The GOSPEL is Good News!

 

The Bible’s New Testament contains four separate accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings by four people who were associated with Him in some way.

These accounts, called the Gospels, are ascribed to and bear the names of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John who tell us the Good News of Jesus’ coming to earth to save all of mankind from the punishment of sin and death.

The reason Jesus took our place, receiving all the punishment we deserve in the ultimate sacrifice of love, is expressed in one of the best known verses in the Bible found in the Gospel of John – John 3:16,

God so loved the world that He gave His One and

Only

Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not

Perish but have

Eternal

Life

The GOSPEL is Good News!

Beloved, now that you know the Good News, pass it on to someone who doesn't.

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “The GOSPEL is Good News!” ©2014 revisited November 24, 2025

God’s Pruning

 

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  – John 15:2 (NIV)

Here, Jesus, in comparing Himself to a vine, speaks of the necessity of staying connected to Him. And in maintaining this vital connection there are certain elements of our lives that must be cut off, so do not be afraid to be pruned by God.

We suffer God's pruning so that we could get rid of all the unnecessary things in our lives. Every superfluous twig, those things and people that sap our energy, stunt our spiritual growth and are of no value, are cut off completely.

Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever. – 1 Peter 5:10 (ERV)

God’s pruning removes anything that He sees as useless or a hindrance in our lives.

God's pruning refreshes us, revives us and renews us.

God's pruning causes us to stay fresh and green and still bear fruit in old age (Psalm 92:14).

Isaiah 5:6 lets us know that a lack of pruning results in desolation. So, we need to endure God’s pruning.

God desires us to produce an abundance of good fruit, fruit that will be of benefit to us and to others, so He prunes us to encourage new life and spiritual growth.

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]. – Hebrews 12:11 (AMPC)

Beloved, pruning is a painful but necessary re-shaping of you, both inside and out, so that you become His new creation.

 

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “God’s Pruning” ©2014 revisited November 23, 2025

Persistent in Faith

 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a parable about a tenacious widow who comes before a judge who, by his own admission, has “no fear of God and no respect for anyone” (Luke 18:4 NRSV).

Now this widow was relentless in her pursuit for justice and soon enough this judge gives in to her saying, “because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” (Luke 18:5 NRSV).

Then in verse 6, Jesus admonishes us to listen to what the self-righteous judge says and in conclusion tells us,

 “And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find persistence in] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8 AMPC)

Will Jesus find you persistent in faith? Are you persistent in faith even now?

This parable is about constant prayer, but we cheat ourselves by not recognizing that this parable is also about being persistent in faith. Jesus is telling us that we are to be persistent and at the same time, that our God is persistent as well.

God is persistent in His faithfulness toward us, His elect, His chosen ones. Read verses 7 and 8 again; do you see?

God is persistent in faith even before you utter a word of prayer. Unlike the unjust judge in this parable, God’s reason for showing us justice has nothing to do with our being intolerably annoying.

We are to continuously bother God, wear Him out, assault Him through prayer, after all, it is God who insists that we “Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMPC) but oftentimes we pray and still become discouraged.

Through this parable, Jesus is telling us not to allow discouragement to set in but to remain faith-filled.

Through this parable, Jesus is telling us that even when we are considered weak, we can still move mountains through perseverance in prayer and persistence in faith.

Through this parable, Jesus is telling us to be strong and determined in our resolve to see the glory of God on this side of the Kingdom.

Through this parable, Jesus is telling us that as we cry out to God, day and night, He will defend us, protect us and avenge us for He is persistent in His faithfulness toward us (see Lamentations 3:22-23).

Through this parable, Jesus is telling us that, like the widow, we are to boldly approach the Throne, confident that we will receive an answer to our prayer (see Hebrews 4:16).

Beloved, these lessons taught by Jesus, His parables, are meant to provoke our senses – morally and spiritually. This parable is no different, there is so much more to it than meets the eye and deserves more than a mere cursory glance. I encourage you to dive into Scripture, “go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets” (Luke 4:5 NET), you’ll be surprised at what you will catch.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Persistent in Faith” © November 21, 2025

 

 

Mirror, Mirror

 

“Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.” – Proverbs 27:19 (MSG)

Peer into water and what do you see? You see a reflection of your true likeness. In the same way, your heart reflects your true character. Several times, in this blog, Bethel at Balata, I’ve written that your heart is that place deep within you beyond your conscious thoughts, your inner-most being and it possesses the power to motivate and compel you; if it is evil, you will tend to do evil but if it is good, you will tend to do good. In Luke 6:45 Jesus says,

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (NIV)

Although outside influences affect you, your true character traits come from deep within. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:19 (NIV).

