Words of Comfort and Hope

Psalm 23 is familiar to most people, and some have even committed it to memory. Its words give us comfort and hope. Its words assure us that God knows when we are struggling and walks with us through every dark situation. Its words affirm God’s provision of protection. Its words assure us of God’s sufficiency, rest and restoration.

Today, as you read this beautiful Psalm, choose to take comfort in the promises of God which give us hope, for He is faithful to His promises.

Words of Comfort and Hope ©2013 Shelley Johnson 30-May-13

Praise The Lord!

"Praise Him in the firmament of His power" (Psalm 150:1 KJV)

Throughout the Bible there are verses of Scripture in which the Lord is praised, especially in the Psalms. We are called to offer sacrifices of praise to the Lord (Hebrews 13:15). God does not want us to withhold our praise. We must understand that praise is key in overcoming the troubles of this world. Praising the Lord, effects so much more than we realize; praising the Lord not only exalts God and His goodness, but destroys barriers, removes obstacles, opens doors into the spiritual realm, draws God’s blessings into manifestation, changes circumstances, influences the atmosphere, activates the spirit world and causes the ‘praiser’ to triumph. Coming into God’s presence with praise is the essence to deliverance. 

We see in Revelation 5:8-9 that even those who dwell in heaven during the Great Tribulation are seen praising the Lord. Praising God is not optional; it is actually a direct command of God (Psalm 150:6). God expects us to serve Him with gladness and joy in our hearts. When we do, we cannot help but offer up our praises to Him. Even when we think that there is no reason to praise God, we must still praise the Lord because He is worthy to be praised (Psalm 34:1; 96:4). Our God deserves our praise and He desires our praise. Our praises please God, so let us praise Him now...

The Lord is my strength. He saves me, and I sing songs of praise to him. He is my God, and I praise him. He is the God of my ancestors, and I honor him. [Exodus 15:2]

I called to the Lord for help, and he saved me from my enemies. He is worthy of my praise! I praise my Rock! How great is my God, the Rock who saves me! [2 Samuel 22:4 & 47]

The Lord is great and worthy of praise. He is more awesome than any of the “gods.” Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He always was and will always be worthy of praise! [1 Chronicles 16:25 & 36]

I praise the Lord because he is good. I praise the name of the Lord Most High. [Psalm 7:17]

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about the wonderful things you have done. You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you. God Most High, I praise your name. [Psalm 9:1-2]

I will praise the Lord at all times. [Psalm 34:1]

My soul, praise the Lord! Every part of me, praise his holy name! My soul, praise the Lord and never forget how kind he is! [Psalm 103:1-2]

The Lord is great and deserves all our praise! No one can fully understand his greatness! [Psalm 145:3]

I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. [Matthew 11:25]

Praise to God in heaven! [Matthew 21:9]

I praise the Lord with all my heart. [Luke 1:46]

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. [2 Corinthians 1:3]

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. [Ephesians 1:3]

All power, wealth, wisdom, and strength belong to the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive honor, glory, and praise! [Revelation 5:12]

Praise our God, all you who serve him! Praise our God, all you small and great who honor him! [Revelation 19:5]

Praise The Lord! ©2013 Shelley Johnson 18-Jun-13

A Familiar Verse from a New Perspective

Matthew 19:21 (NIV)

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

This verse is extracted from Jesus’ parable of the rich young ruler who had, just moments before, professed his strict adherence to the Commandments, which, in his estimation made him complete. But here, Jesus is telling this young man what it would take for him to be truly complete…not in him but in Him.

First the rich young ruler was instructed to “…go and sell your possessions” – he was required to part with all of his earthly possessions, all that he considered of great value in his life. Jesus was telling him to empty himself of everything he felt he was and had…everything that he defined himself by, his self-exalted identity.

Next, he was required to “…give to the poor” – give himself, in cheerful service, to those who were in lack…not just in need of the material but who were spiritually impoverished. Jesus, considering this young man’s vast knowledge of the Scriptures, was exhorting him not to claim ownership of such but to use this knowledge to enrich the lives of others.

