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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is John 3:17.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

This is an important reason highlighting why Jesus was born into the world. He came so that we might have life that is set free from guilt and shame.

Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. That includes all of us. Our sin causes us to want to run and hide from God, much like Adam and Eve did after they ate the forbidden fruit. The good news is that God does not give up on us, but has pursued us by sending Jesus into the world. His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead paved the way for our salvation. His grace is able to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. His grace has the power to save us from our sins.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and walk by faith in Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is sharing good things with our instructors.

Galatians 6:6 tells us that the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Some look to this passage as a basis for financially supporting those ministries that instruct us in God’s Word. That did happen in the early church. But that may not be the only way to apply this verse.

If we are being mentored by someone in the faith, we can also talk about the good fruit that God is producing in our lives because of what we are learning from them. They will be encouraged by hearing the words, “Because of what you said, this is what I did, and this is how God moved.”

The Apostle John was a leader in the church who said to his friend Gaius in Third John, verse 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Sharing good things with our instructors is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is hospitality to God’s servants.

In Second Kings 4:8, there is a story about a well-to-do woman who urged Elisha to stay for a meal. Whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

Elisha was receptive to their hospitality and expressed his gratitude for their efforts to provide him with a place to stay.

In Matthew 10:41, Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.”

Hospitality to God’s Servants is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Isaiah 12:4.

In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.”

After Jesus rose from the dead, He commissioned His disciples to spread the word about Jesus and the good news of His saving grace. That commission continues in the testimony of believers today.

God has a purpose for our lives-to know Him and make Him known. As we learn from the teachings of Jesus, we get to know Him. As we learn to know Jesus, we learn to love Him. As we learn to love Jesus, we learn to praise Him. And as we praise Him, we bring glory to His name, and stir others to praise Him with their heart.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to declare the praises of God for His great deeds and enduring love in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is James 1:17.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Some people have seen God as a cosmic kill joy who wants to ruin our fun and make us miserable. But that is not the view of the Bible. The truth is that God is generous, and gives abundant blessings, both good and perfect, for us to enjoy. If we look around, we can see God’s good blessings in the special people He has placed in our lives, in the food that He provides for us, and in the beauty of His creation.

God also has provided us with perfect gifts that we really need for redemption and godly living. Those gifts are Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and grace.  Receiving these gifts is how we can move forward in life with peace, joy, and love in our hearts.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to be grateful for the good and perfect gifts that come from God’s hand in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is being a Volunteer.

A volunteer freely gives of their time, talents, and energy to contribute to a worthy cause.

Through volunteer efforts, we can help people in times of need, spread love and goodwill, and represent Jesus, who freely gave Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

In gratitude, we can offer ourselves as living sacrifices to serve God with a willing heart.

Isaiah did that. In Isaiah 6:8, he heard the voice of the LORD say, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me!” He did not know exactly what assignment was coming, but he would learn that mission and follow through faithfully.

Being a volunteer is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Luke 17:15 and 16.

After Jesus healed ten men of leprosy, one of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan.

10 men were healed of leprosy, but only one of them returned to give thanks to Jesus. Thanksgiving is an expression of praise to God. It may be expressed as a simple “thank you” or it may be expressed in an offering to God or in a song. It may involve keeping a journal of remembering specific ways that God has blessed our lives.

In the Christian faith, thanksgiving is meant to be more than just a holiday. It is a way of life that notices God’s blessings, and acknowledges His gracious hand with expressions of praise.

These faith-building verses inspire us to thank Jesus for His goodness and graciousness in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Harmony.

Romans 12:16 tells us to live in harmony with one another.

This is a good word for the church today as we seek to build healthy relationships that reflect God’s love.

In an orchestra, instruments play different notes, but harmonize to form a masterpiece as each musician does their part at the direction of the conductor.

God did not make us all alike. We have different gifts and personalities, but as we look to Jesus as our conductor, and contribute with the part we do well, the church works together to form a beautiful song that glorifies God and unifies His people.

Harmony is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Hebrews 7:26 and 27.

Such a high priest truly meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once and for all when he offered himself.

Here we see that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our imperfect lives. The description of humanity points to our need for a Savior. Romans 3:12 says, “There is no one who does good, not even one.” Jesus is the exception. He lived a sinless life. He came from heaven to earth to reveal the way to be forgiven of our sins and enjoy life with God forever. Then, He laid down His life for us on the cross. He paid the price in full for our redemption.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to look to Jesus as the worthy sacrifice for our sins in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com