Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Confession’

Focus on God’s Goodness-Faithfulness

January 9th, 2024 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in First John 1:5.

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Verse 9 shows us how we can step into the light if we are walking in darkness: Confess our sins. The Bible tells us that God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Confession is a major step forward to breaking the darkness of our sin with the light of God’s grace and truth.

The faithfulness of God to forgive confessed sin reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Vital Step to a Radiant Faith-Confession

February 23rd, 2023 No comments

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

This is an acknowledgement to God that we have sinned against Him and need His forgiveness. God does not despise a truly contrite heart.  God sees all and knows everything about us, our good deeds and bad deeds, our pure motives and impure motives. He is not eager to condemn us, but patiently waits for us to turn to His grace.

First John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

After David confessed sin to God in Psalm 51, he said, “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.” Confession brings our sin into the light of God’s grace and breaks the power of darkness over us. Then we will be in a better place to help others.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Making Amends

November 8th, 2022 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is making amends for past transgressions.

We cannot undo the past, but there are times that we can go back to someone we have wronged and make it right with confession and restitution.

This is especially true if we have stolen anything or cheated anybody out of money. That is what Zacchaeus offered to do after his encounter with Jesus.

He said to Jesus in Luke 19:8, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” His heart was moved by Jesus to return what he had stolen plus more. The idol of money was removed as the heart of Zacchaeus was moved from greed to generosity.

Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house.”

Making Amends is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Faith Building Verse-Psalm 32:1 and 2

November 2nd, 2022 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 32:1 and 2.

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

In this Psalm, David acknowledged the draining effect that unconfessed sin was having on his body and emotions. God’s hand was heavy on him. God was applying pressure on David, not to destroy him, but to set him free from the sin that was plaguing him.

Verse 5 reveals the turning point for David. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

If we confess our sins to the Lord, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to purify us.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to bring our dark deeds into the light of God’s forgiveness in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Confession

March 2nd, 2022 No comments

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

James 5:16 instructs us to “confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

In confession, we admit the wrongs that we have committed. In confession to God, we agree with Him about our sinful actions and seek His forgiveness.

Sometimes, it is necessary to go to a person we have wronged and to ask their forgiveness. At other times, we may seek the support of another believer to help us overcome a perpetual sin. Confession opens the way for addictions to be broken and strained relationships to be healed.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Word of Encouragement-Forgiveness

February 10th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Forgiveness.

The Bible tells us that we all fall short of the glory of God. We miss the mark of God’s perfect standard whenever we disobey Him.

But through Jesus Christ, God provided a way for our sins to be forgiven. Acts 10:43 says about Jesus, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Jesus came to take the punishment of our sins upon Himself. That was the purpose of the cross. When we cling to the message of the cross as our only hope, God no longer holds our sins against us.

The Gospel is calling us to agree with God that we need a Savior, and Jesus is His name. First John 1:9 says that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Find encouragement in God’s forgiveness in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

20/20 Insight-The Heart of David to Make Confession

November 13th, 2020 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the heart of David to get right with God.

This happened in Psalm 51, after he was confronted about unconfessed sin in his life.

David humbled himself before God and confessed his sin to Him. In doing so, David had to face his character flaws and be honest about his sinful nature. It is not an easy thing to go there, but it is the path to a purified heart.

David said in verse 3, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”  He sought God’s forgiveness by saying “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

He sought to change course when he said, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 51 is a good prayer for anyone who is seeking to get life back on track with God.

Focusing on God’s mercy to forgive sin gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.   

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Eye on Integrity-Lessons from David’s Prayer

December 5th, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 51:12.

David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

After David confessed his sin to God, he asked for two important requests in this verse.

He asked for the joy of his salvation to be restored. When he was covering up his sin, David lost the joy of his faith. Sin has a way of doing that. David earnestly wanted the joy of the Lord to return. The grace of God is able to do that for us when we return to God.

David also asked for a willing spirit to follow God. We cannot do this on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to write God’s laws on our heart so that we want to obey His commands consistently.

Walking in prayer, confession, and obedience to God are virtues to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Eye On Integrity-Honest Confession

June 22nd, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 32:1.

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” This blessing is made possible through Jesus Christ who came to reconcile us with God.

Deceit is the opposite of integrity, misleading someone through dishonest means. There is a way for a dishonest person to become honest, and for hidden sins to be forgiven.

That path comes through confession and changing direction. This is what we find in First John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This is how we can get back on track with God if we have lost our way.

Walking in honest confession is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Q and A-What is the purpose of accountability?

February 16th, 2016 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A segment explores the question, “What is the purpose of accountability?”

According to Romans 14:12, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” This verse shows that ultimately we are accountable to God, and a day is coming when our lives will be evaluated in the light of His wisdom.

With the presence of temptation in our world, we are wise to seek out a trusted person who can help us keep our commitments to God. That is the purpose of accountability in the church-to help each other keep our commitments to God. Accountability is healthy in the context of a support structure, rather than an interrogation of 20 questions. It is designed to encourage each other, pray for each other, and confess sins to each other when there is something hindering our walk with Christ.

Hebrews 10:24 urges us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. And James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we might be healed.

Accountability relationships help us to move forward in faithful devotion to Jesus in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Encounter With Jesus-Complete Forgiveness

June 16th, 2015 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His power to forgive.

First John 1:8 and 9 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession is simply agreeing with God that we are sinners in need of His grace. There are no secrets that we can keep from God. He knows everything about us already, so nothing we tell Him about ourselves will surprise Him. Jesus is ready to offer us mercy when we approach Him with humility and honesty. Confession is how we bring the darkness into the light, and remove the barriers that keep us from experiencing the joy of God’s spiritual blessings.

First John 2:1 says, “If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

A daily connection with Christ gives us a place to turn for complete forgiveness and purification.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com