Why are you holding on?

 

Recently, I came across something that I had never thought about before and was immediately struck by a certain bible verse. But before I divulge the verse, let me tell you about what led to this lightning bolt.

Looking at a globe of the world, if you were to travel north from anywhere in the world towards the Arctic or North Pole, after reaching that point, anywhere beyond it, you’ll then be heading south; right?

And if you continue making that entire longitude circumference journey, you will always go from south to north or from north to south.

However, it doesn’t work in that same way when you’re heading in an easterly direction on the globe to get to the west. You just continue heading east.

North to south and vice versa is finite but heading east is infinite, you’ll always be heading east. Traveling along that line of latitude in either direction is a continuous journey.

You probably know this already but for me, it was something that never crossed my mind, yet still, that wasn’t even the mind-blowing element. My mind exploded when, pondering this new discovery, Psalm 103 came dancing into my thoughts, not every verse – verse 1, verse 2 and I thought nothing of it until, suddenly, skipping over several verses it came to rest on the one that says,

as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.

Verse twelve was the verse that catapulted me into praise mode. How could it not?

I had a brand-new understanding of what David was saying.

“As far as the east is from the west” is an endless, incalculable distance; it’s never-ending, immeasurably more than we can ever imagine, extending indefinitely beyond what we are able to fathom.

says the Lord: For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. (Hebrews 8:10, 12 NRSVUE)

The author of Hebrews reiterates that same promise in Hebrews 10:17, which incidentally, is the repeating of a prophecy found in Jeremiah 31:34.

Beloved, God does not hold on to our sins, why are you holding on to the sins of others? If God can let go of our sins, remove them as far as the east is from the west, cast all [our] sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19) and remember [our] sins no more, why are you holding on? What is your reason for not letting go?

Do you weaponize the sins of others to use against them? Because that’s exactly what some of us do. Even those of us who stand at pulpits.

And then there are those of you who keep replaying your own sins in your mind, living guilty and punishing yourself as if Jesus Christ never hung on the Cross.

As long as you keep remembering your sins and the sins of others, that God, in His love, compassion and mercy, has already completely forgiven, you are crucifying Christ again and again.

Why are you holding on? What is your reason for not letting go?

You know of God’s wonderful gift of forgiveness through His beloved Son Jesus, but haven’t you truly accepted it? If you had, then you would not be holding people’s sin over their heads and condemning them every chance you get.

Holding on to any sins without forgiving the perpetrator of said sins, yourself included, reveals a problem of love.

Holding on to any sins without forgiving the perpetrator of said sins, yourself included, is tantamount to a rejection of divine love.

Why are you holding on?

God has forgiven and forgotten our sins, so who are you to keep holding on to them?

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Why are you holding on?” ©2026 May 22, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovingkindness

 

Psalm 123 

I lift up my eyes to You, O You Whose throne is in the heavens. See, the eyes of servants look to the hand of their owner. The eyes of a woman servant look to the hand of her owner. So our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He shows us loving-kindness.

Show loving-kindness to us, O Lord. Show loving-kindness to us. For we have had our fill of hate. The proud have laughed at us too long. We have had more than enough of their hate.

In most translations of Psalm 123, “mercy” is used instead of “loving-kindness” but we so seldom use or display lovingkindness that the word seemed to glare at me when I came upon it in the New Life Version’s translation of the psalm.

Lovingkindness is one of those words that carry a depth of meaning as does its Hebrew counterpart, “hesed”; It’s not a disposition but more of an attitude than anything else, that is born out of a place of authenticity.

There is no pretence in lovingkindness, it cannot be feigned. This is a heartfelt, loyal love that is divinely implanted. It is love that expects neither repayment nor reward. It’s love that doesn’t count the cost and when it refers to God, it’s that how wide and how long and how high and how deep love that is meted out to sinners (you and me), in unmerited kindness.

God’s lovingkindness designates His great faithfulness, grace and mercy.

Remember Your loving-pity and Your loving-kindness, O Lord. For they have been from old. (Psalm 25:6 NLV)

God’s lovingkindness is priceless.

