Worth a Reminder

 

When you begin your spiritual walk, one of the very first things that you are required to do is to engage in a period of forgiveness. How long this period lasts depends on the amount of people you need to forgive and the number of persons you have to ask to forgive you.

You think I’m joking? Ask anyone who is on their journey and they will confirm it.

Jesus told Peter that he must always forgive others, not just seven times but seventy times seven or, in some translations, seventy seven times (ref. Matthew 18:21-22).

And in Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV) Jesus said,

if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Yes, Jesus said to leave your gift at the altar and go engage in forgiveness first then come back. Jesus is letting us know just how important it is to forgive others. Forgiveness must be a priority. He knew the heavy price that unforgiveness carries.

As you may already know, when you harbour unforgiveness toward anyone, even if that person is someone from your past, you are the one who’s paying the price. You are the one in bondage. You are the one who is being held back from manifesting the fullness of God in your life.

I once read somewhere that when you are unforgiving it’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. This might have caused you and me to chuckle but it’s an apt analogy.

Chances are the person you’re holding in your mind doesn’t even remember his transgression toward you because he may not have realized that he had hurt your feelings or done anything untoward against you. Or if he knows, you still have to forgive that person. It is hard but it is necessary.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. – Colossians 3:12-13 (NLT)

Yes beloved, you must forgive others, otherwise you will hamper your spiritual walk; that’s why it’s one of the first requirements before you can move forward.

I know you have heard this forgiveness lecture before, but it is worth a reminder. We tend to forget to forgive when we get offended and are tardy in asking for others’ forgiveness when we offend.

Beloved, not forgiving is demanding a price for justice that has already been paid. God loves justice but it’s a far cry from the justice we love to seek. We pray, forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12 NLT) while clinging to our debtors’ necks.

The simple truth is, you can’t live free when you are hanging a debt of unforgiveness over another. Your need for repayment will be demanded of you if you require it.

Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving debtor in Matthew 18:21-35 is worth a reminder, perhaps you should read it.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Worth a Reminder” ©2026 February 9, 2026

 

The Curtain

 

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh) – Hebrews 10:19-20 (NRSVUE)

The writer of Hebrews tells us clearly that “the curtain” represents Jesus’ flesh. Also, other translations instead of “the sanctuary”, have used “the Holy Place”, “the Holy of Holies” or “Most Holy Place”, that is the third and innermost room of the Tabernacle where God Himself is present and is accessible only to the High Priest.

The passage above shows us that Jesus isn’t only the curtain but is also the one who opens the curtain; the only one who had access into the innermost room of the Tabernacle was the High Priest, therefore Jesus is also the High Priest. He opens the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

Through Jesus’ atoning death we now have boldness and confident access to the Most Holy Place, (Ephesians 3:12), an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear according to the Amplified Classic Edition translation.

The curtain also represents any fleshly barrier between God and man. In the Tabernacle, the curtain was made of linen (Exodus 26:31), which is symbolic of righteousness but righteousness in the flesh, as in those days, the curtain also represented the Law of Moses which pertained to the flesh.

Now the Law could make no one righteous.

For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].  – Romans 3:20 (AMP)

So, something had to be done because only the righteous – those made right with God – could pass beyond the curtain.

This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:22-23 (AMP)

Since the curtain was the only way to enter, something had to happen to the curtain itself. The curtain had to be removed.

Keeping in mind that the curtain also represents Jesus, let’s read Matthew 27:50-51 (ESV),

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 

The curtain was torn from top to bottom. The curtain, our Lord Jesus, was the only one qualified to accomplish God’s plan of redemption. He had to be torn apart, for He was the only person on earth who was righteous in the flesh.

Hanging on the cross, He took all the sin of the world and suffered the agonizing tearing so that we could enter the presence of God as a gift of His grace.

being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus – Romans 3:24 (AMP)

We have been made right with God without any religious requirement on our part. There is no more curtain to pass through, the curtain has been destroyed.

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. – Hebrews 4:14-16 (MSG)

Beloved, the way is clear for you to walk right up to God, but you need to tear apart the curtain that you’ve hung up so that you could enter into the fullness of His presence.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Curtain” ©2026 February 8, 2026

 

 

 

Also Crucified

 

Several times I’ve heard that we need to crucify our flesh and every time I’ve heard this it gave me pause. Because if we have to crucify our flesh daily then what did Jesus do for us on the cross?

Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20 (AMP) said,

I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Paul explained that he had been crucified with Christ and in Him, the life he was living in the body thereafter was a life of faith in Jesus. 

Like the Apostle, our flesh was also crucified with Christ on that cross. When Jesus cried out “It is finished!” He was declaring that everything He had come to do was completely done including putting to death of the “corrupt ways of the flesh” (ref. Romans 8:13).

