The Goodness of God

 

“I have seen the goodness of God

I bear witness to what He can do

My life has been touched by His rod

All He has done for me He will do for you”

(the chorus of “The Goodness of God” lyrics by Shelley Johnson)

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

Indeed, He is good, for that is who God is. God’s goodness is unquestionable. Everything God does and everything God gives is good and for good.

If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him. – Matthew 7:11 (AMP)

God wants all of us, His children, created in His image and likeness (see Genesis 1:26), to get back to that state of being where we produce “good” (see Galatians 5:22) so that we do not perish.

And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. – Matthew 3:10 (AMP)

Mankind, originally created good – God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely (Genesis 1:31 AMP) – saw a disruption in our spiritual imagery and moral likeness after the fall of Adam which introduced the disorder, the moral degradation, the spiritual rebellion, the evil and the sin that are now prevalent throughout His very good creation.

Even though the nature of God’s creation was infected, His nature remains intact as He can be nothing else but good.

God is so good that immediately after the fall, the restoration of man began. No better evidence of God’s goodness can be found but, in the incarnation, the atoning death, the resurrection and Pentecost, and His goodness towards us continues to this day.

I am sure that you have seen God’s goodness in your life and can bear witnessed to what He can do.

But, we are prone to forgetting the good because we tend to focus on the bad but keep in mind always that even though you may be going through a rough patch, God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose (Romans 8:28 AMP). Be confident of this truth.

Since goodness is intrinsic to God, all that He does is necessarily good.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

Beloved, God is good and does good (Psalm 119:68); whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father (James 1:17 NLT); He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalm 107:9 NIV).

God has stored up His abundant goodness for those who reverently fear Him and He works for those who take refuge in Him (ref. Psalm 31:19). So, thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Goodness of God” ©2026 May 12, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus was not nice

Yes, that is the title of today’s devotion, it is not a typo. I indeed said what I said and I’ll say it again, “Jesus was not nice”. I know you like to believe He was, but He wasn’t nice.

Okay, before you start stoning me via cyberspace, or slamming your laptop shut or throwing aside your phone, hear me out.

The word “nice” isn’t an adjective used any where in the biblical text. I dare you to look for it. Nice is not descriptive of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Nice is generally defined as polite, agreeable, appropriate, pleasing, and socially acceptable. So now, think about these adjectives while you read the following verses.

John 2:13-16 (NIV)

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

Matthew 9:23-24 (GNT)

Then Jesus went into the official's house. When he saw the musicians for the funeral and the people all stirred up, he said, “Get out, everybody!

In Matthew 23: 24-26, Jesus calls the church leaders, “Hypocrites!”, “Blind guides!”, and in verses 27-28 (MSG), He tells them,

“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.”

These are just a few examples of Jesus’ actions which cannot be described as nice. Jesus did not, as the colloquial idiom says, put water in His mouth to talk, no He said whatever He felt was necessary.

First-century Israel was not accustomed to this radical temperament of Jesus, who was a non-conformist in His day.

Jesus was not afraid to speak the truth, unlike most church goers, who prefer to sugar coat everything, not wanting to offend or to be in contention or to be seen as a not-nice-Christian. Instead, they pretend and feign being aghast if anyone dares to speak up and speak out.

If you think that being nice falls under the banner of “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do), then think again because Jesus was not nice.

There are many other adjectives used throughout the Word to describe Jesus but nice is not one of them.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29 NIV)

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:34 NIV)

Search for yourself and you will see that Jesus was honest, kind, gentle, humble, compassionate, loving, blameless, righteous, just, fair, non-judgmental and so much more and at the same time, He was severely harsh towards sin and spoke hard truths without fear of contradiction.

Jesus Himself says, in John 10:11 & 14, that He is the Good Shepherd and in Mark 10:18 (AMP), after a man addresses Him as “Good Teacher”,

Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is [essentially] good [by nature] except God alone.

Jesus was in fact expressing His divinity, in that, as God, He alone is good. Goodness is intrinsic to God. He is the Source of all goodness and there is no good apart from Him. Jesus is God incarnate therefore, all the attributes of God are the attributes of Him; Jesus is the good and all He does is good.

