What’s Wrong in the World?

“O how terrible for those who confuse good with evil, right with wrong, light with dark, sweet with bitter. O how terrible for those who think they’re so wise, who consider themselves so clever.” – Isaiah 5:20-21 (VOICE)

What’s wrong in the world?

As a people, we’re confused, and in that confusion easily corruptible. Our morality is warped as we have become “swollen with self-importance, and given to loving pleasure more than God” (see 2 Timothy 3)…continually living in a fog of self-induced deception.

What’s wrong in the world?

As a people, we are perverted in our thinking because we have not allowed our minds to be renewed, therefore genuine transformation has not taken place and our spiritual foundation is less than stable, so that even as Christians we come up with our own reasonings, looking at evil but declaring it good, engaging in wrong but convinced that it’s right, walking in darkness yet thinking that it is light, tasting bitterness but believing it to be sweet.

What’s wrong in the world?

As a people our hearts are being drawn away from God, our first love. Rather than delighting ourselves in Him, we continue only to delight ourselves in the pleasures of our senses and that turns into sin.

What’s wrong in the world?

As a people, we do not seek true wisdom, instead we’ve become wise in our own eyes and clever in our own sight. We put our own spin on the meaning of God’s Word, employing our own wisdom and never seeking the interpretation of the Holy Spirit, from whom the Scriptures were inspired. We think we know but we are fools, biblical fools, trusting in our own minds (see Proverbs 28:26).

What’s wrong in the world?

As a people, we are ever so accommodating, quick to compromise and deviate from God’s standards, opting instead to play Russian roulette with our eternal salvation.

What’s wrong in the world?

As a people called Christians, we too often, at the first sign of opposition, step outside of godliness to be in good standing with the world, following its patterns rather than standing strong in the Truth.

What’s wrong in the world?

As a people, we profess our Christian faith but we do not speak out against injustice, corruption, deceit, immorality, wickedness, and the things that God hates and detests (see Proverbs 6) but prefer to remain silent not wanting to stir up the enmity and scorn of the world.

What’s wrong in the world…

 

Shelley Johnson “What’s Wrong in the World?” © 2016 revisited June 30, 2025

 

Spiritual Terrorism

When a crime is committed, the burning question on every tongue is: “Who did it?”

A horrendous crime has been perpetrated against all humanity. A criminal like no other is on the loose. A conman whose main weapon of choice is deception. A snatcher of good seed and a sower of seeds of destruction. A consummate thief who steals away the abundant life that you and I were meant to live. A serial terrorist, terrorizing mankind from time immemorial.

Since the beginning of time, this terrorist concocted a massive scheme of spiritual terrorism – a devious plan to carry out murder on a grand scale. But even though we may not always recognize this master of deception, he is well known to those in authority. When, disguised as an angel of light, he managed to wangle his way into the Throne Room to lay accusation against God’s faithful servant Job, God did not fall prey to his ruse and exposed him on the spot.

“One day the divine beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them. The Lord said to the Adversary, “Where did you come from?” – Job 1:6-7 (CEB)

Jesus also knows the culprit well. He had to deal with this tempter during those 40-days He spent in the wilderness (read Matthew 4:1-11). And Jesus, like God, was not fooled by his shenanigans. Jesus is very clear about who’s trying to choke the spiritual life out of believers and fingers the prime suspect in Matthew 13:38-39.

If for some odd reason, after reading that, you’re still not sure, Apostle Paul left us more than a blatant clue as to the identity of this perpetrator in Ephesians 6:12 (Phillips),

“…you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.” 

And, Apostle Peter cautions us to be on the alert and remain vigilant because this serial terrorist is continuously prowling around looking for prey. It’s all part of the devil’s devious plot against God’s people.

“Be self-controlled and vigilant always, for your enemy the devil is always about, prowling like a lion roaring for its prey.” – 1 Peter 5:8 (Phillips) 

For ages the devil has been engaged in spiritual terrorism. For thousands of years he has been honing his craft. Jesus Himself testifies,

“He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.” – John 8:44 (AMPC)

A thief, a killer, a destroyer, a liar, the devil has been all these and more, from his first appearance in the Garden until now, his game plan of trickery and deceit has not changed, his methods to lure and entice have not changed; he continues to present his fabricated stories as real and we fall for them more often than we ought. Jesus, Apostles Paul and Peter, and James have all told us how to handle the devil…

Jesus, subjected to the devil’s temptations, did not yield but quoted the Word of God instead: “It is written…” and “It has been said…” (see Luke 4:1-13).

Beloved, Apostle Paul said that we must “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV).

And Apostle Peter tells us to resist the devil and stand firm in the faith (see 1 Peter 5:9).

And James says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4:7-8 NIV).

Amen†

 

Shelley Johnson “Spiritual Terrorism”© 2016 revisited June 29, 2025

 

 

Our Resting Place

 

“By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so, on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.” – Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)

These verses tell us that after six days of work God rested on the seventh day. Resting on the seventh day is a good practice for each of us to adopt, as this relates to God’s own resting after He had finished His work. However, reading Hebrews chapters 3 and 4, we see that there is indeed a deeper meaning to this rest, one that is not physical in nature but carries a more profound spiritual meaning.

