk humbly in obedience

Unto Him each day.

Hear the trumpet clearly calling.

He died to keep us from falling.

Won’t you listen; heed His call to

Turn to Him today?

Hasten to Him calling to you.

Turn from sin and follow Jesus.

He loves you so much He gave you

Life eternally. 

https://vimeo.com/125739604

Approving the Things that are Excellent

An Original Work / March 26, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

A Manner Worthy of The Gospel

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi giving them some words of encouragement as well as exhortation. And he shared with them some of his experiences of being persecuted for the sake of the name of Jesus and for the sake of the gospel of our salvation. And he shared with them his attitude about what he was going through, too. He rejoiced. And he knew that he could die in prison, yet he said that for him to live was Christ and to die was gain. And then he gave them more words of exhortation:

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” (Philippians 1:27-30 NASB1995)

So, if we who claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior are, indeed, conducting ourselves (in practice) in a manner worthy (suitable, proper, fitting) of the gospel of Christ, what should that look like? Well…

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).

This is what our lives should look like. And this does not make us perfect in every way. Yet lack of perfection is never to be used as an excuse for deliberate and habitual sin and for not obeying God’s commands. 

And we are to be striving, alongside other believers in Christ, for the faith of the gospel, which is described for us in the Scripture summaries above. We are to be those who have denied self, died to sin, and who are obeying our Lord’s commands in life practice. We are to be living holy lives, pleasing to God, and no longer as slaves to sin. And we should be teaching others the same gospel as Jesus and his New Testament apostles taught, but in the correct biblical context, comparing Scripture with Scripture to get it right.

[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] 

And if what we are sharing with others is the biblical gospel, as taught by Jesus and his apostles, we will be persecuted. We will be rejected. We will be cast aside as unwanted and as unnecessary. But our persecutors may not be those who make no professions of faith in Jesus Christ, but they may be the religious, those who profess to believe in Jesus, and even pastors, elders, and deacons of said “churches” who are teaching people the lies and not the truth. For those were Jesus’ persecutors, i.e. those who claimed faith in God.

Songs in the Night  

An Original Work / December 18, 2013

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

https://vimeo.com/379484387

A Manner Worthy of The Gospel

An Original Work / March 26, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love