JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Second Corinthians 6:1 and 2.
As God’s co-workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
The Apostle Paul was pointing to the present moment as an opportunity for us to get right with God and receive the gift of His grace. This happens when we humble ourselves before God and acknowledge our need for Jesus to save us from our sins. He will be faithful to answer this prayer from an earnest heart. This is a moment that defines our identity as a child of God, builds godly character to become more like Jesus, and changes our destiny toward a heavenly home that lasts forever.
This Light Reflection inspires us to receive God’s grace and enjoy His favor in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to submit to God’s authority.
Before we are willing to do that, it is quite likely that we need to be convinced that God is good and that His love is real.
The truth is that God’s goodness and love were revealed at the cross where Jesus died for our sin. Then, His resurrection power came to life 3 days later. Today, His redemption plan invites us to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. This step requires humility, an awareness that we need God’s forgiveness.
James 4:6 tells us that ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you.’
As we respect God’s authority and rely on His grace, He will be faithful to save us and lift us up at the proper time.
Take the daily challenge to submit to God’s authority and find grace for the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Grace.
To be in God’s grace is to have God’s favor. For those who have sinned against God, we don’t deserve God’s grace, but out of God’s abundant goodness and love for us, He gives His grace to bless us.
Grace is a gift to be received, not a paycheck to be earned. The life-saving impact of grace is highlighted for us in Ephesians 2:8. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
And Romans 3:22 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith.”
That is what the death and resurrection of Jesus was all about-to offer the gift of grace to sinners like us, so that we might be redeemed, restored, and reconciled to Him.
Find encouragement in receiving the gift of God’s grace in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on words of blessing.
In Numbers 6:24, the LORD told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons how to bless the Israelites. This has become known as the priestly blessing:
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
As we see in the New Testament, First Peter 2:9 talks about followers of Jesus being a royal priesthood. We are ministers of the Gospel. We can be used of God to speak blessing on our families, our churches, and our nation. Ultimately, we are not the source of blessing. God is. That is why our blessing for others comes in the form of a prayer. We pray for the LORD to bless them and to keep them in His love. We pray for the LORD to grant them His favor with grace and peace.
This is something we can do for the well-being of our loved ones daily-by praying God’s blessing on them and looking for ways to bless them through our words and actions.
The words of blessing are reasons to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