We see, in these chapters, that God wants His people to stop their religious works and striving of the flesh and believe in and be obedient to His Living Word, so that they may enter into His Rest – a Divine rest, apprehended only by faith.

What is this rest then? It is the Sabbath Rest to which Hebrews 3 and 4 refer.

It is Jesus Himself who is the very embodiment of the Sabbath. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.

The rest, spoken of in the Old Testament, was merely a shadow of what was to come; a symbol which pointed to a higher form of rest.

Colossians 2:16, 17(GNT) tells us,

“So let no one make rules about…the Sabbath. All such things are only a shadow of things to come in the future; the reality is Christ.”

This wonderful Sabbath was secured for us by Jesus at Calvary. So, now, we can trust in the finished work of Christ and find continual rest in Him.

Unlike the people of the Old Testament, our Sabbath is not limited to one day of rest per week but is to be observed each and every day of our lives. This Rest is so much more than we realize. The Sabbath speaks of a healing rest, a time of rejuvenation, refreshing and renewal.

Beloved, Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of toiling and sweating for our own provision. He has made provision for us to rest. He is the true Sabbath Rest that God wants for us.

Knowing and believing that Jesus is our resting place, will equip us for amazing lives of eternal rest in Christ.

Amen †

 

 

 Shelley Johnson “Our Resting Place” © 2013 revisited June 28, 2025

The Donkey

Over the years of writing Bethel at Balata, I’ve come to realize that when God wants to hammer home a lesson, He continues the topic, back-to-back. So, here I am today still "talking" about the donkey.

There’ a poem by G.K. Chesterton entitled The Donkey…

When fishes flew and forests walked
   And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
   Then surely I was born.

 With monstrous head and sickening cry
   And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
   On all four-footed things.

 The tattered outlaw of the earth,
   Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
   I keep my secret still.

 Fools! For I also had my hour;
   One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
   And palms before my feet.

Oftentimes we see the donkey not just as a beast of burden but as a symbol of humiliation and low status, after all we would much rather be astride a regal horse than atop a lowly donkey. But as the poet points out, the donkey had its hour on that wonderful day, which is on every Christian calendar, Palm Sunday. 

When our Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, it was a symbol of His humility.

Some kings were known to ride on donkeys as a declaration of peace to another king since to approach riding a horse would have indicated that his intention was to attack. In that case, the donkey is seen as a symbol of peace.

photo courtesy O'Reilly Lewis

Unlike the majestic horse, the donkey is considered not much to look at and that is exactly how Jesus is described in Isaiah 53:2,

“He had no dignity or beauty to make us take notice of him. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing that would draw us to him.” (GNT)

Nowadays, some people see absolutely no attractiveness in Jesus or His Church. For that matter there are those who describe believers as donkeys. And just like CK Chesterton’s donkey, believers are scourged, derided and considered dumb because of Whom and what we believe.  

1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV) reads,

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong”

Yes, to the worldly, we are considered foolish and weak, that’s because they think themselves wise but they simply do not understand.

“But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].” – 1 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP)

In Luke 13:15, responding to the Pharisees’ rebuke of healing on the Sabbath, Jesus compares mankind's sickness of sin to the bondage of beasts of burden.

The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. (GNT)

Jesus takes our burdens to deliver us from the bondage of sin and gives us life-saving water (see John 4:14; 7:37-38)

“Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us.” – Psalm 68:2 (GNT)

Beloved, Jesus Christ, like Balaam’s donkey, prevents you and me from making a terrible choice. He can loose you from “the stall” you’re in and give you the freedom that resting in Him provides – a deep spiritual rest, a higher form of rest...a Sabbath rest.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Donkey” © 2025 June 26, 2025

 

If God can use a Donkey

When was the last time you saw a donkey? It’s been a while since I saw one but as a child, donkeys were everywhere. They were often used by farmers in the countryside to carry carts loaded with produce. Being a city dweller at that time, for me, seeing a donkey was quite the novelty.

In biblical times, donkeys were not uncommon. As a matter of fact, donkeys are mentioned in many Scripture readings in both the Old and New Testaments.

In Genesis 22:3, Abraham “saddled his donkey” early in the morning in preparation to make his way to sacrifice Isaac.

Seeking to “find grace and kindness” in Esau’s sight, Jacob sent a message to his brother listing all his possessions of value which included donkeys in Genesis 32:5

During the famine, when Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain, those same sons who had sold their brother Joseph into slavery, “Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put back each man’s silver into his own sack, and to give them provisions for their trip, and it was done. They loaded their grain onto their donkeys, and they set out.” – Genesis 42:25-26 (CEB)

In Exodus 4:20 we read, ^“So Moses took his wife and his children, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt.” (CEB)

Once a fundamental part of the economy, donkeys were a sign of wealth. A donkey loaded up with “two hundred loaves of bread, two jugs of wine, five sheep already prepared [for roasting], five measures of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs” was used by Abigail to appease David’s anger against her husband Nabal as recorded in1 Samuel 25.

