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Posts Tagged ‘integrity’

Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Integrity

December 20th, 2022 No comments

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

Titus 2:7 is a word for anyone who wants to have an influence for Christ in this world.

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

Integrity backs up words with action. Charles Swindoll has said that “few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle-not prudish. Not preachy. Just honest to goodness deep, non-hypocritical integrity.”

With this kind of integrity, we can make this world a better place, serving as a light to guide people to Jesus, and encouraging others to a higher standard.

Integrity is a key element for Thriving Relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Daily Challenge-Look for God Moving in His People

April 29th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to look for the evidence of God in a life of integrity.

One of the evidences of God’s existence is found in a person whose life is changed by His grace.

David prayed in Psalm 19:14, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

A person who says this kind of prayer and means it from the heart is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David was a man after God’s own heart. He desired a relationship with God and pursued His will.

According to Ezekiel 36:6, this is how the LORD works to change someone’s heart and spiritual direction: The LORD says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God in the changed lives of God’s people on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Year of Endurance-Daily Challenge-Integrity

January 5th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – It’s 2021, the Year of Endurance at WJTL. Listen for devotionals throughout the year designed to motivate and encourage you to stay true to God on the journey of faith.

In the Year of Endurance, today’s Challenge motivates us to step toward integrity.

First John 1:5 says, “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.”

A life of integrity does not mean that we live a perfect life, but it does mean that we live with honesty-acknowledging our failures before God while living with honest intent to walk in the direction that Jesus leads us. His grace and truth will move us to meaningful relationships with others and keep us moving in the right direction.

Take the daily challenge to walk in the light of integrity on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Good News Focus-Integrity and Influence

August 10th, 2020 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on First Timothy 4:16.

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

This verse stresses the importance of what we believe and how we live. Both matter in terms of how they have an impact on our lives and on those watching us.

A good starting place for believing in sound doctrine is to study the life of Jesus. Examine how He lived, what He taught, and what He did to make redemption possible for us. He loves us and invites us to follow Him.  He seeks a relationship with us that will change our lives and save us from our sins. As we put our full faith in His gift of grace to save us, Jesus will make us instruments of His grace for others as we live out the Gospel.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of integrity and influence in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

20/20 Insight-Importance of Integrity

August 7th, 2020 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the importance of integrity.

In First Corinthians 11:1, the Apostle Paul said, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”

As a leader in the early church, Paul understood the importance of setting a good example for others to see. He also understood that in order to be a godly example to others, he needed to follow the example of Christ. That is how we can be a credible witness for Jesus. Live the life that God has called us to live.

Paul said to Timothy on one occasion, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Focusing on the importance of godly integrity gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Red Letter Wisdom-Planks and Specks

March 6th, 2019 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 6:41.

Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?’ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Jesus was talking about the danger of using a double standard with this statement. It would be hypocritical for us to look past our own flaws to see the smaller flaws of another person.  Dealing with the speck in someone else’s eye diverts attention away from the plank in our own eye. Jesus wants us to examine the sin in our own lives and remove it first. Then, we will be in a better place to help our friends to overcome their issues that hinder spiritual progress.

The words of Jesus inspire us to live out our faith with integrity and mercy in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Red Letter Wisdom-Clean Hearts

February 26th, 2019 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 23:25 and 26.

Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

It may be surprising to learn that Jesus used some of his harshest words for the religious leaders of His day. He called them hypocrites because they were acting a part, but not living the life of someone who truly loved God. Jesus revealed their desperate condition apart from God and challenged them to change.

The Christian life is an experience of transformation from the inside out where we are growing more and more into the likeness of Jesus. Out of a pure heart, our motives will be in the right place for honoring God in our actions.

The words of Jesus inspire us to come clean with God and enjoy the freedom of integrity in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Eye On Integrity-Sincere Love

November 28th, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Romans 12:9.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

This was the way of Jesus when He walked on the earth, and He shows us by example how to love people without compromising righteous standards.

He was a friend to sinners without sinning. He proclaimed good news, set captives free, and confronted evil. He taught us the way of love in various ways.

Do to others what you would have them to do you.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Love one another as Jesus loves us.

Walking in sincere love is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Eye on Integrity-The Way of Love

January 4th, 2018 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – We have a new theme this year for encouraging growth in your relationship with God. 2018 has been designated as the Year of Integrity. We will take a look at what God’s Word has to say about integrity. We will also examine how God’s people walked with integrity.

Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Ephesians 5:1 and 2.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

This is a good starting place for integrity. If we recognize that we are dearly loved by God, then we will be inspired to follow Him and to love others in the way that Jesus loves us.

Walking in the way of love is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Q and A-Evangelizing Friends and Family

November 17th, 2016 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “How can I evangelize my friends and family without turning them away from the Gospel?”

The Bible calls Christians “ambassadors for Christ.” It is good to remember that we are on a peace mission to proclaim the message of reconciliation through Jesus.

Before talking about God to our unsaved loved ones, we are wise to talk to God about our unsaved loved ones. Pray for them. Let God prepare the way through prayer.

Another thing to remember is treating our loved ones with dignity, not as a project. As we share the reason for our hope, First Peter 3:15 tells us to do this with gentleness and respect.

One of the best things we can do is live out the Gospel with integrity. Jesus tells believers to let our light shine before others that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Prayer, respect, hope, and living the Christian life are some effective ways to evangelize loved ones without turning them away from the Gospel in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Q and A-Godly Integrity

February 17th, 2016 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A segment explores the question, “What does it mean to live with godly integrity?”

The definition of integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Having integrity does not mean moral perfection. David was a king with godly integrity.

Psalm 78:72 says, “David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” This was written about him, even though he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and conspired to have her husband killed.

What he did when confronted about his sin is extremely important to his integrity. He confessed his sin to God and asked for a willing spirit to change course and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

So, living with godly integrity means being committed to God’s principles in the Bible, being honest about our weaknesses, and being humble enough to confess our sins to God when our actions have wandered from our beliefs.

Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” Godly integrity is a walk with Jesus in the light of His grace and truth in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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