Of what great worth is Your loving-kindness, O God! (Psalm 36:7 NLV)

God’s lovingkindness is everlasting.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loving-kindness lasts forever. (Psalm 136:1 NLV; 2-26)

On a pilgrimage to worship the Lord, the psalmist is asking the Lord to show lovingkindness after the pilgrims have experienced their fill of hate and, centuries later, that hasn’t changed, for when we are in distress, we too seek lovingkindness from our Lord.

We long for God to show us lovingkindness but we, like the priest and the Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan (see Luke 10:25-37), are hard pressed to show even the faintest love to our fellowman.

We’re so focused on the road we are on, that we forget there are others traveling on the same road. And worse than that we keep our eyes cast down, preferring to ignore those on the road who are injured, gravely hurt or deeply wounded.

It’s easy to hide our faces from the ills that others face – the hate and the injustice – especially when it isn’t affecting us directly. We curl up in our comfortableness not wanting to have anything spoil or interrupt our journey.

Because our lives are normal by the world’s standards, does not mean that we are going the right way or that we’re doing the right things or making the right choices.
 
So, take a good look at where you’re headed. When was the last time you looked up to really see what’s going on around you outside of your own experiences? Have you been lifting your eyes to God, Whose throne is in the heavens?
 
With everything that is going on in this world today with all the pain and suffering, conflicts and wars and the abuse and killing of innocent children, it’s sometimes difficult to lift your eyes, you probably don’t even want to. You're not alone...

Lately, we’ve all been looking down but we need to lift up our eyes, not to focus on the world but to see above and beyond the hills to the hand of our Lord, as we continue our ascent.

We need to look to the Lord our God, until He shows us loving-kindness by planting its seed deep into our hearts so that we may be able to show lovingkindness to others along the way.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Lovingkindness“ ©2026 May 21, 2026

Encore

God knows the heart of each person. He knows what you need and when you need it. And in certain instances, God will take you through something that you’ve been through already.

Perhaps you need to be reminded about something or perhaps you need to see something from a different perspective or perhaps He is taking you to a higher level of understanding, so you need to dig deeper.

Whatever the reason for this encore, today God is taking us through something we have been through before – Eternal Life.

When we think of the word eternal, we think of it in terms of duration, both distant past and future time, either way it’s thought of simply as a long time. However, in Scripture, particularly in the gospel of John, “eternal” is paired with “life” where it refers not to the past but instead mingles the future and the present.

In John’s gospel, “eternal life” is not about duration but about a quality of life in which we, as God’s children, share in His eternal being, participating in the life of God by means of faith.

John 17:1-3 (NIV) gives us Jesus’ definition of eternal life.

Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

All who belong to Jesus, have access to His gift of eternal life but it’s not a done deal, for we are required to “know…the only true God and Jesus Christ”.

This knowing is not about knowing the facts about God and Jesus Christ, this knowing is not about memorizing bible verses, this knowing is not about performing in church, this knowing is about being in relationship with God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.

That they may know You, is speaking about connection. It’s about faith in knowing that He now dwells in us and we in Him. Eternal life is unity with God in the present, meaning that it is in effect now.

We have truly underestimated the value of the cross. Jesus Christ’s shed blood provided eternal life to all those who God has given Him.

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:4-5 NIV)

Eternal life is in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Eternal life is not about going to heaven.

Eternal life is now.

Eternal life is not about duration it’s about depth.

Beloved, the faith to know that you have been given eternal life is not for later, it has to take effect now because it affects how you live in the present.

John 10:10 is very clear,

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

The thief comes to steal what you know, understand and believe, to kill your faith and destroy the life Jesus died for you to have, making you physically alive but spiritually dead.

Jesus speaks of life, life that is full and abundant – eternal life – and is waiting for us to have.

Jesus did not come simply to help us escape this world; Jesus came to show us how to live in it.

Your life may be good, but God wants your life to be so much better, hence this “Eternal Life” encore.

God wants you to have life to the full – the best time of your life here on earth, right now.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Encore” ©2026 May 20, 2026

 

Living Cherubim

 

We picture Cherubim as ornamentation, like the two made of beaten gold that adorned the two ends of the mercy seat above the Ark of the Covenant (see Exodus 25:18-22), or those that were embroidered into the curtains that hung in the Tabernacle (ref. Exodus 26:1 & 31) and the many that populated Solomon’s Temple (ref.1 Kings 6:23-38).

