Under the Veil

 The author of the Book of Hebrews tells us clearly that the veil in the temple signified Jesus’ flesh.

Therefore, believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh – Hebrews 10:19-20 (AMP)

But there is something else that the veil represents – the Law of Moses and any other barrier between God and man which pertains to the flesh.

The veil in the temple was made of linen, symbolic of righteousness, and although the high priest was the only person permitted to pass through the veil to enter the Holy of Holies, he was not truly righteous.

No-one was made righteous by the Law; no-one was justified by the Law. God created the Law to reveal sin, not to save us from sin. The Law itself was never meant to save but to highlight the need for a saviour.

Yet some people continue to place themselves under the veil of the Law, seeking righteousness through works.

From Moses’ day to now, anyone who puts himself under any part of the Law or anyone who teaches others to do so, enters under the veil and into a curse according to Apostle Paul.

Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 

those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse 

(2 Corinthians 3:15; Galatians 3:10 NLT)

Beloved, trying to establish personal holiness by observing parts of the Law is foolhardy, trying to observe and obey all that the Law commands is impossible for any human being to accomplish.

Going under the veil makes you spiritually blind as it covers your heart and your mind. Under the veil you’re unable to understand anything spiritual. Under the veil you do not recognize that the Law was never meant to heal sin, only to reveal it. Under the veil you cannot see clearly, you cannot see your dire need for Jesus Christ.

Listen, Jesus was the only person who was righteous in the flesh; He was the only person who could do something about this veil of the Law. Jesus was the only person who walked this earth that could remove the veil between God and man.

Jesus Himself became the veil. When He was crucified and the veil of the temple was torn in two, it signified that what prevented us from entering the Holy Place of the presence of God was removed.

Jesus’ death gave us access, but we now have to fully perceive that truth; we need to come out from under the veil and turn to Him for whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (2 Corinthians 3:16 NLT).

The veil was taken away in Jesus who became the very embodiment of the veil, of the Law and of the sin of the entire world, when He hung on that cross at Calvary.  

When we continue to go under the veil of the Law, or any other veil pertaining to the flesh, we reject the veil of Jesus and all that He suffered on our behalf. We have a part to play in all this, we must tear away our own fleshly veils – our religious legalism, our pride, our religious beliefs, and all our other pharisaic behaviour.

Understand that these fleshly veils prevent proper fellowship with God; unless they are torn there will always be a struggle to enter the presence of God and the type of tearing that is required can happen only when we simply turn to the Lord.

Beloved, if you remain under the veil, then you will never experience the fullness of God. Now is the perfect time to turn to God with all your heart [in genuine repentance], with fasting and weeping and mourning [until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored]; Rip your heart to pieces [in sorrow and contrition] and not your garments.”
Now return [in repentance] to the Lord your God. (Joel 2:12, 13 AMP).

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Under the Veil” ©2026 February 22, 2026

 

 

 

The Living Tithe

 

A tithe is a tenth of something; the tenth part of produce or property or money. References to the tithe can be found in both the Old and New Testaments.

In Genesis chapter 14, we see Abram, under no written obligation, giving 10 percent of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, while he gave the remaining 90 percent to the king of Sodom who had suggested that Abram keep it for himself. Abram did not as he wanted to demonstrate to those around him that it was God, not man, who made him rich.

I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’  (Genesis 14:23 NIV)

Citing Genesis 14, Hebrews chapter 7 shows that in Abram’s day the giving of tithes was seen as a holy deed and pre-dated the law of Moses.

It is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to collect tithes from the people—which means, from their kinsmen—though these have descended from Abraham. But this person [Melchizedek] who is not from their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God]. (Hebrews 7:5-6 AMP)

These two chapters allow us to see the true meaning of the tithe not as an instruction or an example to follow or even a religious precedent but as a symbol of a higher concept that points to a deeper truth.

Jesus, upon entering a village, was met by 10 lepers.

They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:13, 14 MSG)

On their way to the priests, they are miraculously healed of this dreaded disease.

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. (Luke 17:15, 16 ESV)

Only one out of the ten returned, voluntarily, to Jesus.

Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:16, 17-18 ESV)

Combining Luke’s account of the ten lepers with Hebrews chapter 7 gives a new and higher concept to the tithe, pointing to a truth that we often overlook – the living tithe.

That formerly diseased man was the tithe, the living tithe. This foreigner, like Melchizedek, was outside the genealogy of the Jewish people, just as we are, yet he, after receiving 100 percent from God, gave himself back to God as a living tithe.

Tithing has never been merely about money, and there is so much more about it than one blog post can accommodate. It is so important to dig deeper into the Scriptures, to study carefully and thoroughly, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and understanding.

The living tithe is one who returns to Jesus, willing not just to give a tenth but to offer God every part of him or herself.

