What about Quartus?

 

What’s in a name?

God instituted a timeless tradition when He named the first human Adam. Since then, humans have been given names.

We are all intrinsically unique and being given a name just adds to our individuality and identity. Names once held much greater meaning than they do today and in Old Testament times, names were only given to persons in positions of authority. The person’s name signified that they were appointed a particular position, function or relationship.

For instance, as Rachel lay dying after giving birth, with her last breath, she named her son Benon, “son of my sorrow”, however Jacob, changed his name to Benjamin, “son who will be fortunate” (ref. Genesis 35:18).

Names were often determined by circumstances at the time of birth or changed as one’s status changed.

King Neco made Josiah's son Eliakim king of Judah as successor to Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim – 2 Kings 23:34 (GNT)

God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah, signifying a change to their destiny and in the same way, Jacob became Israel.

Other than position, function or relationship, people were named for animals, tribes, precious things, plants, characteristics, historical events and even for the work that they did. Names were sometimes connected to a promise or an aspiration.

In those days, people were given one name but by New Testament times, there was a slight change to that practice; having a personal and family name became common. Descriptive phrases were added and in this bilingual culture, names were used interchangeably.

Then he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “Your name is Simon son of John, but you will be called Cephas.” (This is the same as Peter and means “a rock.”) – John 1:42 (GNT)

Where Cephas is Aramaic, Peter is Greek and both mean “rock”.

Now, Apostle Paul, who was charged with converting the Gentiles had made his way to Corinth, this was his third missionary journey. While there he was compelled to write to the church in Rome which was facing challenges related to Jewish/Gentile issues.

Near the end of his epistle he wrote,

My host Gaius, in whose house the church meets, sends you his greetings; Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. – Romans 16: 23 (GNT)

Here we have three names, Gaius, Erastus and Quartus who all sent their greetings.

Gaius, who we are told, hosted Paul and the Church in Corinth, must have been a Roman citizen since his personal name is of Latin origin, meaning “one who rejoices”.

The city treasurer bore the Greek name, Erastus which means “beloved”. Erastus may have been a freed slave; freedmen were often given positions to steward the city’s properties or manage the city’s financial affairs. Though former slaves, these men were often wealthy.

What about Quartus? While Paul gave brief but pertinent background information on Gaius and Erastus, Quartus is simply identified as, our brother. Quartus is the Roman word for “fourth”.

It was a common Roman practice to name children based on their order of birth, especially those children born to enslaved mothers. It is believed that Quartus was such a child. Under Roman rule, he was neither considered a citizen nor worthy of a proper name as the child of an enslaved woman. As far as Rome was concerned, a number was good enough.

Similarly, numerical names like Primus, “first”, Secundus “second” and Tertius “third”, were all derived from this Roman naming tradition.

Whoever was Quartus’ owner at birth, could never have imagined that this child identified only by a number meant to relegate him to a life of obscurity, would have lived on for thousands of years in the pages of the bible.

Quartus, like so many others in the bible, is only mentioned once but once is more than enough to validate him. The mere fact that the apostle considers him a brother speaks volumes. Quartus undoubtedly was a valued member of the Corinthian Christian community.

Beloved, your name is integral to who you are. The name that you now bear has meaning to God and even if others don’t know your name, God knows your name.

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out. – John 10:3 (GNT)

Your name distinguishes you just as Quartus’ name, though meant to identify him as a nobody, still distinguished him as somebody. God also knew his name and if you didn’t before, now you know his name too.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What about Quartus?” © 2026 October 11, 2026

 

 

Blessed

 

Question: “How are you?”

Answer: “Blessed”

How many times have you asked someone that question and that was their answer? And, how many times have you been asked that question and that was your answer?

When persons say that they are blessed, what do they mean?

Do they claim to be blessed because they consider themselves better off than others?

Is their answer “Blessed” because they think it demonstrates godliness?

Do people say that they are blessed because they believe it’s a right response?

Is giving “Blessed” as the answer to that question simply trendy?

When persons answer “Blessed”, is it because they honestly believe that they are blessed?

Here are some verses from the Word,

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed – Proverbs 11:25 (MSG)

When was the last time you truly blessed someone? Not with lip service but with genuine words and actions.

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” – Luke 11:28 (ESV)

Have you been hearing the Word and keeping it?