All those cherubim were static but remember, God placed living cherubim at the East of Eden,

He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. – Genesis 3:24 (ESV)

And in Psalm 18:10 (ESV), David sings of God riding a cherub,

He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.

Cherubim are much more than artwork; they are alive and Ezekiel chapter one gives us a vivid description of these living heavenly creatures.

As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. – Ezekiel 1:10 (ESV)

The four faces of each of the cherubim represent the four excellencies of the created order:

the lion – the greatest of the wild beasts

the ox – the greatest of the domestic beasts

the eagle – the greatest of the birds

and man – the crown of creation

God riding a cherub is symbolic of His absolute sovereignty over creation in all its variety of life; it shows that creation is subject to His intervention and is at His disposal.

We also see a similar description of living cherubim in the Book of Revelation.

the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. – Revelation 4:7 (ESV)

In Revelation, the living cherubim are the bearers of the judgments that follow the breaking of the first four seals (see Revelation 6).

Their symbolism goes even further in that each of the faces typifies the nature of Jesus Christ. How? Let’s look at each face.

Jesus as Lion:

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” – Revelation 5:5 (ESV)

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. – Revelation 19:16 (ESV)

As King, Jesus is like a lion, the king of the beasts. He is our King.

Jesus as Ox:

A firstborn bull — he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. – Deuteronomy 33:17 (ESV)

Jesus is powerful, yet submitted to service and suffering. He is the suffering Servant.

Jesus as Eagle:

that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places – Ephesians 1:20 (ESV)

Jesus has a free Spirit, lives in the heavenly realms, watches over us from high above, is swift and powerful to rescue us and destroy His enemy.

Jesus as Man:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14 (ESV)

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:7-8 (ESV)

Jesus is the beginning and the end, the first and the last; our heritage is only found in union with Him, the Lord from heaven, the Heavenly Man who came to earth to rescue mankind.

Beloved, the living cherubim carry an enormous weight of symbolism, much more than the capacity of this blog post.

Each of the four faces parallels the character and Person of Jesus which can be seen in the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And four, being the number that represents universality (everywhere and everyone), must not be overlooked, as the gospels are to be taken to the four corners of the earth, proclaimed throughout the whole world.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Living Cherubim” ©2026 May 19, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Remember me

 

Beloved, have you ever felt that God has forgotten all about you? It seems like ages since you’ve been calling and crying out for help, according to Isaiah 58:9 but you haven’t received an answer as Isaiah promised.

But that verse comes with a caveat; have you done everything that you were supposed to do? Have you been obedient?

Here’s what Isaiah 58:9 (NIV) says,

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

And the “ifs” continue for a few more verses and it’s only after the “ifs” that the “thens” are fulfilled.

We are always asking God for this and that but aren’t always willing to do our part and then we wonder, “Doesn’t God remember me?”

We pray, Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people (Psalm 106:4 NIV) yet you refuse to do His will, you refuse to forgive, you refuse to repent, you refuse to turn the other cheek, you refuse to give up your sexual misconduct, you refuse to let go of whatever God has been telling you to release, you refuse and refuse and refuse.

You find it hard to show others favour but you want God to show you favour? You won’t even give way to other drivers on the road for goodness sake.

You refuse to follow the “Golden Rule” that I’m sure you’ve heard time and time again since childhood, from your mom or grandmother but probably did not realize that it’s something that Jesus said,

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12 NIV)

Despite your behaviour, God has not forgotten you, He certainly remembers you, after all He has engraved you on the palms of [His] hands (read Isaiah 49:14-16). However, before God gives to you, He is waiting for you to give to Him.

God is waiting for you to give Him your will and your way in exchange for His will and His way. God is waiting for you to give Him your worries and anxieties (see 1 Peter 5:7).

In 1 Samuel, we are told of a woman named Hannah who in her desperation to have a child, a son, made a promise to God,

“Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Samuel 1:11 NIV)

And God remembered Hannah (also v. 19) and her son Samuel grew up in God’s presence (1 Samuel 2:21).

You can’t be asking God to give to you and not be willing to give back to God no matter what it may be.