Clearly, it is what’s in your fallen heart that corrupts your whole being. That is why David, after committing adultery and murder, pleaded with God to create in him a pure heart (Psalm 51:10). He understood that it was in the heart that sin is devised (see Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 6:18), but even more importantly, David recognized that it was not within his own power to overcome, and sought the help of the only One with real power to restore, God Almighty.

So too you must be honest with yourself, come clean with God about what’s really in your heart. Yes, it’s true, He already knows but this confession is not for God’s sake, it is for your sake. As 1 John 1:9 assures,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)

This verse gives credence to the familiar old Scottish proverb: “Open confession is good for the soul.”

The “open” is usually left out but it is indeed open confession that is the prerequisite to repentance, and forgiveness from a God who delights in forgiving and forgetting.

Beloved, allow me to leave you with a few verses from the Bible upon which you can meditate:

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment…Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3,4 (NIV)

“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:21-23 (NIV)

“Explore me, O God, and know the real me. Dig deeply and discover who I am. Put me to the test and watch how I handle the strain. Examine me to see if there is an evil bone in me, and guide me down Your path forever.” Psalm 139:23-24 (The Voice)

 

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Mirror, Mirror” © 2016 revisited November 21, 2025

 

 

 

Where is your brother?

 

A dichotomy of our human nature dictates that the desire for vengeance and the capacity to show mercy co-exist within every human heart, but the penchant for showing mercy must be more than the inclination for revenge.

When Cain Killed his brother Abel, it was because he allowed his need for revenge to override his capacity to be merciful.

How often do you entertain vengeance rather than taking a step back to give way to mercy?

Later, the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain answered, “I don’t know. Is it my job to watch over my brother?” (Genesis 4:9 ERV)

Is it your job to watch over your brother? Where is your brother; do you even know?

Do you recognize that your fellow believer is your brother? That’s where your brother is. Jesus told us where our brothers are and who they are in Matthew 12:49-50 when He pointed to His disciples and said,

“Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother...” (NET)

Cain killed his blood brother while in a state of anger, not out of hate but sheer confusion. God never gives Cain a reason for His rejection. Instead, God drives him away and he becomes a wandering fugitive, but after discourse between Cain and God, God placed a mark of protection on Cain, and he survives.

Every sermon I have ever heard based on these two brothers, simply pronounces Cain guilty without diving into the meat of the story, just a serving of milk but God showed Cain mercy.

Why after his dastardly deed, did God still cover Cain?

Cain bore the mark of divine protection, yet we cannot see beyond the fratricide that he committed. We only see him in the one glaring light that highlights his actions before he was divinely branded.

Do we even remember the mark, or do we brush past it, ignoring the divine touch upon his life that came after his unfortunate act of misguidance?

What is that thing within us that prevents us from showing Cain mercy? It is that same desire for vengeance that lurks in our own hearts. Are we no better than Cain?

We ask, where is your brother? And with the answer we hear, we quickly condemn because we believe that Cain is his brother’s keeper. But do we truly believe that it is our job, our responsibility, to watch over our brother? Be honest.

God’s protection of Cain, a murderer, makes no sense to our human logic. We cannot reconcile it as it seems to be a contradiction of everything we were taught. We cannot reconcile it because we want justice for Abel. We cannot reconcile it because we, like Cain, see God’s action as unfair.

God did not accept Cain’s offering.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.” (Genesis 4:6-7 NET)

Cain was jealous. Cain was angry. Cain was confused. Cain was misguided.

But, yes but…what are we being taught through this story of brotherly conflict? Remember the two things that co-exist, vengeance and mercy? They aren’t the only two opposing roommates.

There’s also the carnal, calling for revenge and the spiritual, demanding mercy. The old man and the new creation. The older brother and the younger brother. The Cain and the Abel.

Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground. (Genesis 4:2 NET)

Abel represents our spiritual nature, while Cain represents our carnal nature.

Beloved, how often have you allowed your carnal nature – your constant toiling and dependence on the world – to supersede your spiritual nature – your seeking His Presence and dependence on God? Be honest.

Take heed, “sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”

Genesis chapter 4 is about human duality.

Living the world’s way over living God’s way.

Our desire to control over our need for reliance.

Choosing vengeance over mercy.

It’s time for us to really choose God.

Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. (Ephesians 4:31-32 CEV)

God has extended His mercy to every human being, mercy we don’t deserve and every believer bears that divine mark of protection, all through the Blood of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Where is your brother?” © November 19, 2025

 

 

 

A Prayer For Today

O Lord, You are the One upon whom no limits can be placed, You cannot be contained, and nothing is impossible for You, for You can do anything – immeasurably more than I can ever ask or imagine.