Jesus went on to explain that, by taking these two steps, these acts of selfless love, he would be, in fact, depositing the value of the knowledge of God into the hearts of others, and in so doing he will have treasure in heaven, the Kingdom of heaven within [Matthew 13:44].

Finally, through these acts of compliance, the young man would reveal his intention to become Christ’s true disciple and it’s then Jesus will say, “come, follow Me.”

Are you willing to empty yourself, giving up all your possessions and give to the poor in genuine discipleship?

 When we are willing to give up all that we value most – our independence, our material possessions, our self-reliance, our own efforts, our ‘success’, our friends, our lifestyles, our hard-worked-for positions, our best-Christian perception of ourselves, our “let my light so shine before men, that they may see my good works, and glorify me here on earth” attitudes, and every other ‘valuable’ – only then will we find ourselves complete; only then can we firmly declare, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing, because, I am complete in Him” [Psalm 23:1; Colossians 2:9-10].

A Familiar Verse from a New Perspective © 2014 Shelley Johnson 20-May-14

“Forty Stripes Minus One”

“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.” – 2 Corinthians 11:24

Christ endured beating and bloodiness on our account and so we must apply it personally if we are to truly understand and appreciate what He subjected Himself to for us. 

Make a personal application from Christ’s suffering on your account at Calvary. Each stripe was an antidote for every sin you have committed, are committing and will ever commit. Each lash, of that cat-o-nine tails across His bare flesh was to counteract the poisonous effects of sin in your life. Each stripe Jesus suffered is significant to fulfill every need you will ever have in your life. You must realize that Jesus Christ purchased your punishment with His own blood so that you may possess every promise God has made you – it is a gift from Him, through His Son. Embrace the Giver and the gift.

When you are re-born in Christ, His sacrifice becomes your birthright. Do not reject your birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:30-34) but release your faith to accept and receive it as your pre-eminent right. You must establish Christ’s Passion in your heart, so that His Finished Work would not be in vain.

It was because of His great love for you, that Jesus Christ bore the full brunt of strokes that could have been administered, and with each stripe, provided for you,

Salvation                                   Acts 4:12

Forgiveness                              1 John 1:9

The Holy Spirit                        Acts 2:38

Redemption                             Titus 2:14

Freedom from Guilt and Condemnation             Romans 8:1-2

Healing                                      1 Peter 2:24

Fruitfulness                             John 15:1-8

Faithfulness of God              1 Corinthians 1:9

Divine Weapons                    2 Corinthians 10:4

Spiritual Authority               Luke 10:19

Holiness                                    1 Peter 1:14-16

Righteousness                        2 Corinthians 5:21

Sanctification                         Hebrews 13:12

Grace                                           John 1:16

Knowledge                               1 Timothy 2:4

Hope                                           1 Peter 3:15

Mercy                                         1 Peter 2:10

A New Identity                      2 Corinthians 5:17

Love                                            1 John 3:1

Peace                                          John 14:27

Joy                                               Acts 14:17

Justice                                       Romans 12:19

Rest                                             Matthew 11:28

Pardon                                       Isaiah 55:7

Safety                                         Psalm 4:8

Success                                     Joshua 1:8

Abundant Life                      John 10:10

A Teacher                                 1 John 1:27

An Advocate                           1 John 2:1

A Mediator                              1 Timothy 2:5

An Intercessor                       Romans 8:34

Understanding                      1 Corinthians 2:12

Supply                                        Philippians 4:19

Power                                         John 1:12

Humility                                   Philippians 2:3. 5

Wisdom                                     James 1:5

Truth                                         John 16:13

Victory                                      1 Corinthians 15:57

Eternal Life                            John 3:16

“Forty Stripes Minus One” ©2013 Shelley Johnson 7-Sep-13

You have Resurrection Power!

“and how very great is His power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which He used when He raised Christ from death and seated Him at His right side in the heavenly world.” – Ephesians 1:19-20

God wants you to know the exceeding power of the Resurrection. When you believe in the resurrected Christ, the exceeding greatness of God’s power that raised Him from death is the same power that is at work in you. The resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds us that nothing is too difficult for God, all things are possible with Him. Praise God!