When my own children were born, I gave them back to God, not by taking them to live with the priest as Hannah did, but I understood that they belonged to God.

Beloved, if you want God to remember you when you pray, you must remember Him for who He is and not only for what He can give you.

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. (Psalm 25:7 NIV)

Remember God for His love.

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 NIV)

Remember God for His forgiveness.

Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love. (Nehemiah 13:22 NIV)

Remember God for His mercy.

Lord, you understand; remember me and care for me. (Jeremiah 15:15 NIV)

Remember God for His care.

O my God, [earnestly] remember me for good and imprint me [on Your heart]! (Nehemiah 13:31 AMPC)

Remember God for His goodness.

The same God who remembered Noah and Sarah and Rachel and Joseph and Hannah and Daniel and Job and the thief on a cross and Cornelius, is the same God who remembers you and me.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Remember me” ©2026 May 18, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

What about Bithiah?

 

Before we answer the question of Bithiah, we need to ask: What about Mered? Because the answer to Mered will partially answer the question of Bithiah.

Mered appears in the first book of Chronicles, in chapter 4 verse 17, as it is written,

The sons of Ezrah:

Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. (NIV) 

Mered descended from the tribe of Judah (v 1) and had two wives. One, an unnamed Judean woman and the other was Bithiah.

(His wife from the tribe of Judah gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soko, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the children of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married. – 1 Chronicles 4:18 (NIV)

Long story short…

According to the above verse, Bithiah was Pharaoh’s daughter, therefore she was an Egyptian but no ordinary Egyptian, Bithiah was royalty.

Jewish tradition suggests that Bithiah was the one who discovered the baby Moses among the reeds in the Nile however, in Exodus, Pharaoh’s daughter is not named.

Bithiah, an Egyptian princess whose name means “daughter of God”, married a Hebrew who would have undoubtedly worshipped God.

Was Bithiah’s naming prophetic, a sign of her change of allegiance from the idolatrous worship of the gods of Egypt to the God of the Hebrews? We can only speculate, for the bible does not say, so we do not know and will never know because Bithiah’s biblical story ends as quickly as it begins.

Something else we do not know, is why only one of Mered’s wives was named, but there is something to be learnt from his marriage to Bithiah.

This was a marriage not just between two people, it was a marriage between two countries, two very different cultures and two drastically different religious beliefs.

Theirs was like so many marriages these days where Christians marry non-Christians. I know of several couples like this and have often wondered but never asked for details on how it works.

For Bithiah, it appears that she adopted her husband’s culture and religion, as 1 Chronicles 4:17 (NIV) tells us that their children bore Hebrew names, Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah.

Some changes in life bring changes in allegiance. For Bithiah, her Egyptian heritage was changed to the Jewish way of life, so much so that she is included in the genealogy of Judah.

It wasn’t too long ago that persons who married Roman Catholics were required to leave their denomination and join the Roman Catholic church or, failing that, raise their children in the faith. Is this still a requirement?

Many years ago, when I got married to a Catholic, he expected that we would raise whatever children we would have as Roman Catholics. I am not Roman Catholic and as an active member of the denomination to which I belonged, refused. This became an issue for us as a newly married couple but after discussion and prayer, we came to a decision that worked for both of us and the two children that we eventually had.

In this instance both people belong to the Christian faith, but as more and more couples mix cultures and religions through marriage, important decisions must be made even before their lives are joined.

Questions concerning worship must be answered. The Word of God speaks of being unequally yoked.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. – 2 Corinthians 6:14 (AMPC)

Mismatched spiritual alliances can become extremely complicated. When fundamentally different religious perspectives are combined, friction can ensue and couples and families are torn apart especially if children are involved. Which religion the children follow becomes a bone of contention.

How is this reconciled?

As Christians, our allegiance is to God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. So, if we find ourselves in such a situation, we must take it to God in earnest prayer even before it escalates, to ask for His guidance.

Beloved, life happens and it’s not impossible to find yourself in a conflicting position as far as love and marriage and raising children are concerned. These concerns must be addressed before you take the proverbial plunge; decisions that will affect your individual life as well as your spiritual life must be taken into account.

