JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The light of the Gospel reveals the eternal life that we can have in Christ.

God’s love for us put His redemptive mission into motion. He sent Jesus into the world to be the sacrifice for our sins. Because He paid the price for our sin on the cross, we are set free from the death penalty through faith in His name.  Jesus is the most precious gift from God’s gracious hand. He is worthy of our praise every single day.

Forever is a long time. Heaven awaits the gathering of the saints around the throne for a joyful time of worship and celebration. God has made a way for us to be there, and His name is Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to embrace the eternal life that Jesus offers us in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 3:16.

Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This is one of the most familiar Bible verses in the Bible. Billy Graham has said that this verse is the Gospel in a nutshell. 

It is a fitting verse for various occasions. At Christmas, this verse shows how Jesus is God’s precious gift to the world.

On Valentine’s Day, this verse can be used to focus on Jesus as the highest expression of God’s love.

And on Good Friday, this verse can be used to emphasize the sacrifice that Jesus made for us when He went to the cross.

This verse can also be used to invite others to receive the gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

The words of Jesus inspire us to trust in His grace for eternal life in the Year of Redemption. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on John 3:16 and 17.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Jesus came to the world on a rescue mission for souls that were lost without God and were helpless to produce a remedy. Jesus came to be the remedy. He is the gift from God that this world needs for forgiveness and eternal life. We can find a certain hope for our souls by trusting in His grace to save us from our sins. That is the message of the birth of Jesus, His death, and resurrection. Acts 2:21 assures us that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Trusting in Jesus for salvation is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His identity and love.

The Apostle John was one of the key witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

He wrote in First John 4:14, “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.”

Jesus came to the world to be our Savior. He specifically came to save His people from their sins. We belong to His family through faith in His name.

Jesus also came as God’s One and Only Son. The voice of the Father came from heaven at the baptism of Jesus to say, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.”

Jesus also came as God’s gift and the fullest expression of His love that this world has ever known. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

A daily connection with Christ reinforces our trust in His love and identity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the gift of God’s love.

John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses of the Bible. It’s a fitting verse for the Christmas season and the Easter season. It’s a fitting verse to describe how someone can be born again into the family of God.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Here we see God’s love freely given to us as a gift through Jesus Christ. For a gift to be a gift, there needs to be a giver and a receiver. God clearly gave. That gift is ours to receive. This is why the Christmas season is so special among those who receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. We recognize that without the treasure of God’s grace, we would be lost in our sin and without God because sin separates us from God. But when Jesus enters our world, His light invades the darkness of our soul. Despair is replaced with hope. Doubt and fear are replaced with faith. Selfishness is replaced by love. In Jesus, we find the freedom to experience abundant and eternal life with Him. God invites us to say “Yes” to His invitation to live with Him forever.

The gift of God’s love through Jesus Christ is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com