JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.
To understand the value of God’s grace, think about where we would be without God’s grace. There would be no Savior. There would be no hope. There would be no forgiveness. In this chapter, verse 3 tells us that we were by nature deserving of wrath.
But because of God’s great love for us, God is rich in mercy. He sent Jesus into the world to die for our sins and rise from the dead. That’s good news to embrace for our lives. Jesus is the difference maker who rescues us from the wages of sin.
The gift of grace 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 Isaiah 59:1.
“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.”
God’s love is long enough to reach us and rescue us from our sin. Verse 2 tells us that our iniquities have separated us from God. That is why we need redemption. Jesus stretched out His arms at the cross to extend forgiveness to us. Our barrier of sin is removed when we open up to God’s grace.
Jesus went to great lengths from heaven to earth to save us. With His long arm of salvation, He embraces us with His love, brings us into His family of believers, and gives us eternal life. Eternity is a long time. His grace lasts forever.
The length of God’s love reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
Join Pastor Doug Pyszka as he teaches on the subject of Grace for five weeks. During these five weeks you will be able to participate in Zoom Classes along with other students in the class, and Pastor Doug teaching you live. The classes will be recorded during the live sessions and placed in a private FB group for later viewing.
All communications for the class, including Zoom Links will be placed in the FB group created for the class. Each participant will receive an email invitation to the FB group for this class.
Pastor Doug will cover five different areas on the subject of Grace during this five weeks course. Each participant will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback during each live session. In the Private FB group participants will also be able to discuss with Pastor Doug and group participants the subject of Grace.
The purpose of this course is to help believers understand how God’s grace can work in their life and give them the power they need to succeed in their life and calling from God.
Classes will run live (but recording will be available in the FB Group) every Thursday from February 8th to March 7th – Five Weeks.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in First Peter 1, verses 8 and 9.
Speaking of Jesus, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Remembering the destiny of eternal life with Jesus brings joy into the experience of living for Him today. This world can be a tough place that brings trials, tragedies, and temptations. Peter was addressing believers who were facing serious opposition to their faith. To encourage them, he reminded these saints of their glorious destiny. This is a focus point that can help us live with a faith that endures the test of time.
Hebrews 13:9 tells us that it is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.
God’s saving grace reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – 2024 is the Year of Gratitude at WJTL. In our 40th year of ministry, we are thankful to God for His faithfulness and thankful for our family of listeners.
Each weekday, we will share a Scripture with you that focuses on God’s goodness, which gives us a reason to be grateful.
Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in First Timothy 1:15.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.
The Apostle Paul lived with profound gratitude to God for His grace and mercy that reached him when he was at the lowest depths of depravity. He had been filled with hatred toward followers of Jesus, but was stopped in his tracks on the way to Damascus, where he had an encounter with Jesus that changed his life. The journey of Paul to faith reminds us that no one is a hopeless cause beyond God’s ability to reach them.
The mission of Jesus to save sinners 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 Ephesians 2, verses 6 and 7.
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
God’s grace is an amazing expression of His love for us where we receive what we do NOT deserve. God’s grace is a gift that saves us from our sins. That gift was made available through the price that Jesus paid with the shedding of His blood.
God’s grace not only saves us from sin, but also raises us to a new position in Christ. We are declared “Not guilty”. When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, giving us access to the Presence and holiness of God by faith.
God’s grace also gives us access to the treasures of heaven. We have a living hope that the future looks bright in the picture of eternity.
This Light Reflection inspires us to marvel at the brilliance of God’s grace in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 1:14.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Bible says that the knowledge of God’s glory was displayed in the face of Christ. He came as the light of the world, so that those who walk in darkness might be set free from sin and be reconciled to God.
The grace and truth of Jesus was clearly evident in His encounter with a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders were ready to stone her to death, but Jesus disarmed them by saying, “Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And as her accusers gradually went away, Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you, go now and leave your life of sin.”
This Light Reflection inspires us to find forgiveness and freedom in God’s grace and truth in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Steps to a Radiant Faith are gentleness and kindness.
Just as God’s grace is the compelling force to draw us to Jesus, grace is needed in our conversations with unbelievers. Heated exchanges are rarely going produce a fruitful outcome, and may cause more harm than good.
Second Timothy 2:23 is advice from one church leader to another: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
Gentleness and kindness are vital steps 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 build our lives on God’s grace and truth.
Jesus came to the earth from the Father full of grace and truth. So, if grace and truth are going to be foundational in our lives, Jesus is going to be the central focus.
In Matthew 7:24, Jesus taught that everyone who hears His words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The truth of Jesus’ teachings gives us a strong foundation for our faith and clear, moral direction for our decisions.
His grace has the power to set us free from the guilt of our sin. Romans 3:23 acknowledges that we 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. The shedding of Christ’s blood at the cross paved the way for us to find forgiveness in His grace.
Building our lives on God’s grace and truth 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 First Timothy 1:13 and 14.
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Do you ever feel insecure about being near a person because you think they are not safe? Christians had a good reason for not feeling safe with Paul before he came to Christ. When his name was Saul, he was a violent man who persecuted Christians for their faith. However, he became a follower of Christ when he saw the light of God’s mercy shining on him.
Paul’s testimony changed people’s perceptions about him. Instead of causing fear, his testimony was stirring praise for God. Through Jesus Christ, change is possible. When we follow Him, change is inevitable.
This Light Reflection inspires us to celebrate changed hearts by the grace of God 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 Speaking the Truth in Love.
Ephesians 4:15 explains what happens when God’s people follow through on this practice.
“We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Jesus came to us full of grace and truth. Grace gives second chances. Grace forgives sin, restores relationships, and builds faith. Grace extends life and peace to those who will embrace the Gospel.
Truth upholds God’s standards and reveals God’s will for our lives. Jesus equated the truth to His teachings, which has the power to set us free.
When the truth is spoken in love, God’s people are blessed with spiritual growth and greater unity in Christ.
Speaking the Truth in Love is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