As God’s children we became co-heirs with Christ and everything that was never intended for us to be, was crucified with Him.

Just as we must work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12), we have to work out our crucifixion by the renewing of our minds, in effect our souls (Romans 12:2) and appropriate the finished work in our lives.

So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]— for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. – Romans 8:12-13 (AMP)

It is those fleshly impulses that we habitually do that undermine our efforts. Habits of the flesh – the sinful deeds of the body – are stored in the soul so a renewal or reprogramming is necessary. Remember, it is the soul that dictates the actions of the body or flesh.

Understand that living according to those impulses includes inclinations to religious legalism, and slowness in understanding the amazing power that was wrought at Calvary to remove all sin.

Yes, even followers of Christ create barriers that hamper proper communion with God. We confess to belief in Jesus Christ but then that confession remains in our mouths and is not effectuated in our deeds. The reality that our souls carry must be aligned with and governed by our confession.

As our flesh was also crucified, we need to leave the old habits on the cross for bringing what was into what is will only ruin the new.

No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wineskins. But new wine must be put into new wineskins. – Mark 2:22 (AMP)

Beloved, it’s so important for you to grasp that Jesus completed everything and now you can participate in His triumph; you are His co-heir. You have access to all that He had access to while He lived on earth and can do all that He did and even more (ref. John 14:12) because He has given you His own Spirit who dwells in you, effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] (Philippians 2:13 AMP).

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Also Crucified” ©2026 February 8, 2026

Making a Gold Calf

 

Exodus 32:1 (EXB)

The people saw that ·a long time had passed and Moses had not [Moses delayed to] come down from the mountain. So they ·gathered [assembled] ·around [or against] Aaron and said, “[This man] Moses ·led [brought] us out of Egypt, but we don’t know what has happened to him. Make us ·gods [or a god; or an image of God] who will ·lead [go before] us.”

Moses had gone to meet with God on behalf of the people of Israel, but these people became weary of waiting his return so, they confronted Moses’ right-hand man, his brother Aaron.

As a man of God, what was Aaron to say, what was he to do?

Tell them be still and know (Psalm 46:10)?

Tell them to wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40:1)?

Tell them to wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)?

Tell them if it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time (ref. Habakkuk 2:3)?

Exodus 32:2 & 4 (EXB) gives us the answer,

Aaron said to ·the people [them], “·Take [Pull] off the gold earrings that your wives, sons, and daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” He took ·the gold [it] from ·the people [their hands] and formed it ·with a tool [or in a mold] and made a ·statue [image] of a calf.

Then this High Priest of Israel went on to build an altar before the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a ·special feast to honor [festival for] the Lord.” (v5)

Right…

Clearly Aaron was just as impatient as all the people and his trust in Moses’ mission from God and in God Himself had begun to wane. Why else would he cave so easily to the demands of the crowd and not stand firm? Aaron’s belief and faith had wavered.

Oh beloved, human nature remains the same to this day. As people of God, how often does this happen to us? The answer, too often.

You receive a promise from God, but you think it’s taking way too much time to come down from the mountain so, you decide to make your own plan. You decide to manipulate a situation and perhaps confront a person in order to make things happen.

Seems like you’ve forgotten the countless times God has come through for you? All those times He brought you out of worse situations, led you out of Egypt? Yes, you fail to recall and to think of those times, instead you’re making a gold calf, creating a way out for yourself.

Pulling at this and that, listening to this one and that one and not remembering the vision God gave you, not your friends, not your family members, the vision He gave to you.

Beloved, today God is saying to you,

it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed. (Habukkuk 2:3 GNT)

So, don’t let your impatience lead you into making a gold calf, it may look good but it’s not the real thing. What God has planned for you is solid, real, lasting. God is busy causing everything to work together for your good (Romans 8:28) and that takes time. Put down whatever tools you’re using to form and mould your life into the image you believe it should look like.

You have surrendered to God, trust Him, He made the plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11), He made the way of escape from any and all situations (1 Corinthians 10:13). See what you’re going through as just that, something that you are going through, nothing remains the same (Ecclesiastes 3:1); this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble (2 Corinthians 4:17 GNT).

It may seem slow in coming but patiently wait, just wait because making a gold calf will only lead to a terrible outcome.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Making a Gold Calf” ©2026 February 6, 2026

 

 

What about the Book of Jashar?

 

There are 66 Books of the Bible and 9 of them have “J” names – Joshua, Judges, Job, Jeremiah, Joel and Jonah in the Old Testament and in the New, John, James and Jude. Jashar is not one of those books yet reference to the Book of Jashar, pronounced “Jay’shuh”, can be found in two verses in the Old Testament.