Resurrection power is by far the greatest manifestation and demonstration of the absolute strength of Almighty God. Resurrection power can penetrate the locked door (John 20:19) of your heart to effect your inner transformation, enabling you to be more than a conqueror (Romans 8:35-37). 

Resurrection power reveals the afterlife, that is, the new life in our resurrected Christ after the old life of the flesh is discarded.

“If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

In knowing Jesus Christ, you experience the power of His resurrection. 

“All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of His resurrection…” Philippians 3:10

Look at Ephesians 1:19-20 again and see that you have within your born-again spirit the very same mighty strength that raised Jesus from the dead. You have resurrection power!

You have Resurrection Power! ©2013 Shelley Johnson 26-Feb-2013

“Tetelestai!”

If someone had paid off a debt that you owed, would you accept their selfless act or reject it? Wouldn’t you be eternally grateful and accept it rejoicing, especially if it was a huge debt?

Scripture tells us that that is precisely what Jesus did for us.

“and He Himself [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

When Jesus, from the cross , cried out His last words, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), He was letting the whole world know that everything He came to do had been done in its entirety according to the plan of God, including paying off a debt He did not incur.

Translated in Greek, “It is finished” is just one word, “Tetelestai” which gives a much deeper meaning to Jesus’ powerful last words. Tetelestai means Paid in Full, in other words, one never has to pay anything towards the debt ever again. 

Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect and sufficient to completely pay off the sin debt that we all owe. Jesus paid the full price for all our sins when He laid down His life. And when He shouted “Tetelestai!”, it was not only a declaration of triumph but conveyed the Truth of His crucifixion:
although completed in the past, has on-going results in the future.

In other words what Jesus accomplished at Calvary over 2000 years ago is still effective even to this day – it happened yet is still happening with far reaching effects. 

God always has the last word and it is “Tetelestai!”

“Tetelestai!” ©2013 Shelley Johnson 27-Feb-13






Photo: a replica of the Pieta 

The Seven Sentences

Today is the day we commemorate the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ Crucifixion, death, and Resurrection are the foundation on which Christianity is built – the corner stone of Christianity. As Jesus hung upon that rugged cross, He uttered seven sentences which reveal the seven steps toward re-creation, re-birth.

The First: Luke 23:34 

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

The Second: Luke 23:43 

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The Third: John 19:26, 27 

“Woman, this is your son…This is your mother,”

The Fourth: Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34 

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

The Fifth: John 19:28 

“I thirst.”

The Sixth: John 19:30 

“It is finished!”

The Seventh: Luke 23:46 

“Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit.”

The number seven speaks of completion. The purpose for which Jesus came to earth was finished in its entirety. He had annihilated the devil and at the same time redeemed man. 

In each sentence, Jesus has spelt out the seven step process that we must experience on our journey toward complete fellowship with God.

1. Forgiveness

2. Salvation

3. Relationship

4. Abandonment

5. Testing

6. Victory

7. Rest in God (Reconciliation)

Our spiritual journey always begins with forgiveness and as we journey on, the road may become lonely but keep in mind always that God’s purpose is to bring you out better than you were, into authentic communion with Him.

The Seven Sentences ©2013 Shelley Johnson 28-Mar-13

The Agony at Gethsemane

Refer Luke 22:39-46

“Then He withdrew from them…and knelt down and prayed. Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done…and being in agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.” – Luke 22: 41, 42, 44

Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His humanity, agonized with the reality He was about to face on the cross at Calvary. When He considered what lay ahead, Jesus knelt down in prayer asking that the cup be removed.

What was this cup to which Jesus referred? It is the same cup spoken of in Psalm 75:8, “in the hand of the Lord there is a cup of His wrath”, Isaiah 51:17, “the cup of [the Lord’s] wrath”, Jeremiah 25:15, “this cup of the wine of wrath”, and Revelation 14:10, “the cup of His anger”. Jesus was struggling with the thought of drinking the cup that contained all the unbridled anger that God reserved for sinful mankind.