Jesus said that it’s the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, who are blessed, and He also said, when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account, you’re blessed (see Matthew 5:1-11)

Do any of these relate to you? Are you the peacemaker?

Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:8-9 (MSG)

Again, do you fit the bill? Do you bless rather than retaliate?

remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘You will have a greater blessing when you give than when you receive.’” – Acts 20:35 (ERV)

Are you hard-pressed to give but looking to get? Are you reluctant to donate but seeking favour? Are you receiving a salary but dropping only a dollar into the collection basket? Do you respond to people’s needs, or do you just ask God to bless you by responding to your needs?

If you don’t give of yourself in any way, how can you expect to receive a greater blessing?

Seeking God and walking in His ways leads to His blessings.

Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. – Genesis 1:24 (NIV)

So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life – Job 42:12 (NLT)

Beloved, to be blessed is a divine pronouncement of favour and the assurance of grace that God bestows upon you, so when you answer “Blessed” be sure that you know what being blessed entails.

“Blessed” carries great responsibility.

Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater. – Luke 12:48 (TLB)

“Blessed” is not a word to be bandied about for your good pleasure; contrary to what many believe, it’s rarely tied to things that are visible.

Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. – Ephesians 1:3 (GNT)

“Blessed” speaks of a life lived at a much higher level from a place within you at a much deeper level.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Blessed” © 2026 October 10, 2026

 

 

 

What about Azubah?

 

Azubah, not a familiar name to most I’m sure, but for me and my family, we knew that name well. Azubah was the name of one of my aunts.

The name Azubah appears in 1 Chronicles 2:18-19, as the name of Caleb’s wife, and in 1 Kings 22:42 and 2 Chronicles 20:31, king Jehoshaphat’s mother.

Neither of these women is afforded any extraordinary accolades, however, the influence the king’s mother must have had on him must not be overlooked.

Jehoshaphat ruled over the country of Judah. He was 35 years old when he became king, and he ruled 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. – 2 Chronicles 20:31 (ERV)

You see, king Jehoshaphat was outstanding for his godliness and he, understanding the importance of knowing the only true God, sent out princes, priests and Levites to teach the people the Law of the Lord.

During the third year of Jehoshaphat’s rule, he sent his leaders to teach in the towns of Judah…These leaders, Levites, and priests taught the people in Judah. They had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through all the towns of Judah and taught the people. – (2 Chronicles 17:7&9 (ERV)

It’s no secret that mothers, by far, have the most influence on their children and just as my Aunt Azuba impacted the lives of her children, there is no doubt that Jehoshaphat’s mother, Azubah, would have impacted his.

Other than being the mother of Jehoshaphat, the wife of king Asa and the daughter of Shilhi, we aren’t told much more about Azubah. So, everything else we can garner about her is pure supposition based solely on the uprightness of her son.

Taking a cue from Jehoshaphat, we can easily attribute the godly characteristics he displayed to his mother Azubah.

Azubah was not in the spotlight but to be the wife of a king who fought against idolatry and the mother of a king who destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah (2 Chronicles 17:6 GNT) and ensured that the Law of the Lord was taught throughout the land, says a great deal about this woman without saying a word about her.

This barely mentioned woman was a queen who birthed a legacy by raising a son who walked by faith at all costs, obeyed godly counsel, was unyielding in his commitment to righteousness, unwavering in his dependence on God, and trusted wholeheartedly in God’s faithfulness to provide, to protect and to give victory.

Jehoshaphat’s prayer, recorded in 2 Chronicles 20 gives credence to his faith in God.

O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You. – 2 Chronicles 20:12 (AMP)

Surely, Azubah would have been the one to instil all these virtues into her son; she must’ve been the one to teach him not to give into failure, defeat or limitations.

Azubah must have been the one who taught Jehoshaphat about God and the importance of developing and maintaining a sound relationship with Him.

As the mother of a future king, Azubah would have prepared her son to carry the weight of a nation, not from a military standpoint but through compassion, love and treating people fairly no matter their social standing.

Beloved, the bible did not give us much to work with regarding Azubah, but the fact that she was named let’s us know that she played an essential role in the reformation and reshaping of Judah as a wife and a mother of kings.