And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. – Joshua 10:13 (ESV)

and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!” – 2 Samuel 1:18-19 (ESV)

So, what was this book and what was written in it? This called for some digging to find out about the Book of Jashar.

The writers of the books of Joshua and second Samuel thought it significant enough to quote from the Book of Jashar and today, without knowing it, we too have quoted from this book when we say, How the mighty have fallen.

The mere fact that the Book of Jashar was employed as a reference, not once but twice, is enough for us to presume that it was a well-known and respected narrative in the ancient world.

This book may no longer extant but on the basis of what was written in Joshua and second Samuel, it appears as though it may have been somewhat poetic while at the same time of a historical nature. Some scholars believe that its compilation began in the early stages of Israel’s history.

Though not mentioned, it makes one wonder if other writers of the Old Testament might have sourced material from the Book of Jashar.

Beloved, before you label me blasphemous or accuse me of peddling false doctrine, this is far from that. The Bible is indeed God’s Word, however there is evidence that other ancient Holy Spirit inspired texts existed, the Book of Jashar mentioned in these two passages attest to that.

Case in point, in 1947 shepherds discovered a collection of about 950 scrolls in caves in Qumran on the shore of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea scrolls, as they are called, consist of ancient Hebrew biblical manuscripts, sectarian documents and apocryphal texts, which most Christians hardly know anything about.

All this to say that it’s okay to refer to other Spirit inspired books, texts and documents to enhance your understanding of the bible.

Beloved, nothing can replace the Scriptures, but secondary resources can be quite useful in providing comprehensive context and deeper study of the Word. It is obvious that the Book of Jashar did just that.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What about the Book of Jashar?” ©2026 February 5, 2026

 

The Fourth Cup

Deuteronomy 16:16 (AMP) reads,

“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) and at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

The Lord instituted three major feasts; these were all commanded as part of the Mosaic Covenant. Today our focus will be on the Feast of Unleavened Bread or Passover.

Passover is a commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt and the establishment of Israel as a nation by God’s redemptive act.

Now, contained in this feast are three feasts, so feasts within a feast: the Passover Night, The Feast of Unleavened Bread and The Sheaf of Firstfruits.

Our focus will be narrowed even further as we reflect on the Passover Night as it pertains specifically to the Last Supper.

The Feast of Passover in Hebrew is called Pesakh and the focus of the feast is the lamb.

As was and still is the custom, Jesus and His disciples would have eaten the Passover meal just after sunset. The scene must be seen from a Jewish perspective because that’s the only way it can be properly understood, so let’s start with the familiar image that has been seared into our consciousness where Jesus and the twelve are seated at a long dinner table.

This imagery is certainly not biblical as sharing a meal together was an act of intimacy, it denoted closeness; John 13:23 (NIV) attests to that, One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Instead of sitting upright and unconnected, Jesus and His disciples would have been on the floor, reclining around a triclinium, a low three-legged table, that accommodated the meal.

 Normally the centrepiece of the meal was the lamb, however, in the Gospel account there is no mention of a lamb at the Last supper, neither is there any mention of the bitter herbs (maror), the only similarity to the first Passover was the unleavened bread.

Also, Jesus introduced an element to the meal that was not a part of the original – wine.

Every omission and every addition to this Passover Feast which took place on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion was intentional. The absence of lamb is not insignificant as Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29), He is the real lamb that was about to be killed. The bitter herbs that were also missing was a sign that Jesus would take all the bitterness upon Himself.

So now there is only the bread and the wine.

The unleavened bread. Have you ever seen bread made without any rising agents? It is very flat and with this particular Passover-meal bread, called matzah or matzo, it is punctured and lined, reminiscent of Isaiah 53:5 (AMP).

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our   injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.

These days at the Passover meal, wine is drunk four times from a cup with each drink representing the four promises made by the Lord in Exodus 6:6-7.

I will bring you out – the cup of Sanctification

I will rescue you – the cup of Deliverance  

I will redeem you – the cup of Redemption

I will take you as My people – the cup of Praise 

The Passover cup which Jesus gave to His disciples to drink was symbolic of His approaching suffering and death. In Luke’s account it appears that Jesus Himself did not drink from that cup and certainly never drank the fourth cup.

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” – Luke 22:17-18 (AMP)

However, in Mark’s account Jesus says,

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” – Mark 14:25 (ESV)

The fourth cup, symbolic of when the Lord takes us as His people had not and has not yet been fulfilled. He will not drink of the cup again until He returns.

