JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Second Timothy 3:14 and 15.

“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy, you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

The word of God has the power to lead us to faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible gives us the opportunity to open our heart to the Gospel.

This happened to an Ethiopian man in Acts chapter 8. He was reading from the book of Isaiah. At first, he did not understand the meaning, but when Philip used that passage to explain the good news about Jesus, that man put his faith in Jesus and got baptized into the Christian faith.

The power of God’s Word reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Romans 10:9.

If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We are dead in our sins until we come alive to God. This transformation happens when we recognize our need for a Savior, and call on Jesus for forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. His resurrection is the defining moment in human history that makes eternal life possible.

The Apostle Paul reasoned in First Corinthians 15:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” But Paul affirmed that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, and that means victory over death for those who follow Jesus as Lord.

The Resurrection of Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Galatians 3:13 and 14.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

The curse of the cross became a lifeline to the lost. This was the journey that Jesus took to find us and set us free from sin. The love of Jesus extends this offer of forgiveness and eternal life to all who will put their faith in Him. This is how we are restored to a right relationship with God. Second Corinthians 5:21 explains:

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God’s plan of redemption through Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to put on the full armor of God.

The Christian life is a spiritual battlefield, not with the weapons of the world, and not against flesh and blood.  Our battle is against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. The weapons available to us consist of truth, faith, prayer, salvation, righteousness, and God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

Satan tries to influence us through temptation, accusation, condemnation, and confusion. But the weapons that God provides for us are strong enough to resist the devil’s influence, so that we can follow Jesus with a fully devoted heart.

Second Peter 1:3 tells us that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” The armor of God equips us to stand firm in the faith.

Putting on the full armor of God 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 Revelation 1, verses 14 through 16.

John had an encounter with Jesus before he wrote the book of Revelation.  This is part of the description of what he saw.

“The hair on his head was white as wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”

John responded by falling at his feet. The hand of Jesus was on him.  The voice of Jesus spoke to him: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One.”

An encounter with Jesus will lead us to faith, reverence, and worship. We will understand that we are in the Presence of someone greater than ourselves, but we will be truly grateful that we are loved by Him. Our faithful service will lead to the glory of His name and will flow out of a relationship with Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to find love and purpose in the Presence of Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Join us for the Promise Players production of The One You Need, a story of one man’s journey to Heaven. Can he save his daughter along the way? Maybe . . . if she doesn’t accidentally kill him first!

Jan is refusing to accept the fact that her father is dying. Despite his pleas for her to trust the Lord, she continues to take matters into her own hands, possibly expediting his inevitable demise with her humorous caregiving mishaps!

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 3:12.

Speaking of Jesus, “In him and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Faith and freedom go together. As we put our confidence in God’s love for us, we pray with the faith that He hears us and cares for our needs.

By faith, we do not fear condemnation for the wrong things we have done, but trust Jesus to defend us as our source of righteousness.

By faith, we do not fear what could go wrong in the future, but live with hope for the good things God has planned for those who love Him.

By faith, we are not paralyzed by the fear of opposition, but believe that God is stronger than our greatest adversaries.

This Light Reflection inspires us to approach God with freedom and confidence in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 9:35 to 38.

“Jesus said to a man whom he healed of blindness, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’

The man asked, ‘Who is he, sir? Tell me so that I may believe in him.’

Jesus said, ‘You have now seen Him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.’

Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and he worshiped him.”

This man was given sight on two levels. He could see Jesus physically, and then he saw Jesus for who He is spiritually. This led him to faith and worship. That is where we are led when we see Jesus for who He is and follow Him with a willing heart.

This Light Reflection inspires us to reflect the joy of the Lord by faith and in our worship in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 4:25.

Speaking of Jesus, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

To be justified in God’s sight is to be declared “not guilty.” Yet, the Bible tells us we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. So, how then can those who are guilty be declared innocent in God’s eyes?

The answer is the Gospel, which is the light that reveals our hope by the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the weight of our sins on Himself and paid the penalty for what we deserved. He went there in our place. Trusting in His provision of grace is what makes us righteous in God’s eyes.

Abraham was a man of faith and was given the credit of righteousness. That is what happens to us who believe in God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

This Light Reflection inspires us to believe in the good news about Jesus 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 to express faith through love.

In the Christian life, faith and love are essentials for us to be the salt and light that Jesus called us to be.

Galatians 5:6 tells us that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

As we draw closer to Jesus, we will come under His influence. He will inspire change in our hearts. More compassion, more conviction, more sympathy, more courage, more respect, more prayer, more meaningful fellowship with believers, more passion to reach the lost and hurting, more focus on honoring God.

The quality of our relationship with God will motivate us toward loving actions in the way that we express our faith.

Expressing faith through love 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 to walk by faith, not in fear.

Being a witness for Jesus involves taking a public stand for the Gospel. The Apostle Paul was an excellent example of a bold believer.

He said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” He consistently stood for Jesus in crowds that were receptive to his message and crowds that were hostile to his message.

Peter struggled with that kind of boldness at times. After Jesus was arrested, he denied knowing Jesus three times. But later, he would learn from the error of his ways and turn back to Christ.

He encouraged a church under persecution with these words in First Peter 3:14, “Even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.”

Walking by faith, not in fear is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com