JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is an appetite for righteousness.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

This craving is satisfied by faith in Jesus who said, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus is our source of righteousness. His grace moves us to embrace what pleases God and to reject what dishonors His name.

So, today, we can taste and see that the Lord is good as we receive His grace and take His words to heart. His righteousness will be our guiding light and shine through us to uphold His grace and truth.

An appetite for righteousness is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is meekness.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in Matthew 5:5.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

One definition of meekness is “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.”

In the devotional book “For Every Season” Greg Laurie describes meekness as “power under constraint” or “strength under control.”  It’s a picture of a stallion that has been broken. The horse has not lost its will or strength, but has surrendered its will to the rider. That is a good picture to inspire us to surrender our will to God.

Psalm 37 contains a good description of meekness and how God works through that quality in our lives. Verse 5 says, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust in him, and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Meekness is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 15:4.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope.

Bible history is a light to help us learn from the successes and failures of those who have gone before us.

First Corinthians 10 recalls moral failures of the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness in the days of Moses. Verse 6 says, “These things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”

On the positive side, James 5:10 says, “As an example in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to find hope and encouragement in the lessons of Bible history in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 19, verse 8.

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

There is spiritual vision for the person who knows the word and will of God. We need Jesus for salvation, and we need His Word for guidance to live out His plan for our lives.

Our attitude toward God’s Word will have a great impact on whether we receive or reject the content.

The writer of Psalm 119 demonstrated an attitude toward God’s Word that opened his mind to its counsel. He said in Psalm 119, verse 111, “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”

And in verse 14, he said, “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to view God’s Word as a valuable treasure that brings us joy and understanding in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is mourning.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called His followers to have an influence in this world for the Gospel. He called His followers “salt” and “light.” It is not a coincidence that these references followed the Beatitudes.

One of those Beatitudes is found in Matthew 5:4.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Jesus was referring to a kind of mourning that is spurred by an immoral climate around us or the sin that dwells within us. Brokenness leads us to weeping, and weeping leads us to repentance. Repentance leads us to joy and refreshment in the presence of the Lord. James 4:9 says, “Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.”

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Mourning is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 10:17.

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

The Bible is a light that guides our way, leading us to faith in Jesus. God’s Word has value for revealing Jesus as the light of the world who gives salvation to all who believe in Him.

An example of this is the Gospel of John. Near the end of this book of the Bible, John said this: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The book of John is one of many books in the Bible that encourages us to believe in Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to place our faith in Jesus to save us from our sins in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is poverty in spirit.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called His followers to have an influence in this world for the Gospel. He called His followers “salt” and “light.” It is not a coincidence that these references followed the Beatitudes.

One of those Beatitudes is found in Matthew 5:3.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To be poor in spirit is to be aware of our bankruptcy before God. Because of our sinfulness, there is no way for us to measure up to God’s righteousness. We need His grace to be made right with God. And so, in our desperate condition, we turn to Jesus for the forgiveness we need to be reconciled to God.

God raises the humble person to have a platform for the Gospel.

Poverty in Spirit is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is a Renewed Mind.

In the Christian faith, a renewed mind happens when we fix our thoughts on Jesus. In response to His mercy, we want to please Him, honor His name, and do His will. We say “no” to the system of the world, and “yes” to the plan of God for our lives.

Romans 12:1 and 2 says, “In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

A Renewed Mind focused on Jesus is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 119, verse 105.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

You can imagine how challenging it would be to walk in the woods when it is dark. There are many potential hazards along the way, including the possibility of getting lost.

But with a flashlight, there is light to help us to see more clearly, so that we can avoid stumbling blocks and give us a sense of direction. That is what the word of God does for us spiritually. He gives us direction for the journey. He warns us of influences which can hinder our progress. He brightens our outlook with a ray of hope, by pointing us to Jesus.

The LORD says in Jeremiah 6:16-Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”  God’s Word can help us find the good way that leads to rest for our souls.

This Light Reflection inspires us to be guided by God’s word in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com