JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to wake up to the voice of grace.

Ephesians 5:14 says, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The voice of God’s grace is calling us out of a place of spiritual slumber into the light of God’s glory. That is where we can truly shine in this generation with His goodness, righteousness, and truth.

The voice of grace calls us out of apathy into the way of love.

The voice of grace calls us away from the deeds of darkness into the light of God’s pleasing will.

The voice of grace awakens our hearts to seek God’s Kingdom and righteousness as the top priority of our lives. Jesus becomes the focus of our faith and our ultimate treasure. The joy we have from His love overflows into our relationships.

Waking up to the voice of grace is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Daniel 12:2 and 3.

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

The stars in the universe have been created by God and declare His glory.

Those stars can be a source of motivation for us to be witnesses for Jesus to a world that is experiencing spiritual darkness. We were made to shine and reflect His goodness and glory. As we do, we become a voice of hope to point people to the light of God’s love through faith in Jesus Christ.

This Light Reflection inspires us to be an influence for righteousness in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Halloween is on Monday and we’re losing more and more daylight every day…I thought it was the perfect time to focus on Shining our Light!  See my themed playlist, and links to helpful blogs below.

Kristi – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/youre-shining-for-jesus-wherever-you-are/\

https://billygraham.org/story/shine/

http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/kelly-balarie/afraid-to-shine-bright-for-christ.html

I was baptized at Hershey Free Church when I was in junior high.  It just so happened that the day my church was holding the event was on Halloween, and I was at a point in my life where my school was my mission field.  This was back in the day when “In The Light” by Charlie Peacock and “Be The One” by Al Denson were newer hit songs, not Classics — and “Shine” by Newsboys didn’t even exist yet!  I carried my Bible with me every day at school and invited friends to youth group events.  I was on fire for God on couldn’t think of a more powerful day to be baptized than on Halloween.  I was into Frank Peretti books and learning about spiritual warfare…being baptized on Halloween was as good as it could possibly get!  It was like taking the darkest day and making it stand for my dedication to Jesus, which I figured would send a loud and clear message to the devil.

The Bible verse I shared before taking the plunge was Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

If you’re in total darkness, even just one match is a game changer!  One very small light will always defeat darkness.  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

In the Bible, “Light” is life.  It guides our path.  It purifies.  It brings hope.  It is closely associated with God’s presence and favor.  Jesus is called the “Light of the World”.  Isn’t it such good news that God called us out of the darkness and into His marvelous light?!  We’ll sing about it with a light-themed playlist on this Sunday’s Praise & Worship Show from 6-10 a.m. and I hope you’ll join me.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Daniel 12:2 and 3.

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

As the light of the stars breaks the darkness of the night, so our witness for Jesus can break the darkness of doubt, despair, or deceit as we present Him as the way, the truth, and the life.

Each day is an opportunity to look for connections with people who need God’s saving grace, and then to share the reason for our hope in Christ.

Shining the light of God’s love in our sphere of influence is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com