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