God talks of the wild donkey when He challenged Job’s understanding in Job 39:5-8.

So yes, donkeys are mentioned several times in the bible, as burden carriers, as a common mode of transportation, as a measurement of wealth and much more. Surely, in that regard, they were an important asset but within the pages of Scripture, we find certain donkeys that hold a pride of place in God’s plan; donkeys playing a significant role in fulfilling God’s specific purpose.  

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion. Sing aloud, Daughter Jerusalem. Look, your king will come to you. He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and riding on an ass, on a colt, the offspring of a donkey.” – Zechariah 9:9

Zecharia’s prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (read Matthew 21:1-11). “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Clearly that donkey was a befitting choice for such an important procession.

Numbers 22:21-39 tells of an amazing event where God gave a donkey, albeit temporary, the ability to first see into the supernatural realm and then to speak! Yes, God used this Angel-of-the-Lord-seeing-donkey to rebuke its owner, Balaam.  

Beloved, all this is to say that if God can use a donkey, He can certainly use you.

Please do not count yourself out. Don’t feel that your past or present circumstances are a hindrance to your usefulness to God.

God transforms us into vessels for honourable use.

If God can use a donkey, He can certainly use you. Don’t figure that you’re too young or too old to be used by God.

Donkeys should never be seen as insignificant as they were created to carry the weight of what’s required. 

Let me remind you that you were created for purpose! God can empower you to operate in the supernatural just as He did with Balaam’s donkey.

If God can use a donkey, He can certainly use you!

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “If God can use a Donkey” © 2025 June 25, 2025

 

True Unity

Still exploring the complexities of unity, we see from Scripture that there is unity of the believer with Jesus Christ and within the body of Christ, the Church. But within the Church, is there true unity? Or is there uniformity? What does this supposed unity within the body of Christ look like these days? Sadly, very similar to what it looked like in Paul’s days.

Apostle Paul cautioned the Corinthian church by writing,

“…brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” – 1 Corinthians 12:1 (NIV) 

Uniformity is not unity. True unity is not about sameness. When Jesus spoke of unity, oneness, He was never intending for believers to be clones of each other. In verse 20 Paul says,

“…there are many parts, but one body”

Paul recognized that true unity within the body of believers is characterized by diversity. It’s about working together even though there are differences between us. God uses our strengths and weaknesses for His benefit, the benefit of others and the building up of His Church.

True unity is rooted in grace and in lovingkindness. True unity is about commitment and sacrifice. It’s about washing each other’s feet and choosing to turn the other cheek when you would really prefer to respond with a fitting comeback. True unity is about loving the seemingly unlovable and quietly “doing” when nobody’s looking.

Beloved, when you dare to love as Jesus loved, as God loves, you are displaying true unity. True unity is in action, it’s not passive but bold and tangible. True unity is never pretentious or pompous.

Without true unity, we as followers of Christ can “do nothing” because true unity is embedded in the life of Christ, in the actions of Christ and in the cross of Christ.

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (AMP)

The Church will accomplish nothing if it isn’t in true unity – “vital union” – with Jesus.

In Romans 12:4-5 (GNT) Paul explains,

“We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.”

Apostle Paul was keenly interested in true unity within the Church, not as some sort of indiscernible connection but as a very visible oneness that could be easily seen throughout the body of believers, in order that every believer may come to spiritual maturity.

He amplifies this in his letter to the Ephesians,

“…to build up the body of Christ [the church]; until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].” – 4:12, 13 (AMP)

Beloved, true unity already exists, for Christ Jesus accomplished it, however, it is yet to be attained and manifested within the members of Christ’s body, the Church. So, let us eagerly work towards this reality “with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.” making “every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].” – Ephesians 4:2 & 3 (AMP)

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “True Unity” © June 25, 2025

 

The Unity of One

 

“Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad”

With these words Moses affirmed the mystery of the unity of One:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One!” – Deuteronomy 6:4 (NKJV)

This topic of oneness is vast in complexity and, as a matter of fact, extends way beyond the scope of this Blog, but as is my habit, I endeavor to whet your curiosity enough so as to birth in you an inclination to investigate for yourself.

"The Creation of Adam" 
 a portion of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel fresco

Scripture is rife with the concept of “oneness” which can be seen from early on when God said, in Genesis 3:22, 

“Behold, the man has become like one of Us…” (NKJV). 

Here is a great example of the mysterious concept of unity and plurality occurring at the same time in this one verse, because “man” refers to both Adam and Eve, while “Us”, seen also in Genesis 1:26, is translated from the Hebrew word “Elohim”, a plural word for God. We are introduced to Elohim, an expression of the all-encompassing powerful nature of God, from the very beginning of the Word in Genesis 1:1.

