JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 5:46 and 47

Jesus told His critics, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

The words of Moses shed light on the identify of Jesus as the coming Messiah. He wrote about Jesus in Deuteronomy 18:15, when he said, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”

In Acts chapter 3, Peter applied this statement to Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us by the words of Moses to listen to the voice of Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Exodus 4:12.

At the burning bush, The LORD said to Moses, “Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

God was calling Moses to return to his people in Egypt so that the Israelites might be delivered from slavery. Moses tried to make excuses to be excused from this assignment. Yet, God insisted that Moses would have all that he needed for the task. He would have God’s favor.

We will likely not meet God at a burning bush like Moses did. But if we belong to God, there will be a time when the light of His calling will be revealed.  It might not come to us all at once. We don’t have to wait to take the first step until we have the whole plan figured out. The time to start is when God says “Now.” God sees the big picture, and He knows how to fit the pieces of the puzzle together for our mission to succeed.

This Light Reflection inspires us to trust and obey God wherever He leads us in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Exodus 3:7 and 10.

God called Moses to a very important assignment:  He said to Moses, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering…..So now, go. I am sending you to Pharoah to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Moses was in exile, separated from his people. He might have thought that his productive days were behind him. But God was just getting started with Moses. At a burning bush, God would call Moses to go back to His people to deliver them from slavery in Egypt. Moses said, “Here I am.” God identified Himself as “I AM WHO I AM.”

God knows how to get our attention. Like Moses, we may feel unworthy or inadequate to do the work that God calls us to do. But God has a plan for our lives and He is our source of strength to fulfill His will. He will be with us every step of the way as we obey His calling.

This Light Reflection inspires us to “say yes” to the call of God on our lives to do His will 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 acknowledge God’s gracious hand.

In Deuteronomy 8, Moses told the Israelites to remember God’s blessings with a grateful heart when they entered the Promised Land.

Verse 10 says, “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands.”

Moses went on to say that if they did not praise the LORD for His blessings, their heart would become proud and they would forget God.

James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. In the ways that we have been blessed by God, those are opportunities to thank Him and praise Him.

Acknowledging God’s gracious hand is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Exodus 4:29 to 31.

“Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”

For many years, the Israelites worked under the bondage of slavery in Egypt. But when Moses encountered God at the burning bush, he learned that God had a plan in place to deliver the Israelites, and to work through Moses and Aaron to accomplish that plan.

We might wonder where God is in our suffering and pain. But as He expressed His concern for the Israelites in Egypt, so He sees our pain and cares for us. As we are mindful of His concern for us, we are motivated to worship Him and to find hope in His grace. He will be our source of strength in times of weakness.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to be encouraged by God’s concern for us in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Hebrews 11:24 to 26.

“By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharoah’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

The Bible acknowledges the pleasure of sin for a season, but it is only temporary. The treasures of God’s grace have much more value than the treasures of this world. Gold may shine, but the brilliance of God’s glory shines brighter. Fame may cause our star to shine for a season, but Jesus shines as the Bright Morning Star forever.

Moses understood the value of being identified with Christ.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to know the greater value of following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:23.

By faith, the parents of Moses hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

There was a law in Egypt forbidding Hebrew baby boys to live at the time when Moses was born. But the parents of Moses were guided by their faith to protect his life. In the book of Acts, Stephen recalled that for three months, Moses was cared for by his own family.

Faith seeks to preserve life in the midst of a culture that promotes death. Faith also sees God’s extraordinary plan in the life of each precious child. That is what the parents of Moses did in preserving the life of their son. Their faith overcame any fear of the king’s unjust law so that Moses could live to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to uphold the precious value of human life in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Exodus 3:14.

God said to Moses at the burning bush, “I am who I am.” That is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.”

Basically, Moses was being called to go back to Egypt and deliver the Israelites out of slavery. Moses questioned whether anyone would trust him or if he was up to the task. Have you ever felt inadequate for something you believe God is calling you to do?  Moses was returning to the Israelites under God’s authority, and when questioned, he was to say that his mission was God-directed.

God was revealing His name to Moses. One of the implications of God’s name is that He is self-sufficient. He needs no help from us, but we are utterly dependent on Him. So, in and of ourselves, we are not adequate for our assignments, but with God’s help, we have what we need to do God’s will. He will supply sufficient grace.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of significance in His plan of redemption in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.

In Exodus 31:18, the LORD gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant law. They were tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Mount Sinai represents the law of God for His people.

On these tablets were written the Ten Commandments. God’s laws were revealing God’s moral standards. None of us have lived up to all the commands all the time. That is why we need grace.  The law reminds us that we have fallen short of God’s glory and need a Savior. We don’t earn God’s love by obeying His laws, but are motivated to obey them because we know that He loves us. At the foundation of following God’s laws is love-love for God and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Following God’s laws is not meant to be a reason for pride in ourselves. It is an opportunity to express our love for God. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Focusing on the law of love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on what happened at the Mountain of Transfiguration.

In Luke chapter 9, Jesus took a few of His disciples with him to a mountain where he would pray. As Jesus prayed, the appearance of His face changed, His clothing became as bright as a flash of lightning. Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor and talked with Jesus. Then, came a voice from a cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Peter was a witness. This is what he said about Jesus in Second Peter 1:17, “He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” This testimony affirms the Father’s approval of Jesus and the worthiness of Jesus to receive our attention and devotion.

Focusing on the Heavenly Father’s approval of Jesus gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Psalm 90, verse 2.

Before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

How do you comprehend an infinite God with a finite mind? We cannot fully grasp His eternal nature, or understand all His ways. He sees reality from a higher perspective, and He also sees reality from an eternal perspective. His view of time is different than ours. Moses wrote that a thousand years in God’s sight are like a day that has just gone by.

Even though we cannot fully comprehend God, He fully understands us. He made us. He has provided a way for us to know Him better and to live in a peaceful relationship with Him forever. Jesus is our way to the Father. 

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of awe-inspiring worship in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com