Jesus’ intention did not lie in disobedience to the purpose for which He came but was merely an enquiry as to an alternative. Being a substitute for sinfulness when one is sinless, understandably, could not be easy to reconcile in one’s mind but Jesus was, by no means, about to shirk His task. He had accepted His role as substitute from the very beginning and was prepared to do the will of His Father. There was absolutely no doubt that He would drink, for He said to Peter in John 18:11, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”.

Jesus Christ took our place on that cross, drinking the cup of God’s anger down to the last awful dreg so that we would never have to. Jesus paid the debt that we could never pay ourselves. Jesus understood that it was about something bigger than His human self; He understood that God’s plan was the best plan and, strengthened in spirit by an angel from heaven (Verse 43), Jesus could now pray more earnestly, confident in the will of His loving Father. God had planned every detail of Jesus’ life.

Beloved, when we are in agony, anguish, struggling in our minds, we must remember the agony Jesus Christ faced on our behalf knowing that, like Him, God has planned every detail of our lives. With this in mind, let us look, beyond the agony, at the beauty of the Garden. Let us pray, confident that though we may not be delivered from suffering we surely will be strengthened through it.

Amen † 

The Agony at Gethsemane ©2013 Shelley Johnson 17-Mar-13

Jesus, our Passover Lamb

The twelfth chapter of the Book of Exodus gives us an account of the Passover: God told Moses and Aaron how it was to be conducted. Each household was instructed to choose an unblemished lamb to be roasted whole and the entire animal eaten, as a sacrifice, with bitter herbs and unleavened bread, none was to remain. That night the blood of the slain lamb was smeared on the doorposts and on the lintel above the doors of every house in which the lamb was to be eaten(Exodus 12:7). You see, the Lord was about to kill every first born male in Egypt and the blood was a sign to mark or identify the houses in which the people of God lived. He said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and will not harm you when I punish the Egyptians.” – Exodus 12:13

The exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the land of their bondage, began on the night of God’s “pass over”, when His judgment and deliverance happened simultaneously. This is exactly what happened at the cross (John 12:31). And today, we who are in Christ Jesus and have received deliverance out of the spiritual bondage of sin, do not suffer judgment because when God passes over us, He sees the blood of the Lamb, His Son, Jesus Christ.

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” – John 1:29

Just as the lamb and its blood were critical elements in the Passover, so too the Lamb and His blood are the centre of our spiritual Passover. At the cross a great deliverance was put into effect, greater than the Israelites’ deliverance out of Egypt since their sacrificial lamb was limited to one nation and its people; but the sacrifice of the Lamb of God embraces all of humanity in every nation throughout the whole world.

Jesus Christ shed His blood for our sake. On the cross, all our sins were judged in Him and He suffered the punishment that ought to have been borne by us. 

“…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7

Through Jesus Christ we pass over from spiritual death to eternal life. Jesus is our Passover Lamb – roasted in fire and entirely consumed.

Jesus, our Passover Lamb ©2013 Shelley Johnson 28-Feb-2013

Photo Credit: Photo © Ted Christou

The Power of “Re”

In this Holy week, let us Re-flect on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ Who Re-linquished the comfort, the splendor and the glory of Heaven to come into this cruel and sin-filled world to Re-deem us all.

“…Jesus Christ…though He was God…laid aside His mighty power and glory…” – Philippians 2:5,6,7

Jesus came to Re-turn us to God; to Re-concile us to Him through the cross. Jesus came to save us. He Re-moves our guilty stains, and Re-members them no more.

“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” – Hebrews 10:17

But there is something that each of us must do, if we are to Re-ceive this gift of salvation; it’s a simple Re-quirement really:

Believe in Jesus Christ, the One God has sent (John 6:29), Re-alize your sinful condition, Re-nounce your sinful ways, and Re-pent.

God will Re-store you to Himself by Re-creating you in Christ Jesus, and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you become a new person, internally Re-freshed and Re-newed – Re-born. 

Your life will be Re-started in intimate Re-lationship with Jesus and your former desires and cravings will seem Re-pulsive. You won’t Re-peat your former behaviour because you’re no longer dead in transgressions but alive with Christ…Re-joice!