God is by far our best example of the unity of One, in that, He is Three distinct Persons in One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – the Trinity or Tri-Unity. And even though the Bible does not specifically use the word Trinity, God Himself gave us a clue to His triune nature, when He said,

“Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me.” – Isaiah 48:16 (NKJV)

The Lord our God is indeed One, and Adam and Eve were One with Him before the introduction of sin in the Garden. Man became divided from each other, separated from God, and scattered abroad through sin. But our loving God already had in place a solution to restore the unity of one – man to man and man to God.

“…Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.” – John 11:51, 52 (NIV)

Yes, Jesus, the Son, gave up the privileges of Heaven, a realm of no limitations, took the form of a limited body of flesh here on earth, and willingly sacrificed His life to redeem all mankind – both Jew and Gentile – from sin and make possible our reconciliation to God. How’s that for a gift of love? Jesus was one in His purpose to reunify everyone with each other and with God.

“…His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” – Ephesians 2:15, 16 (NIV)

Without Jesus, you and I have no hope of restoring the oneness that was lost.

 Without Jesus, you and I will remain separated from one another and from God. 

Without Jesus, there’s no coming “together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love.” that Apostle Paul talks about in Philippians 2:2; there’ll be no standing united, singular in vision and purpose as if one person, that he speaks of in Philippians 1:27. 

Without Jesus we’ll remain two, or three, or more, each man for himself, a divided house against itself destined to fall (see Matthew 12:22-28).

Jesus is our bond of unity. He has broken down the barrier, the dividing wall. The unity of One is so important to God, that on the night before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed for us to return to One.

“…I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one…” – John 17:23 (NKJV)

God’s people must strive for unity because when two truly become one through Christ Jesus and joined by God, there’s no stronger bond, nothing and no-one can separate that union (see Matthew 19:5-6). 

When we come into agreement with each other and with God, the unity of One is created and God can use us to crush the enemy (see Romans 16:20 & Matthew 18:19).

Man, through sin, created the division, God sent His Son Jesus to bring man back to the unity of One. Beloved, you and I have a choice: we can remain separated from God by sin or become united to God through Jesus – we can either reject or accept the unity of One.

If we accept, then we’ll “travel on the same road and in the same direction, staying together, both outwardly and inwardly, having one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all, and everything we are and think and do will be permeated with Oneness.” – Ephesians 4:4-6 (MSG).

Amen†

 

Shelley Johnson “The Unity of One” © 2017 revisited June 24, 2025

 

 

 

Power of the Keys

Let me ask you a question, have you ever been locked out of your own home?

You’ve been out, maybe all day with friends, and now you just want to be home because you’re hungry, thirsty, tired, dying to go to the bathroom. So, they pull up to your house, you hop out of the car confident that somebody’s home, after all someone’s always at home, you turn the doorknob only to discover that the door is locked.

Perhaps you’ve never had this experience, but I have. Many years ago, pre-cell phone years ago, (I know that some of you are scratching your heads because you cannot conceive of such a time) friends have already driven off because, after all someone’s always at home. I called out, silence was the response; I tried the front door, the side door, and the back door, and each one of them was locked.

You see, I hadn’t yet qualified to get a key of my own since the belief was, if you have your own key then you’d think that you’re a big woman, so no, no key for you yet. I could do nothing but wait and wait and wait. Believe me when I tell you that it was sheer torture. I was at the mercy of the key holder – the holder of the keys wields power.

Christ said to Peter,

“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever doors you lock on earth shall be locked in heaven; and whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in heaven!” – Matthew 16:19 (TLB)

When Peter received a revelation of who Jesus was, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v. 16), he was given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. And, like Peter, when you receive a revelation of Jesus Christ you become qualified as a holder of the keys.

The keys of the Kingdom are given to all believers for the display of the power and the glory of God. The possession of the keys symbolizes the authority conferred by God Himself – the Father conferred such authority on Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ conferred the authority first on Peter, then the other apostles and now on every born-again believer.

Please understand that even though you are free to use the keys, God is the owner of the keys. He has given you the use and stewardship of this amazing authority.

“The Lord will put him in charge of the key that belongs to King David’s family. No one will be able to unlock what he locks, and no one will be able to lock what he unlocks.” – Isaiah 22:22 (CEV)

The keys are the same, or rather, of the same nature, as the key of David. Jesus is the holder of the key of David.

“I am the one who is holy and true, and I have the keys that belonged to David. When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it.” – Revelation 3:7 (CEV)

The authority to open and shut the door into the Church and the Kingdom of God lies with Jesus. As a born-again believer we share this same authority with Jesus Christ (see Revelation 2:26-27).

We are to be responsible in how we use this incredible gift, remembering always from whom it was received and the purpose of its use. We are not to be like the Pharisees who, by their example, “shut the Kingdom of Heaven in men’s faces” (see Matthew 23:13). Jesus Himself warns us, “do not do what they do” (v. 3).