As you can see, Jesus was never described as nice, but He was described as good and there’s a difference.

Good, at times, disrupts, calls things out and sometimes makes people feel uncomfortable.

Nice gives wrong doing a pass by turning a blind eye or sweeping things under the carpet because nice prefers to not rock the boat.

Good overturns tables, makes cords and drives people out in the face of exploitation and injustice.

Nice remains silent in the face of exploitation and injustice, allowing both to thrive in God’s house, so as to not interfere with the traditions of the church or challenge the status quo.

Good speaks up when people are hurting and being treated unfairly.

Nice avoids conflict while good fights for what is right and just.

Jesus was not nice when He took a stand against religious hypocrisy. Jesus was not nice when He healed on the Sabbath. Jesus was not nice when He fed the five thousand. Jesus was simply being who He was and still is – good.

Beloved, you cannot know the good unless you are in right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper (Psalm 37:3 NLT).

Be good every chance you get, don’t get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time [you] will reap a harvest of blessing if [you] don’t give up (Galatians 6:9 NLT).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Jesus was not nice” ©2026 May 11, 2026

 

Prayer for Finances

 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. – 2 Corinthians 9:7 (AMPC)

Heavenly Father, the Mighty One, God, the Lord, Who speaks and calls the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. You to whom every beast of the forest belongs, and the cattle upon a thousand hills or upon the mountains where thousands are and the world and its fullness, all honour and glory belong to You.

Lord, You said that I can call on You in the day of trouble and You will deliver me so, I come to You in Jesus’ name, I praise You, honour You, and glorify You for all that You have already provided and for all that You will continue to provide for me in Christ Jesus.

I now come into agreement with Your Word, knowing that it will not return to You without producing an effect. I declare that it will accomplish that which You please and purpose in my life and it will prosper in the thing for which it is sent.

I pray according to Your Word in 3 John 1:2, that I prosper in every way and I keep well, even as my soul keeps well and prospers. So, in the light of Your Word, I receive Your prosperity into my life.

I believe that You are, right now, as it is written in Philippians 4:19, liberally supplying, filling to the full, my every need according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I decree and declare that Jesus has redeemed me from every curse, including the curse of poverty and of lack, for He is my Shepherd, Who feeds, guides, and shields me. Therefore, I am never in need; poverty and lack have no right to operate in my or the lives of my family.

God is for us so, nothing and no one can be against us! He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?

I am a cheerful giver, and I generously give from my heart, not reluctantly, not sorrowfully, and not under compulsion. Because of this, I truly believe that You O God, are making all grace (every favour and earthly blessing) come to me in abundance, so that I may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

I thank You that because I am a giver and I sow generously, blessings come to others and I also reap generously, increasing to my credit the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to my account.

I thank You that I am always, in all circumstances, self-sufficient. I have more than enough. I am furnished in abundance.

I thank You for establishing prosperity in my life. It belongs to me. I walk in the abundance of the Lord and everything I do prospers, in Jesus’ name!

Now to You, my God, Who, by the action of Your power that is at work within me, is able to carry out Your purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that I ask or think, infinitely beyond my highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams, be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. So be it.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Prayer for Finances” ©2026 May 11, 2026

(All Scripture verses taken from the AMPC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What about Eunice?

 

Eunice’s story is very short, but the influence of her faith was far reaching.

Eunice lived at a time when the gospel of Jesus Christ was a new concept, a new way to worship. Eunice, along with her mother Lois were Jewish women who, it is presumed, were converted to Christianity during Apostle Paul’s first missionary journey to Lystra.

By now, you may be wondering what is Eunice’s claim to fame; well, you see, Eunice had a Greek husband, a Gentile and they had a son. Their son’s name was Timothy (see Acts 16:1).

