JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Luke 4:18 and 19.

Jesus read from the scroll in the synagogue:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus was quoting from the prophet Isaiah to describe the power of His mission to change people’s lives.

His ministry was delivering good news, providing freedom and healing, and bringing salvation to people in need of God’s grace.

The Ministry 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 Light Reflection is from Matthew 28:9.

After Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb of Jesus, they encountered an angel who announced that Jesus was not in the tomb and had risen from the dead. He sent them on their way to tell this good news to the disciples of Jesus.

As they hurried away from the tomb, suddenly Jesus met them, saying “Greetings.” They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Jesus was glorified at His resurrection. There was a pattern here. The eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus would worship Him, and then Jesus would tell them to spread the good news of His resurrection.

This is the calling of His followers today-to worship Jesus and be a light that tells other people that He is alive and able to save us from sin.

This Light Reflection inspires us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with faith, worship, and testimony in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Second Timothy 4, verses 1 to 2.

The Apostle Paul was mentoring Timothy to become a thriving leader in the early church. Before his life ended on earth, he gave these final instructions:

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge” Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.”

The Gospel is the word that has the power to transform lives and bring people into God’s kingdom of light. This world is in need of good news, and through the testimony of Jesus, good news is available. Acts 13:38 says, “Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to proclaim this good news wherever we go 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 offer our feet to God to share His good news.

Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.”

He has entrusted us with a message to share with the world. Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Some believers have traveled great distances to share this message overseas. Others have walked across the street to share this good news with their neighbors.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” As we go in Jesus’ name, we get to proclaim Jesus as the good news of God’s peace plan.

Offering our feet to God for spreading the Gospel 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 of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to be ready to share the Good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go.

Wherever Christ’s followers are serving as His ambassadors, Jesus is represented in that place.

Ephesians 6:14 motivates us to stand firm in the faith with ready feet. The New Living Translation says, “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”

The good news that we have to share with others is the forgiveness and eternal life that is given us through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s love moves us to share the testimony of Jesus so that others may turn to Christ and be saved from their sins.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.”

Take the daily challenge to stand firm with ready feet to share God’s good news on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s word of Encouragement is “Gospel.”

This word is associated with the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

When we receive the grace of God as a gift, we are embracing good news for our soul.

The Apostle Paul was moved by the Gospel to preach it. He said in Romans 1:16 and 17, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.”

That is good news that brings us hope, and will affect how we see the world today.

Find encouragement in the Gospel to live it out and share it with others in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to spread good news rather than keep it to ourselves.

In the Old Testament, there is a story of 4 lepers who came to a camp deserted by Israel’s enemies. They said to each other in Second Kings 7:9, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.”  They decided to report what they found at the royal palace.

The Gospel is a message of God’s grace. This good news is bearing fruit around the world wherever people put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.  This is what motivated Paul the Apostle to get out of bed in the morning.

In Acts 20:24, he talked about his goal to finish his race and complete the task the Lord Jesus had given him-the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.  Who do you know that might benefit from hearing about God’s grace today?

Take the daily challenge to spread good news on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to take a step toward doing what is good.

The Apostle Paul wrote why this is important in Titus 3:14-Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

God put us here on earth to make a difference. He called us to be a light in the world-to reflect His heart of love for a broken world. One of the ways we shine that light is to do good deeds that glorify God in heaven.

When we see the good deeds of Jesus, we see that He was about proclaiming good news, healing, setting the oppressed free, and demonstrating love through humble service and sacrifice.

Take the daily challenge to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by doing what is good on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the identity of believers as children of God.

This is what Ephesians 1:4 and 5 says about the identity of those who are faithful in Christ.

“He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

When we respond to the Good News of Jesus with a trusting heart, God includes us in His family of believers. He gives us a new identity as a new creation in Christ. We are born of God and loved by God as His child. We become a citizen of heaven, temple of the Holy Spirit, and light in the world to reflect God’s glory and goodness. God’s love forms our identity to see ourselves as God sees us. 

Focusing on our identity as a dearly loved child of God gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 15:13.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Less than 24 hours later, Jesus went to the cross to lay down His life for us. How do we comprehend this kind of supreme love? What is our response to His sacrifice on our behalf?

The nails did not hold Jesus to the cross. His love did. Jesus said He could have called for 12 legions of angels to come to His rescue, but how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? Jesus went to His death willingly, because He loved us, and wanted us to become part of His forgiven family.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to profound gratitude for His supreme love in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 5, verses 6 to 8.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is hard to fathom a love that is willing to go the extra mile like this. Jesus did not die for those who were righteous, because there were none righteous except for Him. Jesus died for us in our sinful condition. His motive for going to the cross was love, which moves us to receive His gift of forgiveness.

Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of redemption in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com