Beloved, this is no ordinary stewardship, you must understand the power that is embedded in the keys, for therein lies the authority to lock and to open, bind and loose (see Matthew 18:18), and to forgive or not to forgive (John 20:22-23), so please take this most seriously, for what you say and do with the power of the keys will have eternal consequences.

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Power of the Keys” © 2016 revisited June 23, 2025

Hope has the last word

 

View of the smog covered city of Santiago
from San Cristobal Hill Chile 

Beloved, what happens when your hope does not speak to a specific thing? When your situation is so bleak that you cannot even see the horizon? When everything in your life appears to be blanketed in smog?

You’re trying to remain hopeful, but you can’t even complete your sentence of hope…

“I hope for” or “I hope that” It’s just so much happening, or not, that you don’t know where to turn or to whom.

Can you still cling to hope when everything is pointing to hopeless?

What to do?

In times of challenge, we must cling to hope. Not the hope that is characterized by wishful thinking but the hope that is firmly grounded in the God of hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

(Romans 15:13 ESV)

God is the source of the type of hope that you need to endure the rigors of life. He wants for you to live a believing life that overflows with His hope.

But how do you cultivate the hope that is required to face each day when all seems lost? The answer lies in the passage of Scripture that you just read.  

It’s surrendering control of your life to God daily, allowing His indwelling Spirit to work in you and, as your dependence on Him increases, the more you will walk in belief and the more you believe, the greater His power will work within you, and this empowerment will lead to the manifestation of joy and not-of-this-world peace, which then cultivates that brimming-over hope.

Hope that will not fail.

To truly live in this God-of-hope hope, you must detach from your own preconceived-outcome hope. Divorce hope from “for” and “that”, leaving the sentence open, believing God for the result.

God Himself is saying to you,

“I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.”

This eleventh verse from Jeremiah chapter twenty nine is so used that it’s overused but it is what it is and is God’s perfect reassurance that He has planned a good future for you.

So, believe God for the “I will give you the future you hope for” and believe that He will align your hope with His, allowing your future to become the one you hope for.

Beloved, to live a spiritual life that matters, hope must have the last word.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Hope has the last word” © 2025 June 21, 2025

What does God require of you?

Just as in the time of Micah, people still believe that God requires us to observe and adhere to particular impossible-to-keep rules, perform extreme sacrifices, do “good works” and even strive for absolute perfection, but God responds to that type of belief today the same way He responded then,

“No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.”. (Micah 6:8 GNT)

From this verse we can clearly see that what we believe God requires vastly differs from what He actually requires of us.

Using Jesus’ life as an example, God has not only told us what is good, He has shown us what is good, and it has to do with the way we treat others. Jesus tells us that we must love our fellow man as we love ourselves. Someone who really loves himself would never purposely injure himself, he’d always seek what is best for himself and therein lies the “good”. Being good is about our actions, and behavior towards other people.

In Numbers 10:29 Moses said to Hobab, “Come with us, and we will be good to you…” – other translations read, “…and we will treat you well…” To treat each other well is what God wants us to do, it is what He requires of us. How we treat our neighbour is very important to God.

According to Micah, it’s about being fair and just, not biased and judgmental; it’s about constantly expressing godly love by being compassionate and kind, and looking so far beyond flaws that you’re able to turn the other cheek; it’s about having such love and respect for God that your desire is to please Him always, being in a state of acquiesce, obedient to His voice, and allowing God to be involved in your life in an intimate personal way.

“what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear [and worship] the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul [your choices, your thoughts, your whole being],” (Deuteronomy 10:12 AMP).

God has been good to each and every one of us. He has not given to us the punishment we truly deserve. Instead, God has dealt justly with us, constantly showing us such unconditional love that we can hardly grasp its depth, and despite our imperfections, is desirous of being in fellowship with us.

Beloved, from this day, strive to return the favour by giving to God what He requires of you – doing what is just; showing constant love; and living in humble fellowship with God.

Amen†

 

Shelley Johnson “What does God require of you?” © 2016 revisited June 21, 2025

 

 

Beggars No More

When blind Bartimaeus came into contact with Jesus Christ he immediately discarded the cloak that identified him as a beggar (read Mark 10:46-52). In those days begging was prevalent and those that begged were required to wear special garments so that there was no mistaking who they were, their social status. Being a beggar placed you on the bottom rung of the social ladder, being a blind beggar placed you under that ladder – you did not even have the privilege of being on the ladder.

Bartimaeus’ blindness and his position of poverty are symbolized as one single piece of fabric, the fabric of his circumstances in life. But it’s clear that Bartimaeus longed to see a change in his circumstances, and hearing that Jesus was about to be right where he was, gave him the impetus to act and so, he cried out to Jesus.

His story, like so many others, has not been placed in the Bible for our entertainment, those stories have been recounted as examples for us to follow. They’re there to teach us lessons as we journey through this life. We can all relate to Bartimaeus in some way. How? Let’s take a look. 