Yes, the same Timothy whose letters from Paul now form part of the New Testament pastoral letters, that Timothy to whom Paul wrote,

To Timothy, a dear son to me. (2 Timothy 1:2 ERV)

Despite the vast differences in the religious beliefs of this Jewish woman and her more than likely pagan Gentile husband, Eunice had passed on her beliefs to her son. The apostle was so impressed by the influence of her faith on the life of Timothy that he was obliged to make mention of it,

I remember your true faith. That kind of faith first belonged to your grandmother Lois and to your mother Eunice. I know you now have that same faith. (2 Timothy 1:5 ERV)

Today as we celebrate Mother’s Day in certain parts of the world, I think of the influence my own mother had on my faith and that kind of faith that first belonged to my grandmother which I now strive to live. Like Eunice and Lois, they were faithful and devoted advocates for Jesus Christ.

My mother ensured that she passed on her spiritual beliefs to her children just as her mother had done before her. Since my siblings and I were children, we were exposed to God’s Word.

From the days of his childhood, Eunice had instructed her son in the sacred writings of the Old Testament. She made sure that he knew the Holy Scriptures.

You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were a child. These Scriptures are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15 ERV)

Eunice’s life in Christ, so impacted the life of her son that he became Apostle Paul’s beloved spiritual child, his constant travel companion, his official representative and most importantly Christ’s faithful servant.

 Beloved, this brief story of Eunice, teaches us that the way we live our faith can have great influence on those who look to us as examples of Christian life.

Lois and Eunice were two mothers who lived in the faith of Christ and passed it on to their children. Thank God for your own mother who has passed on the legacy of her faith to you.

May our own witness of faith continue to guide our lives in a meaningful way so as to bring others closer to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “What about Eunice?” ©2026 May 9, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

a Jew who accepted the new way, that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her husband, a Greek, was a Gentile.

 

 

 

Jesus is the GPS

 

Every time I send someone my location via Google Maps, it takes them to the street that's after the street to my house. You see, the “wrong” street is one main circular road in a small neighbouring housing development, while the “right” street is one straight main road with a couple of tributary streets that end in cul-de-sacs.

My house is on one of the tributaries from which, if things were different, like there wasn’t a fence and some townhouses, my immediate neighbours and I would have had access to that adjoining small neighbourhood. But as I said it’s not possible to get there from the street I’m on because the way is blocked.

If the person who is following those GPS directions does not seek clarification, they’ll be close by in the vicinity, but that won’t be good enough since they’ll still be in a different place, completely lost.

This reminds me of a brief and poignant exchange between Jesus and Thomas nestled within the fourteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, where Jesus, addressing His devoted followers, said,

“You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.

(verses 4-6 ERV)

Like Google Maps’ GPS that does not know the way to my house, Thomas, a devoted disciple, who followed Jesus for the duration of His 3-year ministry on earth, did not know the way.

Thomas would have been close to His Rabbi, in the same vicinity but was completely lost, since he admitted that he neither knew where Jesus was going nor did he know the way.

How many of our Christian sisters and brothers are Thomases in this regard? Following Jesus for years but still ending up lost because the positioning system they’re using, even though it may lead them in the right direction most days, can be quite unreliable, directing them in a way that leads to the wrong location.

There is only one reliable GPS that never ever misleads followers and the moment you choose to follow by staying on the given path and not get distracted by any humps, bumps or potholes along the way, you will reach your desired destination. That one reliable GPS is Jesus. Jesus is the GPS!

However, some of us want to make unnecessary detours, change the route and take short cuts and that’s when we get ourselves in trouble and end up confused and lost.

Jesus is the GPS we are to follow; He is the Way, the true way that leads to life.

Just as this truth would have brought comfort to Jesus’ lost, confused and anxious followers at that time, it must bring us that same sense of comfort now because it is our assurance of His presence in our lives.

I am the way, the truth, and the life is Jesus letting us know that we don’t need to figure life out; we just need to stay on the path that He has already walked for us and that He is still on with us at present.

The manmade global positioning system is constantly receiving data from manmade satellites hovering high overhead relaying directions and instructions, but we receive heavenly data from deep within us.

Beloved, Jesus is the GPS that you must follow; following Him doesn’t only involve believing what is truth, it’s about being reshaped by Him for life. It is conforming your way to His Way – His Way of living, loving, forgiving, serving, seeing and being.

Yes, Jesus is the GPS and following the GPS, is positioning your entire system for an amazing transformation as He recreates you from the inside out.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Jesus is the GPS” ©2026 May 8, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why should He?