Azubah must have possessed a silent strength and resilience. There is much we can learn from such a woman who left us a great example of godliness in her son, Jehoshaphat.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What about Azubah?” © 2026 October 9, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entirely for God’s glory

 

photo courtesy Tricia Stephens-Joseph

The first seven verses of John chapter nine recounts Jesus’ healing of a man who was born blind. When asked by His disciples the cause for the man’s condition, Jesus responded with, he was born blind in order that the workings of God should be manifested (displayed and illustrated) in him (John 9:3 AMPC).

The cause of his blindness was entirely for God’s glory.

Not only was this man born blind to display the indescribable workings of God, but Isaiah 43:7 is very clear in that, we were all created for God’s glory.

Even everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, whom I have made. (AMPC)

We know the importance of giving God glory (see Revelation 4:10-11), but we must also know the importance of bringing Him glory.

As Apostle Paul told the Corinthians,

So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 AMPC)

Everything you do, no matter what it is, must be done entirely for God’s glory.

Our finite minds cannot truly grasp the awesomeness that is the glory of God. When the apostle, in his letter to the Ephesians speaks of the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (1:18), do we, even as God’s people, comprehend its profoundness?

The thing is, whether we get it or not, we can understand that each of us has a part to play in God’s eternal plan. You and I were created entirely for God’s glory – for His glory to be manifested, displayed and illustrated in and through us.

We must do our part to bring God glory.

If you preach, ensure that whatever you say is entirely for God’s glory.

If you evangelize, make sure that your sharing is entirely for God’s glory.

If you are a missionary, ensure that your service is entirely for God’s glory.

Whatever your ministry may be, make sure that it is entirely for God’s glory.

Beloved, the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1a) and so should you in all that you do. You are called by His name, created for His glory.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Entirely for God’s glory” © 2026 October 8, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born that way

My right eye doesn’t work well; from it, every image is blurred but colours and shapes are recognizable. Looking at me, you’ll never know. I had always known this about myself, and so, as a child, I simply took it for granted.

It wasn’t until I was about eleven, when my left eye, strained from carrying the workload, started to weaken and I began having trouble seeing the blackboard at school, that my mother found out about my deformity, after a visit to the optician.

I could see her dismay, as my mom asked if anything could be done to correct my vision. With apologetic tenderness, the optician responded, “No, she was born that way.”

While Jesus was walking, he saw a man who had been blind since the time he was born. Jesus’ followers asked him, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Whose sin made it happen? Was it his own sin or that of his parents?”

Jesus answered, “It was not any sin of this man or his parents that caused him to be blind. He was born blind so that he could be used to show what great things God can do. – John 9:1-3 (ERV)

This unnamed man that Jesus encountered along His walk was born blind; he had absolutely no vision. He could neither see shapes nor colours. He had been born that way.

Clearly, from the followers’ reaction, they could barely fathom that sin was not the cause of the man’s blindness. Someone must have sinned in some way, the man’s parents or the man himself. But that was not the case. This man was not being punished for his sin or the sin of his parents.

The cause of his deformity was entirely for God’s glory.

Beloved, you may not have been born with a physical deformity but there may be something in your life that you consider a “deformity”; something that you perceive as a hindrance to your existence or your progress in life.

Some crippling experience from childhood that’s impacted you your entire life. Whether it’s an actual physical abnormality or a person who has had a paralyzing effect on you, the reason for it just might be more than you ever imagined.

Perhaps you, like the man along Jesus’ way, are being used by God to show what great things He can do? It probably hasn’t happened yet but eventually it will.

God often does things in mysterious ways, ways which we don’t understand. Why don’t you reach out to Him? Ask Him to show you how you can be used to demonstrate His glory despite your “deformity”.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Born that way” © 2026 October 7, 2026

 

 

Is Religion Necessary?: Food for Thought.

 

What is religion? Here’s a rather broad definition that I came across…

a belief in a divine being or divine beings and the practices and moral code that result from that belief

A Google search gave me,

a shared system of beliefs, values, and practices that connect people to a god, gods, or the supernatural

A simple definition describes religion as a system of faith and worship

While my Bible dictionary says that the word religion is derived from the Latin verb religare which means “to hold, restrain”. It goes on to say that it came to be applied to the services and ritual and rules by which faith in and devotion to deity were expressed but it didn’t indicate why or how from a verb meaning to hold or restrain, we got to this context.