Like most of us, Bartimaeus, must have heard the good news of Jesus. Reading Mark 10:46-52 it’s apparent that he felt that Jesus was his way out of a life of poverty and blindness. The way in which he cried out proves that Bartimaeus had a gut feeling that it was only through Jesus that he would ever be able to see a new spiritual, social and material reality. Disgusted by his public display, those of a better social standing tried to silence him in their attempts to keep Bartimaeus blind, poor, and invisible.

How many times in your quest for a change in circumstances have the naysayers in your life voiced their disapproval?

How many times have people tried to deter you from seeking a new way of life?

How many times have persons tried to stop you from expressing your exuberance upon encountering Jesus, or decry your unrelenting conviction?

It’s time to ignore the hindrances being laid in your path and like Bartimaeus, the more they hush you, the more you call out to Jesus.

So loud was his call that it caused Jesus to stop and listen. Blind and poor, Bartimaeus decided that he’ll no longer be enrobed in anything that qualified his dependency. The beggar became the chooser, tossing away the filthy rags of self-righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) in exchange for the riches that are found in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

We are all like Bartimaeus, you and I, poor blind beggars wrapped in filthy rags of self-righteousness, easily identified by angels and demons alike. We all have a choice to make. Do we want to remain in these old, dirty, smelly garments, or do we want the change of clothes that has been offered to us – the new garment, the righteousness that only Jesus Christ can give? (see Matthew 22:11-14; Revelation 19:7-8)

Casting aside your filthy rags is an act of faith which says that you want to see your life changed from rags to riches. It says that you are ready to leave behind the old way of life and enter into the Kingdom of God where you’ll be a beggar no more. This God-made garment has already been given through Jesus, when He chose to give up the glory, the beauty and the magnificence of heaven to become human in every way and to suffer a cruel crucifixion so that you might become rich in every aspect of your life, spiritually and physically.

Jesus suffered the worst the world has to offer so that through Him you do not have to. His poverty has made you rich (2 Corinthians 8:9) – not in a worldly way, which is fickle, but it’s much more than that, indeed far greater than material wealth. It’s something that money can never buy…it is your Salvation.

There is nothing more valuable than your Salvation. To first receive Jesus Christ as Saviour, then to establish an intimate relationship with Him, where God reigns supreme in your life, is a mark of true riches.

Salvation involves everything God will do for, through, with, in, and to you, as He brings you into the fullness of life.

Salvation brings you into God’s Kingdom, moving you from a life of blindness and poverty to a life of spiritual sight and the “unfathomable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

Bartimaeus wanted more out of life, made a decision, persisted despite hindrances and Jesus saved him and surely He will save you too beloved. So, “Take hope! Stand up, He is calling for you!” (Mark 10:49); throw off your beggar’s robe, accept Jesus as your personal Saviour and you will be instantaneously enriched with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) making you a beggar no more.

Amen†

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Beggars No More” © 2016 revisited June 20, 2025

 

 

  

Saved For

 

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” – Acts 2:21 (CEB)

The Lord saves us. We turn to Him and away from sin-filled living, and we are saved. But why?

Some say that the Lord saves us from sin

Some say that the Lord saves us from eternal damnation

Some say that the Lord saves us from evil

People may respond in various ways, and I agree that the Lord saves us from, but I also want to suggest that the Lord saves us for.

Saved from, is just the beginning of the journey. As you “continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation” (see Philippians 2:12 ERV), in active pursuit of spiritual growth and maturity, with reverence and obedience to God, saved from switches to saved for.

You are saved for the Lord’s purpose – to fulfill His plan. There’s a divine plan that is greater than any of us, and as the Lord’s creation we are meant to help in the actualization of that plan (read Ephesians 3:9-11). However, we cannot properly serve God if we remain in our carnal sinful state. We must go through the salvation process to participate in the Lord’s divine intent.

You can’t keep holding onto your religious mindset either. You must be completely surrendered to God, otherwise, like Peter in that sheet incident (read Acts 10:9-16), you will miss out on what God is calling you to do if you do not let go.

photo courtesy O'Reilly Lewis

Understand that you and I were created to serve God and to be of service to each other. Understand that it is His creation, His eternal plan, and His purpose. It’s all about Him. We get so caught up in a self-serving attitude that we forget that it’s really all about what God wants.

“The world is passing away, and all the things that people want in the world are passing away. But whoever does what God wants will live forever.” – 1 John 2:17 (ERV)

That God wants something from you probably never crossed your mind.

The Lord saved you for connection to Him; to be in relationship with Him. But if a relationship is one-sided, where only one person’s needs are being met, it won’t work. You will always have a need from God, but God has a need for you. You have an integral part to play in the relationship. How you relate to Him is important to Him and it cannot be merely based on your needs alone.

Stop your constant haranguing to have your needs met, instead “What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” (Matthew 6:33 ERV).

