JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 51:12.

David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

After David confessed his sin to God, he asked for two important requests in this verse.

He asked for the joy of his salvation to be restored. When he was covering up his sin, David lost the joy of his faith. Sin has a way of doing that. David earnestly wanted the joy of the Lord to return. The grace of God is able to do that for us when we return to God.

David also asked for a willing spirit to follow God. We cannot do this on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to write God’s laws on our heart so that we want to obey His commands consistently.

Walking in prayer, confession, and obedience to God 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 First Peter 2:12.

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

The call to Christian integrity goes beyond mere words to a way of life that reflects the actions, attitudes, and teachings of Jesus Christ. One famous quote commonly associated with St. Francis of Assisi is, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”

Jesus emphasized the importance of letting our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Walking in the light of God’s goodness 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 Romans 12:21.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The way of the Gospel takes the high road through times of adversity and conflict. When someone hurts us, the natural reflex is to seek revenge. But we are not called to do things in the natural realm. We are called to follow the example of Jesus, who overcame evil with good at the cross. That is where He died for the very same people who despised Him. Romans 12:17 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”

Overcoming evil with good 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 Romans 12:9.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

This was the way of Jesus when He walked on the earth, and He shows us by example how to love people without compromising righteous standards.

He was a friend to sinners without sinning. He proclaimed good news, set captives free, and confronted evil. He taught us the way of love in various ways.

Do to others what you would have them to do you.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Love one another as Jesus loves us.

Walking in sincere love 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 John 4:20 and 21,

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

God is the source of love. He enables and motivates us to love our family members and our church family. If we sense that there is room for growth in these areas, we can turn to God for help. His love for us makes a difference in how we see God, how we see ourselves, and how we treat other people. There is great encouragement in knowing God’s love. There is great virtue in passing it along.

Walking in God’s love 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 Ephesians 5, verses 18b to 20.

“Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Lord is honored in various styles of songs. If not, He would not have invited us to use three different types of songs for worship. He works just as powerfully in the hymns as He does in worship choruses, as long as the content of the songs reflects Him accurately.

We can use music for worshipping God and for teaching others about Him. In these ways, music builds our faith in Jesus.

Celebrating Jesus in music is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Persons of Integrity from the Bible are Cleopas and his traveling friend.

Three days after Jesus died on a cross, these two men were traveling toward Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were rather discouraged as they talked about the events that unfolded.

Then Jesus, who had risen from the dead, joined them on their journey. He asked what they were talking about? They talked about Jesus even as they walked along the road with Him. They mentioned that they hoped he was going to be the one to redeem Israel, and they had heard reports of his empty tomb.

Then, Jesus went through the writings of Moses and the Prophets to explain what was said in the Scriptures concerning Himself. Their hearts were burning within them while Jesus talked with them on the road. Then when they sat at the table with Jesus, they recognized Him. Disappointment turned to passion for the Gospel as they talked with Jesus and heard the evidence that He was the Promised Messiah.

The faithfulness of Cleopas and his traveling friend to walk with Jesus inspires us to take our journey of faith with Jesus and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Persons of Integrity from the Bible are the children who shouted “Hosanna.”

Children were drawn to Jesus. He showed them respect and dignity. He pointed to children as role models of faith and humility for adults to emulate.

In Matthew 21:15, the chief priests and teachers of the law took notice that children were shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus replied, “Have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?”

Elsewhere, with a child in the presence of Jesus, He said in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

The faithfulness of little children to praise God with humble hearts inspires us to follow their example and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 40, verse 8.

“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

David, the writer of this Psalm, was NOT motivated to follow God’s law out of obligation. He WAS motivated by love.

Some of his comments earlier show the celebration of his heart when thinking about God’s goodness.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.”

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

“ Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you.”

Remembering with gratitude God’s goodness, greatness, and love for us will inspire us to follow after God’s own heart.

Walking with the desire to do God’s will is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com