JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on a life transformed by God’s grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Second Corinthians 3:18, “We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

The power of the Holy Spirit works in the believer’s life to reflect the character of Christ. These character qualities include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the qualities that were fully demonstrated by Christ and they have a growing influence on our lives as we follow Jesus step by step.  These are the qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit, and they become the ingredients that invite others to taste and see that the Lord is good.

A life transformed by God’s grace is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on God’s good purpose for His people.

Romans 8:28 tells us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This does not mean that everything that happens to us is good. But God has the power to overcome evil with good. This is proven through the power of the cross, where Jesus died for the sins of many people.

So, through the trials of our lives and through the triumphs, God is weaving everything together for a good purpose, and that purpose is identified in the next verse-Romans 8:29.

“For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.”  That is how we are blessed and God is honored through the circumstances of our lives.

God’s good purpose to transform us to be more like Jesus is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com