Beloved, you were saved from but more importantly, you are saved for – saved for a life of purpose and service in God’s eternal plan.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Saved For” © 2025 June 18, 2025

 

God is not holding onto your past

 All they knew of me, in fact, was the saying: “The man who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they thanked God for what had happened to me. – Galatians 1:23-24 (Phillips)

Apostle Paul, before his conversion, was tireless in his resolve to destroy the early church. He relentlessly persecuted the followers of Jesus, and decried the Lord Himself. Paul had been passionate and determined in his severe cruelty and violence against the church – he was committed to the task, yet God called him into His service.

Can you imagine that God would forgive someone like Paul, a man who consented and approved of the killing and imprisonment of so many followers of His beloved Son Jesus Christ?

The truth is, God not only forgave Paul but raised him up from spiritual death and gave him his ministry and authority. He was appointed, commissioned, and sent out by God to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ

Paul, whose call to be an apostle did not come from human beings or by human means, but from Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from death. – Galatians 1:1(GNT)

Just as Paul had once been tireless in his pursuit of the destruction of the church, so he became tireless in his pursuit to build up the church. After all almost all of the New Testament is penned by Paul.

God used Paul in a mighty way, and He will use you too, no matter your past. God will employ the elements of your character in a positive way, for His glory, just as He did with Paul. Paul displayed that same passion, determination, and commitment in his new task.

Today, release your past to God, who is able and willing to forgive you through His beloved Son Jesus Christ. He does not recount your sins, as a matter of fact, God blots out your past mistakes and forgets about them.

Isaiah 43:25 tells us,

I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you. (GNT)

And Hebrews 8:12 says,

I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. (ESV)

Beloved, it’s really up to you to believe that God is not holding onto your past, to realize that you need to let go of it too and determine to go in the opposite direction (repent). In the words of William Cowper,

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:

 Forgive yourself, and receive His forgiveness.

Amen†

 

Shelley Johnson “God is not holding onto your past” © 2016 revisited June 18, 2025

 

Activate His Power

Part of Apostle Paul’s prayer for every believer in Christ Jesus was that we would understand just “…how very great is His power at work in us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:19 GNT). 

Paul, like Jesus before him, could not impress upon us enough how important it is for us to believe. Jesus had told Martha, in John 11:40, that if she believed, she would see the glory of God. I believe that this was not the first time Jesus was telling her this, since He is recorded as saying, “Didn’t I tell you…”

You see, when you believe, when you truly believe, you activate His power. As long as you do not allow unbelief to enter in, linger, and take up residence in you, the exceeding greatness of God’s power is released toward you. 

Look at the account of the Centurion and his sick servant, in Luke 7:1-10. He strongly believed that all that was necessary was for Jesus to say the word and his servant would be healed. This man believed without doubt and his servant’s healing took effect immediately; before Jesus even reached to the house, this incredible power, barreled its way towards the centurion’s home and struck its target. That is how you activate His power! Only believe.

Jairus’ little daughter, who, according to Matthew 9:18, had died, was restored to life when Jairus believed. He simply chose to believe and God’s power was activated. 

As you read, notice how Jesus removed all unbelievers from their midst and with that, God’s exceedingly great power manifested. That is how you activate His power! Remove the unbelievers, the naysayers, the negativity from your midst and only believe.

Beloved, don’t you want to experience the full extent of the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward you? You may be tempted to think that this is too good to be true, or that it was only available in biblical days. 

Well, these days are biblical days and God’s incredible power of which Paul spoke is not a myth, it is very real, and it can be manifested in your life. When you truly believe, you will activate His power and God will hold nothing back.

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Activate His Power” © 2017 revisited June 17, 2025

 

 

Bogged Down

 

I don’t know about you, but I find myself getting so bogged down with doing this and that, that I fail to do what I ought to be doing. For instance, this blog. Since I started back doing this blog, I post something every single day – it’s a commitment that I uphold, to God and to you. However, years ago, when I first started, I would miss several days at a time. I let busyness get the better of me.

Just like Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we sometimes pay so much attention to peripheral issues that we lose sight of what’s really important. Can you relate?

In those days, my busyness could allow as much as nine days to lapse between posts. What was I really doing during those nine days? I looked around and I could see no evidence of my busyness.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon lets us know that all our striving is like chasing after the wind but what God has appointed us to do is worthwhile, substantial and will make a difference. So whether this blog is read by thousands or by only one person, I know that because God has led me to do it, it is accomplishing His purpose therefore I need to be consistent and not allow myself to be pulled away.

The truth is, when I sit down to meditate, research, and write, what is actually happening is that I am spending time in God’s presence and then, I become like Martha’s sister Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet, hanging on to Jesus’ every word – learning valuable lessons and gaining spiritual insight as I read and listen.

Beloved do not believe that you have to be in church or theological college or in a Bible study group to sit at Jesus’ feet and be in His presence. Spending time with God can take place right where you are. 

Many years ago, my bedroom was where I really got into deep intimate fellowship with God – conversing, studying His Word and being taught by Spirit. Nowadays, it’s early in the morning, seated on a couch in my Family Room – the significance of that location is not lost on me.