 

Some time ago I was chatting with a good friend about life in general but then the conversation started to focus mainly on money, in particular the lack of it. There was a long pause as he suddenly seemed to get lost in his thoughts, the silence was broken when he blurted out, “Why doesn’t God just let me win a lottery?”

I turned to look directly at him and asked, “Why should He?”

From his incredulous expression, I could tell that he was taken aback by my response. But it was a legitimate question.

You see, this friend was terrible with money; he never budgeted so that by mid-month he was “broken” and he did not want anyone’s advice. “Keep it” was his attitude, and “Don’t tell me what to do with my money” was his standard line.

I eventually stopped offering my advice but now, he had opened the door and invited me into a money discussion.

He repeated my question, “Why should He? Why shouldn’t He? I’m a good Christian, a child of God, His child, His son, I volunteer, I visit the sick, I go” I stopped him before he could continue, “You’re sounding like the rich young ruler from Matthew chapter nineteen, listing out all your good qualities and what you believe to be admirable godly achievements”

He smiled as he thought about it, then said, “Yeah, you’re right”

Turning to the Gospel account, this rich young ruler asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (v 16 NIV)

My friend was doing the same thing, thinking that his good performance deserved a heaven-sent reward which would come in the form of God allowing him to win the lottery.

Now this can take us in many directions but today let’s divert to stewardship. I’ve heard several people say similar things about God giving them the LOTTO numbers or letting them win the lottery or some other windfall when they can’t even manage the money that they do get, for instance their salary.

If you cannot manage the little that you are receiving every month, then you’re not going to be able to handle larger sums of money.

You see, faithfulness with money qualifies you for true riches so, God is looking at your stewardship of the money you currently earn. If you are an irresponsible earthly riches steward, then how can God trust you with heavenly riches.

Malachi records God’s promise of,

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.  (Malachi 3:10 NIV)

Have you been bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in God’s house?

So, why should God throw open the floodgates of heaven? You haven’t done your part; why should He?

The truth is, If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. (Luke 16:10 NLT)

The opening of the floodgates of heaven is conditional; it’s tied to your obedience to God. Good stewardship of money and resources begins with your response to giving.

You are charged with stewarding anything that God gives you – houses, cars, children, jobs, and money too.

Wisdom in proper stewardship is given by God through the teaching of His Holy Spirit.

Proper stewardship of money results in great moves of God.

Proof of proper stewardship of money is seen when money does not control you, but you control money for the glory of God.

Why should He increase your financial wealth when you are not even concerned with the prosperity of your soul? For you to prosper in all things and be in good health, your soul must be prospering (see 3 John 2). If you are not caring for your spiritual well-being, your physical well-being will suffer.

Listen, regardless of your circumstances, as a child of the Most High, you must be an illustration of what thriving in life looks like.

Beloved, you may be praying for an increase in your income or longing for financial security or, like my friend, fixated on winning the lottery but true riches are not found in these things.

Understand that real wealth lies in the reality of the spiritual. I can almost hear you saying, “I can’t take that to the grocery though” God knows this very well, but He wants you to increase in the true riches of heaven first before any amount of physical wealth is manifested in your life.

Stewardship of money isn’t only about the money, it also reveals how you are managing other areas of your life.

God promises to bring financial increase if you are a faithful steward. It is your stewardship over the natural that prepares you for the supernatural.

So, the question remains, “Why should He open the floodgates of heaven when you aren’t yet prepared for the flood?”

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Why should He?” ©2026 May 8, 2026

 

 

Driven by Greed

 

Greed is described as, an excessive desire to acquire more than you have, especially wealth and material possessions, which usually leads to inappropriate behaviour.

Then Jesus said to them, “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. People do not get life from the many things they own.” (Luke 12:15 ERV)

This verse forms part of Jesus’ response to a man concerning an inheritance after the death of his father, who wanted Jesus to tell his brother to share them with him. It appears that this man desired more than his fair share as Jesus told a parable soon thereafter, about a rich man who had some very fertile land (read Luke 12:16-21).

It was a bumper harvest for this rich man but rather than donate some of his crops to the poor and marginalized, he thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. (v 17, 18). There was absolutely no thought of building food banks or even supplying food kitchens.