Beloved, you may honour God by giving a tenth of your money, but God wants all of you. Jesus gave all of Himself for you, 100 percent was the price He paid on the cross.

This season invites you to return to God, offer yourself to Him as the living tithe, withholding nothing from Him because it begins and ends in Him.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Living Tithe” ©2026 February 21, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Journey of Returning

Every single one of us is on the ultimate journey, the journey that takes us back to God and this larger journey is comprised of smaller journeys along the way as we trek upon the spiritual path towards our Creator. Each one of these small journeys is a journey of returning.

For whatever reason, we humans tend to slip off the path from time to time.

It happens to all of us so let’s not pretend that we have never been so distracted by the pleasurable taste of sin that we have never found ourselves heading in the opposite direction meandering away from God.

The problem is that we lose our focus, getting caught up in this and that, we find ourselves spiritually wandering off in a direction which we’re not meant to be journeying, then at some point, we come to ourselves and turn back hoping to resume our journey.

Thankfully, the Lord, who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8) sees us through the sacrifice of His Son and says to you and to me, “…you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you.” (Malachi 3:7 NIV).

Beloved, even now you may be asking, “How am I to return?”

Lent is the perfect time to reevaluate your life and the path you’re on. Use these 40 days to consciously journey toward God; return to Him seeking unity and complete fellowship with Him.

This journey of returning is reminiscent of the 40 days Christ spent in the wilderness, where like Him, you’re in close communion with the Holy Spirit as He strengthens your resolve to remain on the right path to continue the journey.

A journey of returning is your personal sojourn, it is your act of repentance, prompted not by the fear of punishment but by sheer love and reverence.

You must confess that you have strayed (see 1 John 1:9), crying out to God in sincerity,

Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. (Jeremiah 31:18, 19 NIV).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A Journey of Returning” ©2026 February 20, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shema

 

Shema is a Hebrew word which basically means to listen or hear but it’s much more than that – it is hearing that leads to alignment.

In many places Shema is defined as hearing which leads to obedience however that conjures up an image of forced, coerced submission. But it’s not obedience as in a slave and slave master relationship, it is obedience which stems from loving compliance, and reverence and trust and loyalty.

Every day Jewish people confess these words from Deuteronomy,

Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. (6:4-5 AMPC)

The very first word “Hear” – “Shema” – is setting the tone for what’s to follow in bringing God’s people into alignment with all that He is and all that He’s about to say.

The Israelites had recently been redeemed from bondage in Egypt and with this redemption came freedom from the ways and customs to which they had become accustomed; God was about to do a new thing, and He needed His people to perceive it.

God was moving them from a materialistic mindset to a divine reality – from Egypt, double difficulty, to Canaan, the Land of Promise.

These once long-enslaved people, with the adoption of their slave master’s ways and lifestyle, had become slaves to their master’s ritualistic practices, including their worship of other gods. "Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad", was a declaration of God’s identity. This act of restoration involved a reintroduction of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of all generations, the only Lord to which they were to align and to love deeply.

The only Lord to which we are to align and love deeply.

During this Lenten season, perhaps we should all seek a reintroduction to God, a realignment to Him and a rekindling of our love for Him.

God wanted His people then and wants us now to truly understand who He is. He wants us to know that He is our Liberator. He gave up His only begotten Son (John 3:16) to set us free.

Beloved, just as the Israelites were unable to free themselves from the more than 400 years of captivity, you and I cannot free ourselves from our various enslavements – our addictions, our vices, our unmanageable lusts and unhealthy habits. It is God who affords us freedom through Jesus Christ His Son because if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free (John 8:36 AMPC).

Understand that you don’t obey to get free, you align because you are already free; you don’t obey to receive God’s love, you align because you are already loved by God.

Shema (the hearing, the obedience, the alignment), is foundational to our relationship with God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Shema is not just a call to hear or listen, it is a call to act, a call to align with Love in love ; Shema is pinned to the outcome of the act of listening to God.

God is calling you out of your skewed alignment with the gods of Egypt – enslaved by money, worldly success, power and status – into alignment with Him, the God of freedom, where He provides everything that you need.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Shema” ©2026 February 19, 2026

 

 

 

 

An Everlasting Love

 

We are all familiar with John 3:16 as we should be, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (NLT) and though this is undeniable proof of God’s love for all people, He has been protesting His love for over thousands of years with several verses in Scripture that corroborate God’s everlasting love for His people.

One such verse, Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) reads,

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”  

While this chapter is directed to Israel, it is relevant to all people even today. It is a declaration of God’s love for His people and reveals His heart towards us as He continues to draw all of us to Himself with unfailing kindness.

God’s love is not temporary. His love is not dependent on what we do. He is faithful in His love even when we are unfaithful in our love of Him.