The Power of “Re” © 2014 Shelley Johnson 16-Apr-14

In the Sandals of…

This week, as you reflect upon the events of Jesus’ last few days on earth, see yourself in the sandals of those individuals who played a pivotal role in Christ’s crucifixion, then in the sandals of Jesus Himself, and allow yourself to feel the emotions as the events unfold:

Judas’ betrayal

Caiphas’ dogged determination

the testimonies of the two false witnesses

Peter’s denial, not once but three times

the lead-tipped whip

Pilate’s concession

the crowd’s manic outcry as they made their choice

the abandonment

the cruel cross

the pounding of the nails into the hands and into the feet

the utter thirst

the bleeding side…

Jesus Christ experienced all this so that you don’t have to. He was innocent! He gave His life so that you may have Life. Unless you allow Jesus to come into your life, you are lost in your sins – without Him you are without hope of eternal life. 

Amen†

In the Sandals of… ©2014 Shelley Johnson 14-Apr-2014

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday was the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem – a joyous occasion and a time of great celebration. Then, the adoring crowd waved and laid down palm branches to welcome Jesus as they proclaimed Him King. Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled:

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” – Zechariah 9:9

Soon thereafter, the same crowd would be choosing Barabbas over Jesus (see John 18:39-40).

Jesus had come in humility to fulfill the will of the Father. The Israelites had been looking out for a warrior to wage a physical onslaught upon their oppressors but often times God fulfills His promises in unexpected ways. What they did not understand was the battle was a spiritual one. And, it still is, for we are told in Ephesians 6:12,

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

During our own times of struggle we ought to welcome Jesus to the fight, rejoicing in the knowledge that He fights our battles for us (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30, 3:22; 1 Samuel 17:47; 2Chronicles 32:8).

In this last week of Lent, keep in mind that Jesus has already won the battle and liberated us from sin through His death and resurrection and let us acknowledge His finished work and welcome Him into our lives with shouts of joy, praising Him as our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Amen †

Palm Sunday ©2013 Shelley Johnson 25-Mar-2013

The Anointing of Jesus at Bethany

John 12:1-8

It was almost Passover. Jesus was in Bethany, at a dinner held in His honour. His dear friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary were also there. Martha, as was her nature, was busy with serving, Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus, while Mary, as was her nature, was serving Jesus, anointing Him with perfume – nard – then, wiping His feet with her hair.

Nard, a red-rose fragrant ointment was a favourite perfume in those days and the passage tells us that Mary’s nard was pure and expensive. This clearly indicates that anointing Jesus with this precious perfume was, for Mary, an act of real sacrifice. But as John clearly points out, Judas took umbrage at her actions. There is, however, significance in Mary’s perceived extravagance that we must not ignore. 

Judas completely misunderstood the significance in Mary’s sacrifice to the Lord. He saw it from one perspective and one perspective alone – as such a waste, but to Mary it did not matter; she did not even consider the cost. Understand that to serve in God’s Kingdom will cost you (see Mark 10:17-27) but the benefits far outweigh the cost of serving our Lord Jesus Christ.

Judas revealed himself as one who possessed a love of money, which 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us is “the root of all kinds of evil” – it was this weakness that would cause him to wander from the faith, allowing the devil to possess him to betray Jesus (John 13:27; Luke 22:3). It goes to show that privilege of position (Judas was “keeper of the money bag”) is no substitute for loyalty, faith, obedience, commitment and devotion. 

Mary revealed her absolute devotion to Jesus as she lovingly wiped His feet with her hair. Once again, at His feet (see Luke 10:39), she humbly reverenced the Lord. 

Jesus saw Mary’s action as anointing for His burial. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark both suggest that Mary anointed more than just Jesus’ feet. In Mark 14:8, Jesus says, “She poured perfume on my body…” (also Matthew 26:12). Mary poured this pure and expensive perfume over Jesus’ head, giving us a picture of this fragrant oil flowing down over His entire body. And “The house was filled” with its fragrance. It was the sweetness of her spiritual sacrifice unto the Lord (1 Peter 2:5; 2 Corinthians 2:15); the sweet smell of the beautiful savour of the new Life in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

God’s beloved, may you be like Mary, understanding that the cost of the perfume means absolutely nothing in comparison to the immeasurable value of serving our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Anointing of Jesus at Bethany ©2013 Shelley Johnson 27-Mar-13

The Abundant Life

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” 

John 10:10

What is this abundant life that our Lord Jesus is talking about? Read the verse again. Now read the following verses,

“… in Him was life…” John 1:4

“…so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:19

“then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

When the evil one deceived Eve in the Garden causing both Eve and Adam to fall into disobedience to the Word of God, their connection to the fullness of Life was broken. From the very beginning they had been given abundant Life, in that, God had breathed His own Life into them; He was in them and they were in Him but that intimacy was lost when they chose death over Life.