Today I pray that You would forgive me for the limits I have placed upon You, thinking of You in my limited human terms and not as the all mighty, omnipotent, omniscient, universe-filling God that You are.

Cause me to lift up my eyes from the natural realm so that I may truly perceive the spiritual. Teach me the truth of Who You are, the I AM that I AM.

I long to clearly understand Your invisible attributes, Your divine nature, and to experience Your eternal power, in every area of my life.

I thank You for Your Spirit in me, my Teacher, Who brings revelation of the truth and for Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who has made reconciliation with You possible through His incomparable sacrifice.

I pray that I will not yield to temptation, instead I will yield myself to You as never before. Thank You for delivering me from the evil one and keeping me safe under Your protective wings.

To You who alone are God, my Saviour through Jesus Christ my Lord, all glory, majesty, power, and authority are Yours before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!

I pray in the powerful and matchless name of Jesus, Amen†

 

Shelley Johnson “A Prayer For Today” © 2016 revisited November 19, 2025

God wants you to do nothing

 

Several years ago, I was faced with what would surely be considered dire circumstances. I knew I had to do something about the situation in which I’d found myself, so like any good Christian, I came up with a plan.

And, as a good Christian with a brilliant solution to a problem, the first thing that I thought that I must do before executing my well-thought-out agenda was to go to the Lord in prayer to present my plan to Him.  

I “humbled” myself before my God, thanking Him for the incredibly fool-proof plan that I was about to execute to lift myself out of the miry clay and place my feet on solid ground.

What a great solution I’d devised and after I’d poured it all out onto the table, so to speak, I heard, “Do Nothing”

I countered,

“Huh? Say what?”

”Do Nothing”, same response, same gentle tone. 

I protested,

“Do nothing? But what about my incredibly-brilliant-well-thought-out-fool-proof solution to my present danger problem? I can’t just sit and do nothing about it, something must be done, Lord!” 

His response,

“Yes, something must be done but not by you. I Am, already doing something about your situation, be still, do nothing.”

You see, God is always working. He does not sleep, it’s true. He has already devised solutions to every one of your dire circumstances, all you have to do is co-operate, comply, and if you are required to “stand still and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes” (1 Samuel 12:16 ERV), then stand still.

Jeremiah 10:23 says, “I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course.” (NLT)

And in John 8:28 Jesus said, “…I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me. (NASB)

Understand that Jesus, though Divine was also human and therefore in complete subjection to the Father, He did nothing on His own initiative, and that’s how God wants us to operate. Not on our own but to totally depend on Him, in complete subjection to His way and will. I know, for some, this is a hard pill to swallow. 

 During my time of trial, some of my closest relatives asked me why I was not doing something about my situation. They called me lazy, and stupid, and, reading from the book of Exodus, they said I was stiff-necked, stubborn and arrogant, and proclaimed me a fool for believing nonsense.

They accused me of doing my own thing because God would never tell me to do nothing. They quoted from the Bible, “God helps those who help themselves!” – this is not in the Bible, but I didn’t have the heart to interrupt their rant to let them know that.

They cited the account of Noah, saying, even Noah built the ark when God told him about the flood. Yes, a feat which took more than 50 years mind you and for all those years, Noah was being obedient to God’s instructions, doing nothing on his own initiative, again I did not interrupt the rant.

It was during that time that I recognized that people who believe they know what’s best for you will not understand and you cannot make them understand, only God can penetrate the closed hearts of those who’ve already come to their own conclusions. But you have to be obedient to Him, no matter what (read Matthew 10:16-42).

We don’t see the entire picture but God does, and believe it or not He does not need our help to carry out His plan for our lives – a Truth that Job painfully had to learn. Oftentimes God allows us to take part, but it’s never that He can do nothing without us, on the contrary, we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5).

Ephesians 1:11 clearly states, “…God is the One who makes everything agree with what He decides and wants.” (ICB)

Since then, when God tells me to do nothing, that’s exactly what I do because I know that He has His reasons and it’s not necessary for me or any of us to know what those reasons are. If God chooses to let you know then be grateful, if not, still be grateful. The truth of the matter is, we just need to trust God’s way of doing what He does. 

Beloved, genuine followers of Jesus follow the examples Jesus Himself set for us – do nothing of your own initiative but do anything and everything that God would have you do. 

So, in the midst of flying objections from every side, do nothing if God wants you to do nothing. 

 

Amen†

 

 

Shelley Johnson “God wants you to do nothing” © 2016 revisited November 18, 2025