There are so many religions in the world. There are monotheistic religions – belief in one god; polytheistic religions – belief in many gods; and for those who believe in a chief god with lesser gods and goddesses, there are henotheistic religions.

And then there are all the various denominations attached to the religion of Christianity. It’s mind boggling.

To the church at Philippi, Apostle Paul wrote,

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves – Philippians 2:1-3 (NIV)

This bible verse demonstrates how the Christian religion was supposed to be, however, over the years Christians have used religion to justify some of the world’s most horrendous atrocities and even in more recent times the religion has sparked battle-worthy conflicts, even among members of the same denomination.

As a people called Christians, let’s focus our attention on our religion – a morsel of food for thought.

For those united with Christ, we seem to have moved away from the Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves state of like-mindedness to a “what I want from God” mindset.  

People seem to have more faith in the system of religion than in God Himself. In ancient Hebrew, there is no word for religion, and it makes you wonder if we were ever meant to classify the Way of Jesus Christ, a religion.

People love to ask, “What religion are you?” when what they really want to know is your denomination, but why does that matter so much to some?

You and I as Christians believe in the same God. How does “religion” factor in. Why the need to know?

Religion has divided us – Methodists and Catholics and Pentecostals and Evangelicals and Adventists and Moravians – when in fact, we all have one foundational belief. We all believe in the One True Living God, we all believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, I ask the question, is religion necessary?

Matthew 18:20 (NIV), records Jesus as saying,

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

This being so, can two or three gather in Jesus’ name without involving religion? Is religion, in the way it’s commonly practiced today, beside the point?

Before anyone starts turning somersaults, I am not suggesting that we all abandon church, but I am questioning the way we do church under the banner of Christianity.

Because according to what Paul said to the church in Philippi, I don’t see it in church nowadays and I’m not the only one. I listen to others who’ve made the same observation and sadly it stems from the clergy, from the head and trickles down.

The common sharing in the Spirit, tenderness and compassion, being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind are all hard to find within the church.

Have we become so connected to the religion that we’ve lost our connection to God?

Religion has turned transactional – do this and you’re guaranteed a reward, a blessing – instead of relational, where it’s all about our relationship, love and service to God and others with no thought of “what will I get in return”.

Beloved, if all your “doing” is for your own benefit, to look good or be in a position of note, then you are simply practicing religion and not demonstrating to anyone what being united with Christ is about.

You have a responsibility to be true to your relationship with God; don’t let religion get in the way of that.

 

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Is Religion Necessary?: Food for Thought.” © 2026 October 6, 2026

 

 

 

Purpose

 

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].  – Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)

God created you for purpose. Everyone has a purpose for being here, you weren’t created by chance. You may think it hard to believe that God needs you, but you are significant and play an important role in God’s plan, especially when you’ve been reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed – you are certainly ready to be used.

You must understand that you have purpose – a mission here in this earthly, physical realm that has a great effect and impacts the spiritual realm.

Too many of us like to say over and over again that we have no purpose; if you are one of those persons, perhaps you’re trying to find purpose in what rather than Who.

This stems from the self-seeking mindset that we all seem to possess. The thing is, we all have needs – we need food, we need water, we need clothes, we need a job, we need money, we need more time, we need to exercise, we need to sleep, we need to go to church, we need and we need and we need this and that and some more of that. Frankly, our list of needs is exhausting.

In actual fact, what we do need is to become persons who aren’t driven by self-serving needs. According to the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, the point of life isn’t to get everything we need; that should never be our fixation.

After all, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31-33 (AMP),

do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’…for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Do you see on Whom you should be focused?

Jesus and Paul are pointing in similar directions. Our primary purpose for which we were created is to serve God, not ourselves.

Beloved, God knows every material thing that you need. He knows what is necessary for you to survive here on earth. However, He needs you to understand, like Mary of Bethany, that only one thing is necessary (read Luke 10:38-42). That one thing is to align yourself with divine intent.

For this, you need to let go of being religious, focus on God and fulfil the purpose for which you were created – serving Him, taking the path which He set, and living the life which He prearranged and made ready for you.

Start serving God and stop endlessly striving to get something from Him. You’re here to help Him as an integral part of His eternal plan. Ask God how you could be of service to Him.

Remember always that it’s His plan, His purpose and your privilege to be a part of it.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Purpose” © 2026 October 5, 2026