Continue to worship God with heart, mind, soul and strength and to trust Him to lead you in the way you must go.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What about Bithiah?” ©2026 May 17, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Misconceptions

 

As we journey along this spiritual road, sometimes we read things into Scripture that are not really there and miss things that are there. A great many times we simply take another’s word about what the Word says without checking for ourselves.

I recall an incident, several years ago in Bible study where the minister of the church who was leading the session claimed that at some time during the Exodus, God left Moses. Now, those who were acquainted with the verse to which he referred, were taken aback but rather than speak up, remained silent (me included), after all this was the theological expert so perhaps, he knew something the rest of us did not. Clearly it was a gross misinterpretation on his part.

But this poses a real danger in that, such misconceptions lead to wrong understanding of God’s Word and coming from the religious leader may prove catastrophic for his or her listeners as they carry forward that incorrect belief.

A friend once said to me, “As the bible says, cleanliness is next to godliness”. He truly believed this to be biblical and over the years I’ve come to realize that he was not alone; as a friend, I could not leave him in his ignorance. That adage, even though it sounds as if it should be introduced by quoting book, chapter and verse, is not in the bible.

Persons continue to confidently misquote 1 Timothy 6:10, when they say, “Money is the root of evil”. To his young apprentice, Apostle Paul wrote,

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

We must get into the habit of checking the bible to make sure that it actually says what we think it does or what someone else says is in it.

Some misconceptions arise from misunderstanding the Word, from incorrect interpretations, like what happened at that bible study session and in some instances, from poor translations.

Yet another type of misconception can occur when what is found in the bible is taken out of the bible and attributed to some other source. For instance, another friend thought that the Lord’s prayer (see Matthew 6:5-15) was, as she put it, “made up by the Catholics”.

I’m starting to think that I need new friends.

Careful reading and study of the bible under proper spiritual guidance will help to avoid our being misled. Don’t ever just take anything carte blanche as that is a recipe for misinformation. Not because it sounds scriptural means it is.

The author of 1 John 4:1 (NRSVUE) advises,

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Test and examine every spirit, every teacher, every preacher, every expert, every blog writer and podcaster. Here’s the litmus test,

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God – 1 John 4:2 (NIV)

Think, research, study and dig deep; let God, who inspired the Word, guide you by His Spirit (see 2 Peter 1:21),

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. – 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

Utilising different translations, bible dictionaries and other books in conjunction with your bible, can be quite helpful. But even in this you must depend on the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Test all things; hold fast what is good. – 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NKJV)

Another misconception has to do with the number of wise men that came to Bethlehem to visit Jesus as an infant. It is believed that there were only three wise men.

This probably stems from the gifts that they brought with them, gold, frankincense and myrrh but the bible neither gives us number nor names. Matthew 2:1 (ESV) simply says,

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem

Also, Jesus was not a baby but may have been closer to two years old (see Matthew 2:27). Sorry to burst your bubble.

And the last misconception I’ll draw to your attention concerns Jesus’ disciples. Many people believe that there were only twelve but read the following verses from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 9:1-2 (ESV)

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Luke 10:1 (ESV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

We can say that the twelve were Jesus’ inner circle, but He had a broader band of disciples, not only that but here’s a secret…Jesus had female disciples too.

Mary, Martha’s sister, is a prime example; she sat at Jesus’ feet (see Luke 10:38-39) – that was the traditional position or posture of a disciple. They would sit at their Rabbi’s feet, to listen to his teachings. Jesus was Mary’s Rabbi, her Teacher and she, His disciple.

Beloved, there are many biblical misconceptions swirling around, I have just pointed out a few to give your deep dive a kick-start.

I encourage you to really study the Word so that you may develop a better understanding and won’t have to solely depend on others. Keep in mind that adherence to correct beliefs reinforces your faith.

May Spirit guide you and bless you along the way.  

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Misconceptions” ©2026 May 16, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gates of Hades

 

It was a pivotal moment in time when, in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” – Matthew 16:13 (NLT)

They replied, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked,

“But who do you say I am?” – Matthew 16:15 (NLT)

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (v 16)

Jesus, responding to Peter said,

“You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” (v 17)

Where this conversation was held is not without significance. Caesarea Philippi lay on the southern slopes of Mount Hebron; an ancient city which was the epicentre of worship of Pan, the heathen god of fertility. Herod the Great’s son Philip enlarged the city and gave it its name in honour of the Caesar, the so-called son of god.

