Sue J Love
Loyal
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 3,049
“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” (Matthew 8:23-27 ESV)
Jesus Christ never promised us that following him would be easy. In fact, he promised us the opposite of that, that it would be hard (Matthew 7:13-14). But the way that is hard, because it is narrow (restricted, confined, limited), is the way that leads to life in Jesus Christ and to salvation from sin and to eternal life with God in heaven. For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily, and follow (obey) him (Luke 9:23-26). And he promised us that we would be persecuted.
And why will we be persecuted? Because few are those who find this narrow (controlled by God) way to eternal life with God. The majority are taking the easy way and the broad road (all encompassing, permissive, wide-ranging) which leads to destruction (decay, death). And it is easy because it makes no demands of its followers for death to sin and walks of obedience to the Lord in holy living. And so they feel that they can live however they want to live, but while professing faith in Jesus and holding on to the promise of heaven.
But that is a lie that they are believing. It is a lie which tells them that they can take the broad (permissive, wide-ranging) path and not face death, but have eternal life with God in heaven. It is a lie that tells them if they believe in Jesus that they will never have to suffer and that before real suffering takes place on this earth that they will be raptured out to be with God, even though they have ignored him and his commandments and they have gone the way of the flesh and not the way of the Spirt and to eternal life with God.
So, if you are one who is following Jesus on this narrow way which has rules that we must follow (under the New Covenant), and if you are one who is teaching and/or sharing with others the gospel message taught by Jesus and by his New Testament apostles (in context), which requires death to sin and walks of obedience to his commands, by the Spirit, then you will face opposition, even from others who profess faith in the Lord. And you will be hated and persecuted and mistreated and falsely accused of wrongdoing.
So, if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, whose life is surrendered to the Lord Jesus, to go with him wherever he sends or takes you, and to do what he commands, don’t be surprised if, on this journey, you face some “waves,” i.e. disturbances, uproar, disruption, unrest. Don’t let those take you out or make you afraid. Don’t worry. For Jesus promised us that a life of following him is going to be hard and that we are going to be persecuted, and we are going to face rejection and mistreatment and abandonment from others.
So, before you get “on board” with Jesus Christ, please know the path that you will be required to take, and that it won’t be easy. Don’t believe the liars who are telling you that you can just make a profession of faith in Jesus and now all your sins are forgiven and heaven is guaranteed you when you die, but regardless of how you live. Jesus was very clear in what he spoke, that following him means death to our old lives of sin and walks of obedience to his commands, and surrendering all to follow him wherever he leads us.
Then, if you have denied self, and you are now taking up your cross daily (dying daily to sin and to self), and you are following him in walks of obedience to his commands, and you are going with him wherever he sends or takes you, and you are speaking the words that he gives you to speak, you will be able to endure the onslaughts against you because your trust is in the Lord Jesus and not in yourself, and not in other humans to save you. You will be able to stand strong because you are standing in His strength.
[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]
For Our Nation
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
Following Jesus Christ
An Original Work / January 23, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Jesus Christ never promised us that following him would be easy. In fact, he promised us the opposite of that, that it would be hard (Matthew 7:13-14). But the way that is hard, because it is narrow (restricted, confined, limited), is the way that leads to life in Jesus Christ and to salvation from sin and to eternal life with God in heaven. For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily, and follow (obey) him (Luke 9:23-26). And he promised us that we would be persecuted.
And why will we be persecuted? Because few are those who find this narrow (controlled by God) way to eternal life with God. The majority are taking the easy way and the broad road (all encompassing, permissive, wide-ranging) which leads to destruction (decay, death). And it is easy because it makes no demands of its followers for death to sin and walks of obedience to the Lord in holy living. And so they feel that they can live however they want to live, but while professing faith in Jesus and holding on to the promise of heaven.
But that is a lie that they are believing. It is a lie which tells them that they can take the broad (permissive, wide-ranging) path and not face death, but have eternal life with God in heaven. It is a lie that tells them if they believe in Jesus that they will never have to suffer and that before real suffering takes place on this earth that they will be raptured out to be with God, even though they have ignored him and his commandments and they have gone the way of the flesh and not the way of the Spirt and to eternal life with God.
So, if you are one who is following Jesus on this narrow way which has rules that we must follow (under the New Covenant), and if you are one who is teaching and/or sharing with others the gospel message taught by Jesus and by his New Testament apostles (in context), which requires death to sin and walks of obedience to his commands, by the Spirit, then you will face opposition, even from others who profess faith in the Lord. And you will be hated and persecuted and mistreated and falsely accused of wrongdoing.
So, if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, whose life is surrendered to the Lord Jesus, to go with him wherever he sends or takes you, and to do what he commands, don’t be surprised if, on this journey, you face some “waves,” i.e. disturbances, uproar, disruption, unrest. Don’t let those take you out or make you afraid. Don’t worry. For Jesus promised us that a life of following him is going to be hard and that we are going to be persecuted, and we are going to face rejection and mistreatment and abandonment from others.
So, before you get “on board” with Jesus Christ, please know the path that you will be required to take, and that it won’t be easy. Don’t believe the liars who are telling you that you can just make a profession of faith in Jesus and now all your sins are forgiven and heaven is guaranteed you when you die, but regardless of how you live. Jesus was very clear in what he spoke, that following him means death to our old lives of sin and walks of obedience to his commands, and surrendering all to follow him wherever he leads us.
Then, if you have denied self, and you are now taking up your cross daily (dying daily to sin and to self), and you are following him in walks of obedience to his commands, and you are going with him wherever he sends or takes you, and you are speaking the words that he gives you to speak, you will be able to endure the onslaughts against you because your trust is in the Lord Jesus and not in yourself, and not in other humans to save you. You will be able to stand strong because you are standing in His strength.
[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 17:14; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]
For Our Nation
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
Following Jesus Christ
An Original Work / January 23, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
