JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Thessalonians 5, verses 21 and 22.

“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

There is wisdom in using spiritual filters whenever we hear a sermon or watch a movie, or read comments on social media forums.

The Bereans were a group of people commended for their discernment. When Paul came to teach them, they were receptive to his message and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. They took time to evaluate Paul’s words in light of what the Bible says. That is a valuable exercise that can keep our faith well-rooted in the truth of God’s Word.

Walking in discernment 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 Deuteronomy 10:12.

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

These were Moses’ instructions to the Israelites after they had been delivered from slavery and were preparing to enter the Promised Land. In light of God’s blessings and promises to us, we have that same opportunity today to express our gratitude to God by dedicating ourselves completely to Him. God has a pattern of doing extraordinary things in people who fully trust in His love and revere His Divine authority.

Walking in complete devotion to God 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 Matthew 5:16.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

There is a way that practicing good deeds does NOT honor God. Jesus talked about the Pharisees praying, fasting, and giving their offerings to God in order to be seen by others. But there is a way that practicing good deeds DOES honor God. It happens when our motivation is prompted by God’s love and overflows into our actions.

God uses our good deeds to serve people and meet them at their point of need. As they benefit from our generous gifts or labor of love, they will see the extension of God’s love flowing through us. What opportunities are before you today?

Glorifying God with good deeds 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 Mordecai.

He was a cousin to Queen Esther during a time when the Jews were living under the reign of the Persian Empire. There were a number of noble qualities about Mordecai.

He had taken Esther as his own daughter before she became queen. Esther did not have a father or mother. As her cousin, Mordecai became a father-like figure to her. He was a man of compassion.

He also broke up an assassination attempt against the king. He was a man of courage.

It also appears that Mordecai was loyal to God. When the king ordered the royal officials to kneel down and honor a man named Haman, Mordecai refused to comply. He was a man of conviction.

The faithfulness of Mordecai to live with compassion, courage, and conviction inspires us to do what is right in the eyes of God and live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 69:30.

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.”

Throughout the Bible, music is used as an instrument of praise for God. Moses sang a song after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea safely on dry ground.

After the LORD delivered David from his enemies, David sang to the LORD, “I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations.”

Paul and Silas sang hymns to God while they were in prison just before an earthquake shook them to freedom.

Glorifying God with music 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 Corinthians 10:31.

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

This statement gives us clarity on the purpose of our lives-to glorify God.

This purpose will give us wisdom for the activities we choose to do. Can I glorify God with this activity? If so, how can this be used for God’s glory?

We can use ordinary things, like food, for God’s glory. We can receive it with thanks. God uses it to nourish our bodies so that we will have strength to do His will. We can also use food to build friendships with neighbors moving next door or a family experiencing a crisis.

The glory of God gives our activity meaningful purpose.

Walking with purpose to glorify God 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 Psalm 32:1.

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” This blessing is made possible through Jesus Christ who came to reconcile us with God.

Deceit is the opposite of integrity, misleading someone through dishonest means. There is a way for a dishonest person to become honest, and for hidden sins to be forgiven.

That path comes through confession and changing direction. This is what we find in First John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This is how we can get back on track with God if we have lost our way.

Walking in honest confession 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 Abraham.

According to James 2:23, the New Living Translation says, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called the friend of God.”

Abraham shows us how we can have a meaningful friendship with God. Walk with Him with a trusting and obedient heart. It is better to be out of our comfort zone in God’s will than to be outside of God’s will and stay in our comfort zone.

Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country.”

The faithfulness of Abraham to travel to an unknown destination inspires us to trust and obey God’s directions and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Ezekiel 36:26.

God is saying to the house of Israel, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

The Gospel offers us restoration and transformation of the heart. God was saying that a day is coming when a nation of people will have their hearts of stone replaced by hearts of flesh. Their resistance to God would give way to tenderness. They would become teachable. That is what happens when we open our heart to the good news of Jesus Christ. He puts His Spirit in us and moves our heart to have the desire to love Him and obey Him fully.

Walking with a new heart 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 Simon the Zealot.

We don’t know much about this man in the Bible, except that he was identified as one of Jesus’ disciples. According to Acts 1:13, he gathered with other disciples for prayer after Jesus ascended into heaven. He came from a radical background. The Zealots fiercely opposed Roman rule and were against payment of taxes to a Roman emperor.

The historian Josephus described Zealots as reckless persons, zealous in good practices and reckless in the worst kind of actions. Some zealots were willing to use violent tactics to overthrow Rome.

It was from this background that Jesus called Simon to follow Him. One implied lesson to learn from Simon the Zealot is not to rely on political aspirations to advance the kingdom of God. Rely on Jesus. Simon’s zeal would have been redirected this way so that he would be known for his love for Jesus rather than his hatred toward Rome.

The faithfulness of Simon the Zealot to redirect his zeal inspires us to embrace Jesus, reject the way of violence, and live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com