This location was the place where persons came to make sacrifices to Pan and perform all sorts of diabolical fertility rituals and, it was the site of a unique feature – a large, cavernous grotto, believed to be the entrance to the underworld called the gates of Hades.

 It was at this secluded spot, where the four sources of the Jordan and nearby streams united, that Jesus chose to begin preparing His disciples for His approaching suffering, death and resurrection.

This was not a place that any God-fearing Jewish man or woman would voluntarily visit but this is where Jesus purposely took His disciples.

The gates of Hades represented an evil stronghold, so why did Jesus choose this location? Jesus wanted His disciples to have a visual point of reference for what He was about to tell them.

Jesus had started a conversation; He asked two pertinent questions. The first was answered by all the disciples but the answer to the second, and more important, was divinely revealed to Peter.

In this place, where people came to worship a false god and the Caesar, as the son of god, Peter, through divine revelation correctly identifies Jesus as, the Son of the living God.

In the midst of falsehood, truth prevailed. Then Jesus says to Peter,

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. – Matthew 16:18 (NRSVUE)

Jesus renames Peter, calling him Petros which means rock or bedrock and indeed this was an important time for Peter, but it held even greater significance.

You see, we have always been led to believe that this pivotal moment was purely about Peter being the rock or foundation of the church but looking at this entire passage in Matthew 16:13-20, there is more to be observed.

Taking a closer look at the specific location; the gates of Hades was a grotto carved deep into an enormous mountainous rock. Jesus was telling His disciples then and us now that the gates of evil are not strong enough to hold His Church back, the gates shall never be victorious over His Church.

The Kingdom of God is above all evil strongholds!

In the first century, people were placing their hopes in the gates of Hades, and even today, some people still place their hopes in all sorts of things other than Jesus, and they are being torn apart.

That day, Jesus didn’t only give Peter a new name, He gave Him the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, putting power in Peter’s hands and charging him with taking the mission to the ends of the earth and we, as Christians, are gifted and charged with the same.

”I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (v 19)

Beloved, where are there gates of Hades around you or in your own life? Places of sin and suffering, pain and sickness, hardships and challenges, distress and hopelessness, situations that are tearing individuals and families apart.

We, the Church, have been given the keys, authority and power to overcome the gates of Hades but it seems that we don’t realize that. Our focus has shifted; we have become too fixated on the what and not on Who and the why. It’s all about the brick and mortar and the manmade traditions and the mission has been almost aborted.

Jesus has built His Church on the foundation, the bedrock of Who He is, the Son of the Living God and as long as we remember that, then the gates of Hades shall not prevail against His Church.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The gates of Hades” ©2026 May 15, 2026

 

 

Intentions and Motives

 

Photo courtesy Chionsu Barclay

Throughout the bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, passages can be found which speak of intentions and motives. That tells us that our intentions and motives are of great concern to God and should be equally concerning to us.

If those intentions are godly and those motives are good, then our lives will be aligned with love and to be so aligned is essential to living fulfilling lives. However, if our intentions and motives stem from a place of selfishness, then we are treading the line of defilement.

In the gospel of Mark 7:20, 21& 23 (ESV) Jesus tells us, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts…All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Understand that our choices, actions and words, are all reflections of what is happening in our hearts; not the physical blood-pumping organ but a deeper place within us. The intentions and motives behind every choice we make, every action we take and everything we say reveal the core of our character.

Therefore, we must, as Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) tells us, guard our hearts above all else. The reason being that it determines the course of our lives. Our intentions and motives which emanate from within us, not only determine the course of our lives but also impact the lives of those around us.

All of us, Christian and non-Christian alike, tend to act one way in front of others but have different intentions and motives behind our actions. I have seen persons acting like the best Christian, pious and humble, in church on a Sunday but completely different on a Wednesday; they put on a religious false front, a performance, for the benefit of other churchgoers.

