“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:16-17 NASB1995)

“…but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:18-19 NASB1995)

As followers of Jesus Christ, and as his body parts, we all have a God-given responsibility to be ministers to the other parts (members) of the body. For the “ministers” are not just the “pastors,” but all of us are to be ministers of Jesus Christ and of his gospel message and to one another within the body of Christ, the church (the only church). For all of us of genuine biblical faith in the Lord Jesus have been given spiritual gifts, of the Spirt, and we have been assigned our body parts (ministries) by God to be put into practice.

We are all to be speaking the truth of God’s Word in love to one another, teaching, encouraging, lifting up, warning, counseling, and admonishing one another. We all are to help one another to grow to maturity in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord’s commands, and to not be led astray by the deceitfulness of people in their cunning and craftiness who teach a false grace gospel and not the Gospel of Christ. And we are to exhort one another every day so that none of us may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

[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]

In addition to all of that, we are to be students of the Scriptures who study them in their correct and proper biblical context, who are seekers of truth and righteousness, who desire to know, in truth, what God’s Word teaches us, because we want to obey the Word of the Lord, and our Lord. For we don’t want to be those with head knowledge only, who can recite Scriptures, and who can instruct others. But we want to be those who are putting the truths of the Scriptures into practice in our everyday lives, by the Spirit.

So, what we teach others we should be living ourselves, and if we are not, we should be honest about it, and then correct the areas where we are in error so that we don’t end up being hypocrites trying to teach others what we ourselves are not living. But that should not be our only reason for changing how we live. We should do what is right in the eyes of God because we love God, and because we want to obey our Lord and to live holy lives, pleasing to God, free from slavery to sin, for the glory of God, in his power.

And then we read here that, with all wisdom, we are to be teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And we are to be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. But when do you see that happening in the gatherings of the church? For a “worship service” where one person picks out all the songs, and where a select few lead us in singing many songs which are not psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, is not what is meant.

We are to be teaching ONE ANOTHER with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs which teach the messages found in the Scriptures, which are to help us to grow to maturity in Christ, and to be encouraged in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord in holy living, which is what many of the old hymns of the faith do, but which (it seems) few of these modern-day “worship” songs actually do. So this is about us ministering to one another such songs as which help us to walk worthy of the calling of the Lord in our daily lives.

So, I am going to add this on here that, beginning in 2011, the Lord gave me a gift of writing such songs as what are mentioned here, and for the very purpose of what is being taught here. These are not for show. They are not for entertainment. They are not flashy and well-orchestrated and produced. They are simple songs of faith written very simply and sung by an old lady whose voice has seen better days. But they are for the encouragement of the body of Christ, which you will see if you read the lyrics.

And they are often included with my daily devotions, which is for your encouragement, not to entertain you. And they are examples to you of what these passages of Scripture are talking about. We need more of this in the gatherings of the church, and less showmanship and empty lyrics that do nothing to lead you to walk in faithfulness to your Lord in holy living. And if you are not familiar with the old hymns, see if you can get a copy of an old hymnal and read the lyrics. They are not all great, but many of them are!

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.

Ministers to The Body
An Original Work / February 12, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love