The fourth cup, symbolic of when the Lord takes us as His people had not and has not yet been fulfilled. He will not drink the cup until He returns.

Jesus raised the cup before they ate and raised the cup after the meal saying,

“This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood” – Luke 22:20 (AMP)

The Last Supper is filled with symbolism, symbolism that Jesus made clear as Luke 22:15-25 recounts. Jesus declared that the bread and wine were symbols of His body and blood.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life [which it represents].’  – Leviticus 17:11(AMP)

Beloved, Jesus is our Passover lamb, nowadays the entire feast represents what He did for all of humanity on the cross. Passover typifies the atoning sacrifice of our Lamb, Jesus. The price He paid in His body and His blood is symbolized by the bread and the wine. 

Jesus may not have drunk the fourth cup but the cup of judgment He drank became a cup of blessing to us all (Mark 14:36).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The Fourth Cup” ©2026 February 4, 2026

  

Who opened the Door?

 

I presume that we all know the account of Adam, Eve, the serpent and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that’s recorded in Genesis chapter two.

Maybe you can do with a brief reminder.

God formed Adam from the dust, planted a beautiful garden in Eden, including two trees, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, then He placed Adam in the garden, charging him with its care.

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” – Genesis 2:16-17 (NRSVUE)

God then creates a companion for Adam, a woman who he eventually named Eve. They were living as intended until Eve had an encounter.

Long story short, the serpent enticed Eve into eating from the tree that God had commanded Adam not to eat from, then Eve gave its fruit to Adam and he ate as well. They were all reprimanded by God, a curse was placed on the serpent, Eve was promised exceedingly great pains during childbirth, and Adam, for his disobedience God said,

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” – Genesis 3:17-19 (NRSVUE)

God had set specific boundaries which Adam crossed by eating from the tree but more than that, Adam ignored the voice of God and listened to the voice of his wife instead. For Adam’s disobedience, God pronounced a judgement of “death”; that was never the original intention. Adam cracked open the door to mortality.

Adam’s was a transgression of God’s direct command but not a sin against the law, for sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. (Romans 5:13 NRSVUE). The commandments of Sinai were not yet in place.

God’s specific command was a “tsavah”, a directive from God that set boundaries, and not a “mitzvah” which refers to the Mosaic laws and obligations.

Our English rendering stands wanting as these distinctions matter. The original languages of Hebrew and Greek give a more comprehensive perspective of Scripture.

Adam’s and our failure to listen and obey God’s “tsavah” demands consequences so, as a result of their disobedience Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, forfeiting access to the Tree of Life which would have the benefits of immortality, instead their existence would continue through painful procreation.

Enter Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s first and second born sons. Cain is a farmer, a tiller of the ground and Abel a shepherd. Their story revolves around their acts of sacrifice to God and His response.

Abel’s sacrifice finds favour with God, but Cain’s offering did not. Cain became very angry and God said to him,

“Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” – Genesis 4:6-7 (NRSVUE)

Cain received a direct warning from God about sin. His father, Adam, received a direct command but this was a completely different kind of command and like his father before him, Cain ignored God, and succumbing to his anger, killed his younger brother in a jealous rage.

Then God, just as He had done with Adam, engages Cain in dialogue.

“Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen, your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! – Genesis 4:9-10 (NRSVUE)

Beloved, the Hebrew word used for blood here is in the plural, indicating that Abel’s “bloods”, that is his progeny with all their potential, was crying out; Cain had murdered Abel and every one of his descendants.

Adam cracked open the door, but Cain swung the door wide open. His failure to obey the voice of God and lack of repentance for his vile act was an act of rebellion. He opened the door for sin to come in and it spread like an epidemic.

Adam’s actions introduced mortality, sealing it into the human condition but Cain caused sin to master him and in so doing he was the one, not his father, who opened the door to the sin that was lurking, lying in wait for a moment like this.

Adam introduced sin through his transgression but his son Cain, by his iniquity, unleashed sin and made death our fate.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned – Romans 5:12 (NRSVUE)

Sin entered and death followed immediately after.

Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good. – Romans 12:21 (AMPC)

Cain might have been the one who opened the door, but God had a plan to close it.

Enter Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.– John 3:16 (NRSVUE)

Jesus, through His death and resurrection, closed the door!

Jesus overturned the certainty of mortality, restored access to what the Tree of Life signified, and conquered death (ref.1 Corinthians 15:26).

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so grace might also reign through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 5:21(NRSVUE)

Beloved, Cain spread the reign of death and Jesus Christ reopened the way of life for He is the Way, and the Truth and the Life (ref. John 14:6).

I shall end today’s reflection with a line from one of Charles Wesley’s hymns, A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Who opened the Door?” ©2026 February 3, 2026