Their way of relating to God and God to them had been set out of kilter as they aligned themselves with the devil, and their experience was no more of abundance but had become one of limitation. This is what we have inherited but our loving God became incarnate so that the abundant Life that is in Him and that is Him might be restored through His finished work at Calvary. God Himself is Life and He had given Himself [Life] directly to Adam and He gave Himself [Life] to us through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave His Life that each and every one of us might have Life and have it in abundance. Jesus gave all of Himself; His Life in all its fullness; everything He is, was given to us.

So…what have you done with the Life God has given you? You have the opportunity right now to receive that Life and receive it abundantly, if you would surrender the limitation of life that you now have for the fullness of Life in Christ Jesus. The initial process is not a difficult one. It requires no tools or gadgets, just a heart to believe and a mouth to confess.

Simply say,

Jesus is Lord! And I believe with all my heart that Jesus is the Son of God, He died so that my sins may be forgiven once and for all, and God raised Him from death. Jesus, my desire is that You be Lord of my life so that I may know true Life in all its fullness. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen. 

The Abundant Life ©2013 Shelley Johnson 20-May-13

You Still Have to Go to Nineveh

God gave Jonah a message to deliver to the people of Nineveh, enemies of his homeland. It was a message of salvation but Jonah had hoped that God would destroy them. Finding it unfair, Jonah decided not to do as he was commanded and instead he set sail for Tarshish in the opposite direction.

The sailors on that ship were forced to throw Jonah overboard and after spending three days in the belly of a great fish, “God commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (see Jonah 1). Rather than give up on His disobedient prophet, God gave Jonah a second chance…yes God gave Jonah a second chance to fulfill the purpose for which he was sent.

Jonah, still reluctant, set out for Nineveh; there the people believed God’s message, repented and turned back to God. When God saw their remorseful response, He had compassion for them and He relented. 

Jonah, even though he had carried out God’s instruction, still hoped for the Ninevites’ destruction and became “angry enough to die” (Jonah 4:9).

Outwardly, he appeared to be doing the will of God but in his heart he longed for Nineveh and all of its inhabitants to be utterly punished. Inwardly seething, Jonah remained outside the city, waiting to see the destruction. 

Unlike God, Jonah had no compassion. 

Are you in a Jonah state of mind? Are you angry enough to die because you too have found God to be unfair about something or someone? Is there someone you believe should be punished or that justice is not being served in some way?

Jonah’s journey reminds us how important caring about others is to God. It reminds us about loving and caring for our neighbours, even if they are our enemies rather than friends (Matthew 5:43-48). It reminds us that it is God who chooses who to save (John 1:12-13; 6:65; Acts 16:14; Ephesians 1:4). It reminds us that God’s ways and His thoughts are not ours, they’re much higher (Isaiah 55:8-9), beyond our comprehension. It reminds us that it is God Who has the final say (Proverbs 16).

So, when you hear God’s voice, even if you do not like or agree with what you hear, do not harden your heart (Psalm 95:7, 8; Hebrews 3:15), because even if you decide to run off in the opposite direction, eventually, you still have to go to Nineveh.

You Still Have to Go to Nineveh ©2013 Shelley Johnson 3-Oct-13

Generous Giving

Luke 16:9, as it is written, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Oftentimes when people read the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16:1- 15, it is misunderstood. They become perplexed that Jesus should tell His disciples, and us, to “use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves”. What exactly is our Lord really saying to us here? 

