JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in First John 1:9.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
It’s incredible to think about God’s provision of forgiveness for our sins. That is why Jesus went to the cross, to extend mercy and grace to a world that needed a Savior.
Jesus is the only one qualified to save us from our sins, because of what He accomplished at the cross and the empty grave. He invites us into an honest relationship with Him, where we can be open about our sorrows, our struggles, and our sins. He is able to not only forgive us, but also to make our heart clean again, so that we are considered pure in God’s sight.
Forgiveness for the contrite heart 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 James 1:13.
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
James was pointing out that we are tempted when we are dragged away by our own evil desire and enticed. God will not tempt us to do what is wrong, but God will teach and motivate us to do what is right.
He has provided the Bible for us to know His will and to invite us to faith in Jesus that leads to abundant and eternal life.
God has also provided the church, so that we can be in relationship with God’s people and encourage each other.
God also sent His One and only Son into the world to save us from our sins, and to become our source of righteousness.
The Purity of God 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 Psalm 119, verses 9 to 11.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
God’s Word is a light to help us overcome temptation. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus responded by reciting God’s Word, and did not give in to the devil.
Taking God’s word to heart will affect the desires of our heart so that we do not want to grieve God’s heart. Our delight will be in the Lord and our fellowship with Him will take top priority in our lives.
James 4:7 urges us to submit ourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from us. Come near to God, and He will come near to us.
This Light Reflection inspires us to guard our heart from temptation by the power of God’s Word in the Year To Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is First John 2:28.
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears, we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
The promise of Christ’s return is meant to motivate our faith in a number of ways.
First, the promise of Christ’s return motivates us to be holy. First John 3:3 says that all who have this hope in Christ purify themselves.
Second, the promise of Christ to come back motivates us to share the Gospel with others. We want others to be saved. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “in light of His appearing….preach the word.”
A third motivation is hope. Titus 2:13 talks about the appearing of Jesus Christ as the blessed hope. For those who love Jesus, the coming of Christ is not the end of the world, but the beginning of the full experience of joy in the presence of the Lord.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to walk with Jesus with godly integrity in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
September 2nd, 2022
Admin
Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17, Petra will be Livestreaming the 2022 Pure Desire Summit! Join hundreds of wholeheartedly committed men and women as we discuss sexual purity and learn how past trauma affects our relationships. Hear from keynote speakers and connect with others while you learn alongside them. This 2-day Summit is for anyone who’s led or been a part of any Pure Desire group or anyone who is passionate about helping others seek sexual purity. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the door.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is the Church.
Some people think of church as a building, but in reality, the church is the people of God. Jesus is the Head of the church and the builder of the church. He has designed the church to take the gospel to the world, and today, that assignment is still in motion.
It is also significant to note that Jesus loves the church. He died for the church and is in the process of purifying the church until He returns for His followers.
Ephesians 5:25 compares the relationship between Christ and His church to the intimacy of a marriage relationship. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Find encouragement in God’s love and purpose for the church in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Snow.
Whenever snow is in the forecast, different people have different reactions. Some people immediately start to adjust their travel plans. Others look forward to sledding while others dread the thought of shoveling snow. Regardless of what we may think about snow, there is a lesson of faith that we can learn from it.
In the Bible, snow sometimes symbolizes purity. As David was confessing his sin in Psalm 51, he prayed, “wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
David recognized that God had the power to make his heart clean again. If our heart is polluted by sin, God can give us a pure heart again that is refreshed in the glow of His grace. We can turn to Jesus for His forgiveness, and He will be faithful to make our heart clean.
Find encouragement in the grace of God to make us whiter than snow in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the holiness of God.
The angels make this declaration in Isaiah 6, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. The whole earth is full of his glory.” It was the kind of statement that caused Isaiah to feel doomed as a sinner. Yet, God’s holiness was accompanied by His compassion, and that makes all the difference for anyone who has sinned against God. Instead of being condemned as a sinner, he would be called into service as a saint. The holiness of God had a purifying impact on Isaiah, and it has a purifying impact on those who belong to Jesus.
The holiness of God refers to His absolute moral purity. There is no sin in Him. His glory shines with brilliance. God’s holiness also refers to His greatness. He is a cut above the rest. No persons or idols match the worth of God to the human soul.
One of God’s purposes for our lives is to make us holy, not in the sense that we are able to attain to His level of greatness, but in the sense of purifying our faith by the Word of God. His holiness becomes an incentive for us to grow in holiness. First Peter 1:15 and 16 says, “Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written, “be holy, because I am holy.” Heaven celebrates the supreme holiness of God constantly.
The holiness of God 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 the beauty of a snowflake.
The design of a single snowflake is unique from all other snowflakes. In a similar way, God has made each of us with unique features. There is only one of you, which reflects God’s creativity in designing you as a distinct personality. In pondering the way God knew him personally, David said in Psalm 139, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”
Another dimension of snow in the Bible is how it is compared to purity. The mercy of God toward his people purifies His people from the guilt of sin. In Psalm 51:7, as David was confessing his sin of adultery and murder, referred to snow with this statement, “Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”
The beauty of a snowflake reminds us of the unique way that God has created us, and the refreshing way that God cleanses us. Because of God’s powerful love, our formation and spiritual transformation are reasons to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
