JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to live for Jesus.

He is the light of the world, and as we follow Him, we no longer walk in the darkness, but have the light of life. We become reflectors of His light. His love moves us to worship Him, and develop relationships that are built on His love.

Second Corinthians 5:14 and 15 says, “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

As long as we live for ourselves, we will struggle with pride, greed, and lust. But as we change our way of thinking and turn to Jesus, those strongholds come down and we develop new ambitions that seek the honor of God rather than ourselves.

Living for Jesus is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 15:11.

Jesus said to His disciples, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Having God’s love in our hearts leads us to a place of complete joy. To understand the pathway to joy, we need to recall His previous statement in verses 9 and 10. He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept the Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

Joy is a light that shines brightly as a result of walking in an intimate relationship with God. Isaiah 60, verse 5 says, “Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to live with the joy that comes from the Lord in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Matthew 5:14.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Jesus said on one occasion that He is the light of the world, but He also said that His followers are the light of the world. If we are traveling at night and approach a large city, we can see the skyline with its many lights getting brighter and brighter as we move closer and closer.

This is a picture of how we can have an impact on the world with the Gospel. As we reflect the light of Jesus through our words, actions, and attitudes, people will see His light shining through us as they get closer to us and get to know us better.

This Light Reflection inspires us to be a city on a hill as a witness to the world 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 a good deed for God.

According to Jesus, this is how we let our light shine. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:14 to 16, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city 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.”

So, what can we do today to shine our light for Jesus? Look for opportunities, let love be the motivation, and watch how God works through those simple steps of obedience to encourage someone with the reality that they are loved by God.

A good deed for God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 8:12.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

C.S. Lewis once said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Faith in the Lord Jesus opens our eyes to the realities of life and the quality of life that God intended us to have. Though we live in a fallen world with brokenness and sin, we live with the awareness that Jesus came to give us a life that abounds in grace and leads to a heavenly future.

Jesus is our source of light that we need for moral direction, hope, and eternal life.

This Light Reflection inspires us to follow Jesus 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 Living for the glory of God.

If this is the focus as we wake up in the morning, we will be ready in our heart and mind to honor God in the activities of our day, whether they include work, recreation, or meeting someone at a local restaurant.

Every activity blessed by God is an opportunity for us to bless His name.  The Christian faith is not meant to be confined to a worship service on a Sunday morning. It involves our total being 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Today, we can look for ways to lift up the name of Jesus through the witness of our lives.

First Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Living for the glory of God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Looking to the Lord.

It is when we look to God for strength and courage that our fears are relieved. This is the pattern that we find in the Psalms.

One vivid example is found in Psalm 34, verses 4 and 5. David wrote, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”  Looking to the Lord is the way to overcome fear and shame. That is where we find a love that never fails.

Looking to the Lord is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 31:16 and 17a.

This is a prayer from the heart of David: “Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Let me not be put to shame, LORD, for I have cried out to you.”

David certainly had his enemies. They were strong and intimidating. But in his time of need David turned to the LORD for His favor. We have that same opportunity in our times of crisis. The whole world could be against us, and yet, we could still live with hope if we knew that God is with us.

To have God’s face shining on us is to have God’s favor-to be in a secure relationship that reflects God’s glory with a radiant faith.

This Light Reflection inspires us to humbly seek God’s favor in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – 2023 has been designated the Year to Shine at WJTL. We will explore what it means to be the salt and light in this world that Jesus calls us to be. Listen for daily light reflections and for steps of faith that we can take to be a radiant witness for Jesus.

In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Courage.

Peter demonstrated courage when he walked on water toward Jesus.

In Matthew 14:25, Jesus was walking on the water in the midst of a storm when His disciples saw him and cried out in fear.  Jesus said, Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.

Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus invited Peter to come. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on water and came toward Jesus.”

It is important to note that Peter did not venture out on his own. He went at the invitation of Jesus. Faith responds to the invitation of God’s Word to move closer to Jesus. Courage is needed when that next step is difficult.

Courage is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com