The apostle Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, and he was sharing with them the critical nature of us, who profess faith in Jesus Christ, holding fast to the word which he preached, putting it into practice in our daily lives. And then he shared the first part of it (not all of it) which had to do with Jesus’ death and resurrection and his appearing to many people before he went back to heaven to be with God the Father. And Paul was the last one to whom Jesus appeared, although I believe that was after Jesus’ ascension, and it was not in bodily form as with the others, but it was like in a vision.
“And last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” (1 Corinthians 15:8-11 NASB1995)
What was Paul’s reaction to Jesus appearing to him? It was
one of humility and of full recognition that he was totally unworthy to be
called of God because he had persecuted the church. And I identify with that in
feeling totally unworthy to be called of God to his service because of a time
of moral failure in my past life. Now, I have not been called to be an apostle
or a prophet, but God called me to write down what he is teaching me each day
from my times spent with him in his word, and to post these writings on the
internet, which I’ve been doing, “yet not I, but by the grace of God with me.”
I am not here each day doing what I am doing for my own self
glory. I know full well that I am totally undeserving of God’s grace and mercy
and to be called of him to such a ministry as this. So I am humbled that God
would choose me and that he would use me in the way he has been using me in
other people’s lives for the past 22 years. And I am fully reliant upon the
Lord to lead me and to guide me in the way in which he would have me to go. By
the grace of God I am what I am and who I am doing what I am doing each day for
the salvation of human lives and all for the glory of God.
And this is not a competition to see who can do better than
the other. So this is not guided by the flesh and by marketing schemes and
tricks and tools. I am not here to gain a huge following or so that people will
like me. I know that when I share the truth of the Scriptures that more likely
it will turn people away from me, not toward me. So I have nothing to gain in
the flesh. I also know that some people will hate me, and will disapprove of
what I do, and they will think I am nuts or radical or whatever. And some people
will attack me and/or lie about me, for they want to silence me. I get that.
I make no money from what I do, either. All my time given to
this ministry is volunteer time. Any expenses I incur come out of my own
pocket. So I profit nothing from this – no money, no popularity, no self-glory,
no large followings, and not many friendships. But what I gain is the peace in
knowing that I am in the center of God’s will, doing what he has called me to
do, and that God is using this for his glory and purposes in other people’s
lives throughout the world. So all glory goes to God and not to me for any good
that is accomplished through the ministry to which God has called me.
[Luke 21:13; Romans
5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:3-12; James 1:2-4;
1 Peter 1:6-7; Revelation 3:19]
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.
But By the Grace of
God
An Original Work / April 14, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
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