Let us also look at the verse before, where Jesus says, “the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light” – when we hear the word shrewd, immediately it conjures up a picture of utter trickery and scheming, which aptly describes the manager’s behaviour in the preceding verses, and so it should, but shrewd also portrays a sense of having sound judgment, sharp intelligence, keen awareness, being resourceful, prudent, clever, and astute. And, it is in this regard that Jesus was encouraging His disciples, and is exhorting us today, to act.

Jesus, in this parable, impresses upon us, as His followers, the value of being wise in the use of worldly resources, specifically money. Jesus is saying that we are to use money, not for our enrichment but as a tool to serve others, to bless others, and to give generously to those in need.

This parable is a lesson in financial stewardship and responsibility. Jesus is teaching us how to be shrewd managers of money, how to be wise in financial matters, how to make prudent decisions regarding our worldly wealth, and how to be genuine and generous in our giving, all to enhance the work of His Kingdom here on earth. 

Amen †

Generous Giving ©2013 Shelley Johnson 6-May-2013

Jesus is the Solution

As it is written,

Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. [John 6:35]

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ [Matthew 4:4]

I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His words more than daily food. [Job 23:12]

When I discovered Your words, I devoured them. [Jeremiah 15:16]

Jesus is the Bread upon which we must feed, the Word of God (John 1:14) that we must treasure and devour daily. In the natural, we are expected to eat three meals a day but we are to consume the Bread of Life more often than that. Jesus is our spiritual food. He sustains us and satisfies our spiritual hunger. When we feed on the Word of God daily, we will never again be hungry. Jesus is the solution; let us feed on Him, the Bread of Life, the Word of God, daily.

Jesus is the Solution ©2013 Shelley Johnson 16-Jul-13

“To You be the glory”

Glory, Glory, Glory, to You be the Glory…Praise God Almighty!

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His Name.” Hebrews 13:15

“To You be the glory” by Shelley Johnson ©2008 All Rights Reserved

God Approves of You

When you enter into God’s House through the shed Blood of Jesus, you are totally welcome in the Home. You have been accepted and approved by God.

1 Thessalonians 2:4, as it is written,

“…just as we have been approved by God…to please God…”

As a chosen child of God, you have been approved for His pleasure, approved, like Jeremiah, before He formed you in the womb (see Jeremiah 1:5). God approves of you. He is not disappointed in you and you are not a regret of God’s – you have received His approval and today you must accept and embrace and receive that approval. Reading, studying and meditating on the Word of God will help you to better understand who you are as an approved child of God; you will expand your knowledge and God’s Word will provide you with the affirmation you desire.

Now, the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

God Approves of You ©2013 Shelley Johnson 2-Sep-13

A Fitting Message...

Seeking God’s Presence, not His Presents

God is not your spiritual Santa Claus! Yes God does give you gifts, and His gifts are all good, but God does not want you to be more interested in what He gives than in knowing who God is. Santa Claus comes, leaves gifts under a tree or in a stocking and in a flash He is off to another house. Santa does not stick around; he is not interested in spending any time with the recipients of his gifts, as a matter of fact, he’s so not interested that he only comes once a year in the dead of night when all are fast asleep. Santa Claus does not want any type of relationship with you. Yet you want to treat God like Santa. Focusing primarily on the gifts and not on the Giver; you’re consumed with His Presents and not His Presence.

 

God is no Santa Claus, He desires above all else to be in intimate relationship with you. And that is what you should also desire – close fellowship and communion with God and to know God intimately. The only way to know God intimately is to spend time with Him. Study His Word, communicate with Him through prayer, and like David, you are to seek, inquire for and insistently require God so that you may consistently be in His Presence (see Psalm 27:4). Make God the priority over things. Pursue God, crave Him and put aside your desire for things. Turn away from the ‘what’ and fix your eyes on the ‘Who’.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says to, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” [see Matthew 6:33]. In other words, what you should want most, above all else is God’s Kingdom – the manner in which God operates; His ways, His Truth, His system – and His Son Jesus Christ, Who is the Righteousness of God. And that verse ends with a promise, “and all these things will be given to you as well.”

When your motive is to be in His Presence, it’s then you receive everything that you need.

Seeking God’s Presence, not His Presents ©2013 Shelley Johnson 28-Jun-13