This chapter in Jeremiah is a promise of the complete restoration of a people who, after God had redeemed them from bondage in Egypt and provided for them throughout their sojourn in the desert, defied Him by breaking the covenant He had made with them. They were rebellious at best and suffered punishment for it yet God, with an everlasting love, turned their mourning into gladness and gave them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

Sometimes we, like the Israelites of old, cut ourselves off from the intimacy of God when we deem ourselves unworthy of His love because of sin, with its resulting guilt and shame.

We turn away from God, believing the lies that we tell ourselves, the lies that others tell us and the lies we hear from the world around us, and we cling to those things and those people who we hope will satisfy our need for the love we crave but no matter how hard we hold on to the what and the who, we are still left wanting.

But there is a new covenant to which we are bound, fulfilled by the One Who suffered punishment for all the sin of the entire world which includes yours and mine.

Your story hasn’t ended; sin, guilt and shame do not define you. God is pursuing you, but you just won’t allow Him to catch up. He is calling out to you by name, longing for you to turn back, see Him and hear Him saying to you,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love”

Beloved, God’s desire for an intimate relationship with you is evident, His expression of love for you cannot be denied, He longs to draw you to Himself. Won’t you open your heart to receive His love, an everlasting love like no other? You mean everything to God.

As you make your way through this Lenten season, remember God’s deep love for you, not the sin, not the guilt, not the shame, instead get ready to be fully loved just as you are, look back and turn back to Him calling out “Here I am! Ready to receive Your everlasting love.”

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “An Everlasting Love” ©2026 February 18, 2026

Doubting Jesus

 

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.  He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. – Matthew 16:1-4 (ESV)

All too often we behave like the Pharisees and Sadducees always wanting a sign. This simply means that we’re doubting Jesus.

Gideon, doubting the word of God, asked for a sign (see Judges 6). Thomas, doubting Jesus, asked for a sign (John 20).

Gideon had heard time and time again of all God’s wondrous works, yet still he doubted that God would choose him. And Thomas, the Pharisees and the Sadducees had seen all of Jesus’ wondrous miracles, yet that was not enough for them, doubting Jesus, they wanted proof.

Don’t we do the same though? Aren’t we doubting Jesus? Always wanting proof that meets our expectations rather than taking Him at His word or reflecting on what He has already shown us?

We are always seeking proof of some kind instead of trusting God. He has already done so much yet we dismiss it all and require just a little more proof.

“God if this, then do that”

“Lord Jesus, if that, then do this”

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, we are doubting Jesus, His abilities and His authority. Loyal churchgoers, avid Word-readers yet blind to the spiritual, unable to properly interpret the signs of the times.

Beloved, stop waiting for a sign, stop doubting Jesus instead pay attention to the thread of His faithfulness woven into the everyday moments of your life. Jesus has already given us a spectacular sign in the sign of Jonah which symbolizes His death and resurrection. 

What more do you need? Isn’t that enough? No other proof of His love can be greater (John 3:16).

Jesus has already given us, all of mankind, everything.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Doubting Jesus” ©2026 February 15, 2026

 

Believe to See

The world says “Seeing is believing” but in God’s economy we have to believe to see. This is clearly illustrated in Matthew 20: 29 – 34 (ERV) when Jesus encountered two blind men seated on the roadside.

When Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the road. They heard that Jesus was coming by. So they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, please help us!”

 The people there criticized the blind men and told them to be quiet. But they shouted more and more, “Lord, Son of David, please help us!”

Jesus stopped and said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

 They answered, “Lord, we want to be able to see.”

Jesus felt sorry for the blind men. He touched their eyes, and immediately they were able to see. Then they became followers of Jesus.

Despite the crowd’s castigation of them, these two blind men did not let that deter them from seeking Jesus’ help.

They heard that Jesus was coming their way and put a plan into action. They could not see Him approaching but believed what they had heard.

Most of us always need to see before we believe however, sometimes God is leading us in the opposite direction where He wants us to learn to accept His promises as true before they’re manifested.

With Jesus standing right in front of him, Thomas, the disciple, still desired to see before he would believe.

A week later the followers were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you!”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and believe.”  – John 20:26-27 (ERV)

Unlike Thomas, these men did not require any proof or signs in order to believe. Unlike Thomas, these two men did not know Jesus personally, but they knew of Him and were sure that He was able help them see. Unlike Thomas, these two men were not doubting but believing.

Persistent, they shouted and shouted and Jesus paid attention. He stopped. He asked. They answered, “Lord, we want to be able to see.”

Beloved, you may have your sight, but are you able to see? Perhaps you have not seen because you do not truly believe.

These blind men believed and Jesus did not hesitate to grant their request. His response was immediate. Feeling compassion for them, Jesus touched their eyes and gave them their sight. In turn, these two men, now able to see clearly, did not walk away from Jesus but became His followers.

What do you want Jesus to do for you? Have you been crying out to Him without a response? Perhaps He is waiting for you to believe to see.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Believe to See” ©2026 February 15, 2026