Too many times, we favour busyness over intimacy. Forgetting that there’s a time for everything, we get so involved in certain things that the one thing that matters is neglected. Jesus said to Martha,

“Oh Martha, Martha, you are so anxious and concerned about a million details, but really, only one thing matters. Mary has chosen that one thing, and I won’t take it away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 VOICE)

Unlike her sister, Mary used her time wisely. She seized the opportunity to take full advantage of Jesus’ visit. We too must make the choice not to misuse our time. 

What’s the use of getting so bogged down with stuff that we miss out on that one thing that won’t be taken away from us? Spending vital family time with God – Father, Son and Spirit.

Let us pray for wisdom concerning all things, especially about the time we spend with God.

Amen†

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Bogged Down” © 2017 revisited June 16, 2025

 

Know your heavenly Father

 Today is Father’s Day, the day we celebrate our earthly fathers, but do you know your heavenly Father?

Our heavenly Father wants you to know Him intimately. He longs to have a relationship with you. Not a one-sided relationship but one that involves open and honest communication, where you don’t just indulge in continuous chatter, asking for this and that but where you speak to your Father and then stop to listen to hear what He has to say. You engage Him in conversation.

In James 14:8, Phillip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.” (GNT)

How many times have you asked God, your heavenly Father, to reveal Himself.

Jesus’ response to Phillip, adapted from James 14:9 and 10 (GNT), is a question for you to ponder,

For a long time I have been with you, yet you do not know Me? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, ‘Show me the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? 

Even some seasoned believers, who identify as Christians, still do not know their heavenly Father. They have walked the spiritual journey for many years but do not relate to God – having a complete lack of understanding and are spiritually disconnected. They claim to know Jesus, yet do not see Him in the Father or the Father in Him.

Beloved, God reveals Himself to us through His Word – it helps us to understand the many different aspects of our heavenly Father’s character. Even His names reveal His character. He does not hide Himself from His children but is eager for us to know Who He is. Let’s take a look at just twelve attributes of God as revealed in His Word.

Restorer: “He restores my strength.”

Psalm 23:3

Helper: “You are my helper”

Psalm 70:5

Deliverer: “I will deliver him”

Psalm 91:15

Redeemer: “You, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer”

Isaiah 63:16

Strength: “The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength”

Isaiah 12:2

Guide: “The Lord will guide you always”

Psalm 58:11

Counsellor: “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel”

Psalm 16:7

Strong Tower: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower”

Proverbs 18:10

Love: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” 

1 John 4:8

Provider: “And my God will meet all your needs”

Philippians 4:19

Healer: “And the Lord will take away from you all sickness” 

Deuteronomy 7:15

Everlasting Father: “…and He is named…Everlasting Father”

Isaiah 9:6

These twelve verses are merely a fraction of Who God is – He is so much more.

God is everything, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (Romans 11:36). Be encouraged to read the Bible and pray for genuine understanding so that you may know your heavenly Father.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Know your heavenly Father” © 2013 revisited June 15, 2025

Be Still…God is on the move!

 

Psalm 46:10
painted on the wall at Maracas R.C. Primary School
Maracas Valley Trinidad

“…know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.” – Jeremiah 10:23 (NET Bible)

Stop trying to do what only God can do. God wants to do something about your situation, He is trying to make you lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23:2-3) to effect restoration, but you keep getting up trying to take control and frankly, you’re getting in the way.

People have such a wrong impression believing that they must do things to make things happen. Someone once told me, “You can’t just wait on God…you are the one who has to make things happen. Remember, the Bible says, God helps those that help themselves! Even Noah had to build the ark, he didn’t just sit around!”

First of all, that quote about God helping those who help themselves is nowhere in the Bible because it’s not Scriptural. And yes Noah built the ark but in obedience to God’s instruction, he didn’t go off scurrying around doing his own thing, he became still in order to hear God and, he listened to and acted upon what God told him to do. Hear what the Word says,

“He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.” – Proverbs 28:26 (AMPC)

“…those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” – Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

So, it’s okay to be still – to stop all your striving and just let God be God. When God is ready to make His move, you need to hush, be quiet, be silent, be still…

“Quiet, everyone! Shh! Silence before God. Something’s afoot in His holy house. He’s on the move!” – Zechariah 2:13 (MSG)

The beautiful truth is, only God has the power to truly restore, and He will (see 1 Peter 5:10). In fact, God promises that He will restore everything that you’ve lost or that was stolen from you, whether or not that loss was of your own making, the enemy’s scheme, or something sent by God Himself (see Joel 2:25).

God does not point a finger. He is not interested in finding fault. He is not the accuser of the brethren, that job’s already taken (see Revelation 12:10). 

Beloved, your God is interested in making your life better, after all, Jesus did say that He came to give you fullness of life.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” – John 10:10 (AMP)

And to live life in its fullness brings glory to God, but that’s a whole other topic for another day. Today is about being still so that God can move on your behalf.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Be Still…God is on the move!” © 2016 revisited June 14, 2025