JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Zechariah.

He was a prophet who wrote a book in the Old Testament. There are significant themes found in his writings.

He called people to return to the LORD.

He spoke about the strategic and prophetic significance of Jerusalem.

He spoke of a day to come when the LORD would be king over the whole earth.

And he spoke of the events surrounding Palm Sunday with these words, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey.”

The faithfulness of Zechariah to draw attention to Jesus inspires us to do the same with our words and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Lamentations 3:40.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”

Many times, spiritual inventory comes in a time of crisis when we are humbled and broken of ourselves. That was where the Israelites were at the time this verse was written. The people were taken from their homeland. Their temple was destroyed. They had descended from a place of blessing to a place of bondage, and the writer recorded a series of laments in this book.

But in this broken place, there is also hope. Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed. His compassions never fail. Great is God’s faithfulness.

When we come to the end of ourselves, there is grace waiting with open arms. God is ready to embrace anyone who is willing to renounce selfish ways and return to His grace.

Returning to the LORD after we have disobeyed Him is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Peter 2:24 and 25.

Speaking of Jesus, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’ For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

The expression of God’s grace was costly to Jesus. He paid for our redemption with His own blood. That is the payment we needed, and that is what He offered. That is why His grace is enough, and why we do not need to add anything else as a condition for salvation. If we trust in Jesus, we will know the blessing of His grace and be moved by His righteousness to do what is right in the eyes of God.

Walking in righteousness is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Exodus 20:17.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

This is one of the Ten Commandments. It is not always apparent when this commandment is broken because it is a sin of the heart. However, it can lead to actions that bring much harm to others and ourselves if we feed thoughts of coveting.

We can easily go down this slippery path when we start to compare ourselves with others. The cure for coveting is godly contentment, which enables us to find joy and fulfillment in the sufficiency of God’s grace. This can happen with us when our focus is on the blessings that Jesus offers us rather than what we can take from our neighbor.

Walking in godly contentment is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Zadok the Scribe.

He was one of four men that Nehemiah considered trustworthy to distribute supplies to their brothers. He handled tithes of grain, new wine and oil from the storerooms. Nehemiah trusted him to be honest and fair with how he distributed these gifts devoted to God.

Zadok had some of the qualities that employers look for in dependable employees today-Honesty and a work ethic that follows through on their tasks.

The faithfulness of Zadok to be trustworthy with God’s property inspires us to be honest in how we carry out our responsibilities and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Zechariah 8, verses 16 and 17.

These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.

We reflect God’s character when we are honest with others and uphold matters of justice based on the truth. There are some things people do that the LORD hates, such as false testimony and plotting to harm someone. God is also grieved at the sight of injustice. Proverbs 17:15 says, Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-the LORD detests them both.

Learning to love what God loves and hate what God hates are virtues to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Hebrews 13:18.

“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.”

Through Jesus, we have the opportunity to live with a clear conscience. We can have peace of mind and peace in our heart if we wake up each day having a sincere desire to honor God in every way.

This chapter gives us practical expressions of faith that honor God. We honor God when we keep on loving the body of Christ.

We honor God when we show hospitality to strangers.

We honor God when we remain faithful in the marriage relationship.

We honor God when our lives are free from the love of money and we are content with what we have.

And we honor God when we imitate the faith of godly leaders.

Walking with the desire to honor God in every way is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Local and national ministries and organizations are assembling ways to help those affected by Hurricane Florence.  Here are some that we are aware of or that have reached out to us.

Christ In Action has options to give and will be ready to accept volunteers beginning tomorrow (Tuesday 9/18).  They also plan be live on WJTL at 8:20 on 9/18 to talk about ways to get involved.

Mennonite Disaster Services  Has options to volunteer and to give.  Kevin King, Executive Director,  will be on the air with Lisa this Friday (9/21) just after 3:30 pm with updates.

American Red Cross  is accepting funds for relief efforts

Samaritans Purse:  Accepting funds and volunteers

GAIN:  Global Aid Network has information about how you can pray or give to partner with their relief efforts

If you are aware of other ministries that we could add to our list, please email contact@wjtl.com for review and consideration.  Thanks.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Exodus 13:21.

Speaking of the Israelites on the way to the Promised Land.

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”

Just as God provided for the Israelites so that they could continue on their journey, so God provides us with the means for moving forward in our faith. He gives us His Word in the Bible. He sent Jesus to provide forgiveness that covers our sins. He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth that sets us free from the slavery of sin.

We are on a journey in life. We can make good progress by walking in the guidance of His Word, and by the counsel of the Holy Spirit.

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Luke 8:15.

Jesus said, “The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

This statement was the end of a parable where Jesus talked about seed being planted on different kinds of soil. It’s a story about a farmer, but it is also a story about God’s Kingdom. The seed in the story is the word of God. Some seed fell on the path, but never became rooted. The devil came and took away the word from the hearts of those who represented the path. Other kinds of soil are more receptive at first, but along the way, influences such as wealth, pleasure, or worry keep certain people from growing in maturity. Still others believe for a while, but fall away in times of testing.

Jesus shows us how we can be the good soil, by being receptive to God’s Word, growing in it, and being fruitful in how we live out God’s word.

Walking in the way of God’s word is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com