People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. (Proverbs 16:2 NLT)

The very first example of a religious false front is seen after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit when they sewed fig leaves together (see Genesis 3:7-10) and it’s sad that the religious covering is still being utilised today. But just as God saw through Adam and Eve’s futile attempts, He sees through ours. God sees through everything; He sees straight into our hearts past any religious performances.

For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV)

We cannot hide from God, especially via dead works. The sewing of fig leaves was the first religious act and as with every religious performance since then, it does not work.

Don’t you know that God is omniscient? There’s absolutely no hiding place from His presence (see Psalm 139).

It’s clearly written in Hebrews 4:13 (ERV),

Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things. Everything is open before him.

All our intentions and motives, good or bad, honourable or not, are laid bare before God. He knows all our thoughts and desires (1 Chronicles 28:9 GNT). We are open books to God; even from a distance He knows what we’re thinking (ref. Psalm 139:2 MSG).

Keep in mind that, the Lord searches all hearts and examines secret motives and He gives all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve (ref. Jeremiah 17:10 NLT). Even our good actions can be driven by unhealthy intentions and motives.

You and I must take a closer and honest look at why we do what we do. We may find that our intentions and motives are rooted in a need to be in control or pride or a yearning for approval.

Beloved, while you may see yourself as good and believe that your actions are justified, God knows what is truly going on inside you and any great spiritual work that’s to be done in your life is God’s to do. The choice to seek transformation lies squarely in your lap. Your ultimate goal must be your emergence into a life that is wholly God-centered, focused on doing right because it is the right thing to do.

Living with good intentions and motives gives you a sense of peace, love, fulfilment and brings you to a place of genuine care and sincerity.

And now may the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be pleasing to God (ref. Psalm 19:14).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Intentions and Motives” ©2026 May 14, 2026

 

What about Eglah?

There are women in the bible, protagonists from whom great lessons are learnt but whose names remain unknown and then there are other women who are named but have done little to nothing other than being mentioned. Enter Eglah, she belongs to the latter list.

Why was Eglah mentioned? What was her role in the scheme of things? How has she or does she impact our lives?

Long story extremely short…

Eglah’s name appears in 2 Samuel 3:5,

and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. (ESV)

and again in 1 Chronicles 3:3 which gives us the same information,

the fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah (ESV)

So now we know for sure that Eglah was David’s wife and the mother of his sixth and last son born in Hebron. That’s it.

But there must be more since nothing in God’s Word is without significance.

You see, Jesus the Messiah came from the lineage of David, the second king of Israel and one of the most commanding figures in the Old Testament.

God was building David’s house and establishing his dynasty therefore the names of those involved were important, even if their roles were not expanded.

Shortly after the death of Saul, David’s forces advanced into Hebron where David was declared king over Judah.

And it was in Hebron that David solidified his kingship, established political bonds and expanded his family. All of David’s actions were calculated and his marriages, strategic, as they strengthened his alliances.

We may not know much about Eglah but her being named in the narrative of king David’s descendants simply highlights the part she played in the king’s legacy.

Beloved, there are times when you may not be named, or known only as a member of your family, like my younger cousin, the middle child of three, who says, “Nobody knows me.”

That is how she feels, but that isn’t how we feel about her. We all know her and love her dearly but because she has lived abroad for many years, we seldom interact with her.

Her absence has not devalued her in any way whatsoever, she is a cherished and valued part of the whole.

Do you feel as she does? Unknown, overlooked perhaps? Are you, like Eglah, mentioned only as the wife of or mother of?

Eglah was an integral part of the whole; her role in David’s legacy was an important one in the establishment of the Davidic Covenant (see Psalm 132:12 and 1 Chronicles 17:11-14). God’s covenant with David mediated salvation for all, which began in the Old Testament and was accomplished in the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” – Isaiah 55:3 (NLT)

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” – Revelation 22:16 (NIV)

Eglah’s mention may not have been memorable, but her role was noteworthy, for she contributed to the bigger picture of salvation as adding to David’s line of descendants, highlighting the value and significance of family in God’s redemptive plan.

Beloved, as Eglah was, you are special to God, created as a noteworthy contributor to God’s plan of redemption, here on this earth for such a time as this.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “What about Eglah?” ©2026 May 13, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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