People like this rich man are interested only in self-gratification, self-indulgence and are driven by greed. As believers, we aren’t even supposed to eat with persons who are driven by greed. Apostle Paul made that quite clear in his exhortation when he cautioned the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 5:11(NIV), it is such a serious violation, that he paired greed with sexual immorality…

But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy…Do not even eat with such people.

Listen, not murdering and stealing may be easy laws to follow but when it comes to caring for the poor, the widows and orphans, loving your neighbour as yourself and avoiding envy, lust and greed, following those laws prove difficult.

Jesus Himself condemns persons for their greed (see Luke 16:15) and Luke emphasizes that the driving force of greed stems from people’s love of money (see Luke 16:14).

Don’t for one minute fool yourself by believing that greed, which is linked to the love of money, is not a root of serious and mortal iniquities. It is listed as one of the most severe sins, a sin that destroys your relationship with God.

Years ago, I began trading in foreign exchange as a means of supplementing my income. It was something new and interesting and I was excited about the prospect of the better life it would afford me and my family. I really enjoyed the rush of keeping watch on my trades. But something happened to me during that time that completely surprised me.

I realized that the more trades I won, the more trades I wanted to win. I was becoming greedy. My motivation for trading had shifted from being a fun pastime into an obsession to gain more. Driven by greed, I stopped placing stop loss indicators on my trades and then, one day, I stared at my phone in horror as I lost every single cent I had invested and earned on that initial investment.

Well, God was not about to leave me to develop this character trait that would lead me to certain destruction, so He gave me a very harsh awakening that morning, one that I desperately needed.

You know, I was simply being foolish because the fact that I was being greedy was not foreign to me, but I still chose to ignore this new greedy me that I really didn't recognize.

My intentions, though admirable at first, now reeked of actions that were morally ambiguous and I was morphing into a fiscally irresponsible human.

Unfortunately, greed is a serious violation that even Christians choose to commit; falling into this kind of sin isn’t a remote possibility, greed is a deceiver that can too easily creep into our lives undetected.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV) tells us to choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

There are many verses throughout that bible that warn us about the consequences of greed. Being driven by greed places the intense desire for wealth and material possessions above the love and devotion that is due to God; we worship things and they become our god.

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves…greedy people (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT)

Greedy people will not inherit the Kingdom of God! That is removing far from your life, the life that Jesus Christ sacrificed His life to give to you and me. We must choose life in all its fullness.

Beloved, Jesus was concerned about people and everything that concerns them and that hasn’t changed.  Jesus’ concerns include the economic state of all of us and He wants us to be just as concerned but not just about ourselves but about giving to others who are in desperate need, about the blessings that will come to the poor, about mutual dependence and not a top-down system and about those in financial distress. 

When we pray “Forgive us our debts”, it encompasses sins and includes monetary indebtedness.

Jesus taught His disciples then and teaches us now, how to live financially wise in the present in order to lay up treasure in heaven, not in a doggedly determined way seeking to accumulate bank accounts on earth.

All those parables, that pay particular attention to wealth management, debts, daily wages, land ownership, and lost coins, highlight the same concerns. The ones that begin with “There was a rich man who . . .” are not likely to be stories of well-loved, exceptionally generous and kind business owners.

It’s not that Jesus had or has a problem with business owners or with being rich, but with those owners whose love, worship and devotion were misplaced; the issue is those persons with an insatiable desire for more, who would sell their souls for the promise of receiving a miniscule percentage of a financial pie because they were and are driven by greed, those are the persons to whom Jesus refers.

Ponder your conscience and if you realize that you are driven by greed, you need to repent. Pour out your heart to God in genuine remorse, and God promises that if they pray to me and repent and turn away from the evil they have been doing, then I will hear them in heaven, forgive their sins, and make their land prosperous again. (2 Chronicles 7:14 GNT).

Beloved, this wonderful promise from God has nothing to do with world economics, this is prosperity from the Kingdom’s perspective, a benefit of being driven by heaven’s economic plan of God who gives you the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV).

 

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Driven by Greed” ©2026 May 6, 2026