JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Second Corinthians 9:11.

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Thanksgiving can be contagious. It is a way of life that is filled with thanks, and overflows into giving. As we are blessed by God, we have the opportunity to pass along a blessing to our friends, co-workers, family members, and even strangers. One of God’s purposes for our blessings is to share with those in need. As we are faithful to the task, needs are met, the attitude of thanksgiving spreads, and the name of Jesus is honored.

The Generosity of God’s People 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 Isaiah 40, verses 25 and 26.

The Holy One says, “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

The creation of God reveals His unique greatness. He made the universe, He manages the universe, and He rules the universe. David reflected on the heavens in Psalm 19, saying they declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands.

The brilliant stars, the glowing sun, and the silver moon point us to a mighty God who is creative and personal. He has the ability and the zeal to keep track of His creation, including people like you and me.

The Mighty Strength of the LORD 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 First Peter 2, verse 6.

“For in Scripture it says, ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”

Jesus is this precious stone who becomes the firm foundation of our lives when we put our trust in Him.

We can trust Jesus to forgive us. His purpose for coming into the world was to save us from our sins. When we put our faith in Him, our sins are no longer held against us.

We can trust Jesus to guide us in God’s will. He won’t lead us astray. He said to His first century disciples, “Follow me.” Jesus invites us to walk in His footsteps, to learn His ways, and follow His paths.

We can trust Jesus to bless us with His peace and grace. These are the blessings that we can experience daily by building our lives on the foundation of His Gospel.

The firm foundation of Jesus 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 Matthew 5, verses 10 to 12.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Jesus suffered and died for us, and through the generations, many believers have suffered and died for Jesus. Their righteousness shines as a bright light of faithfulness and devotion to Jesus. Persecution may take on different forms and severity. However, if we are persecuted in any way because of our witness for Jesus, we have words of assurance from Jesus Himself that we are blessed by God and can look forward to a great reward in heaven.

The Blessing of Heavenly Reward 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 Matthew 5:9.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker who came to bring us peace with God. Through faith in His name, we become a child of God, which is the blessed place to be.

When we follow Jesus, we follow the way of our Teacher who trains us to be peacemakers. He calls us to live peaceably with others as far as it depends on us. He moves us to be a voice of reconciliation for other parties in conflict with each other. He also gives us a platform for the Gospel, inviting others to find peace with God.

The Apostle Paul was a voice for peace in his letters to the churches. He wrote in Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

The blessing of being called a child 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 Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Matthew 5:8.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

When we become a follower of Jesus, we still have room for growing in godly characteristics. God’s grace forgives us of our sins at the moment of conversion. Then, as we walk with Jesus and follow Him, His grace also purifies our motivation to please God.

Love replaces selfishness as our main motive-Love for God and love for people. Fixing our eyes on Jesus helps us with pure motives.

Seeing God is the blessed place to be. As we focus on living for Jesus, our spiritual vision is cleared for doing God’s will until we see Him face to face.

The blessing of seeing 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 Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Matthew 5:6.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Having the righteousness of Jesus is the blessed place to be. Just as an appetite for food leads us to seek food to eat, so an appetite for righteousness ultimately leads us to trust in Jesus. Our own righteous acts are like filthy rags to God, but the righteousness of Jesus covers our sin and has great value for motivating our faith into action.

Today, we can take the words of Jesus to heart, receive His gift of grace, and find satisfaction in the flavor of God’s goodness.

The blessing of Christ’s righteousness 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 Matthew 5:5.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

The idea of meekness has to do with strength through restraint. Jesus was the perfect example of this. He had 72,000 angels at his disposal. He could have called on them to rescue Him from the cross, but He did not do that, because Jesus had the big picture in view. He knew that without the shedding of His blood on that old wooden cross, there would be no Savior. Jesus invites us to follow in His footsteps of meekness as a bright light to shine the grace of God.

Meekness is the blessed place to be in the eyes of God. Psalm 37:11 points out that the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The blessing of Inheritance 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 Matthew 5:4.

Jesus said, ,“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

The comfort of Christ is the blessed place to be.

The grace of God is a comfort to the person who is wounded by grief or pain or heartache. Jesus felt anguish in the Garden before He was crucified. He knows what it is like to experience emotional stress. Jesus wept by the gravesite of Lazarus. He also wept over Jerusalem. He can sympathize with us in moments of sadness. That is a present reality.

The comfort of Christ also has an eternal blessing for His followers. In the New Heaven and the New Earth, Revelation 21:4 pictures God dwelling with His people. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” So, in the picture of eternity, God’s comfort will be our source of healing.

The blessing of Christ’s comfort 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 Matthew 5:3.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To be poor in spirit is to recognize that we are spiritually bankrupt without the grace of Jesus Christ. It is a humble place to be. It is the blessed place to be. To be poor in spirit is to be rich in faith, because we believe in the worthiness of Jesus to save us from our sin. We depend on the reliability of His love.

Poverty in spirit leads us to possess God’s Heavenly kingdom in the realm of eternity. This inheritance will not perish, spoil, or fade. It is our real and lasting hope.

The blessing of the Heavenly Kingdom reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com