JOHN SHIRK – All this week, the person of Integrity from the Bible that we are examining is Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 urges us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Here we see that Jesus willingly went to the cross. He did not do this reluctantly or begrudgingly. His love for us kept Him moving forward to reach the goal. Jesus kept the joy of His future glory in mind as He was going to the cross.

Keeping God’s eternal promises and His unfailing love in view will strengthen us to press on in the faith through the trials of life.

The faithfulness of Jesus to endure the cross inspires us to endure hardship for Him and to live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Luke 15:20.

As the Prodigal Son returned home after a season of wild living and squandering his father’s wealth, what would happen when his father saw him?

Would he be angry? Would he refuse to talk to him? Or would he welcome him with open arms?

Verse 20 reveals the answer. “He got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” This is great compassion, to welcome His son with joy and have a celebration on his behalf. This is the Father’s heart for those who earnestly seek His forgiveness.

The Father’s love for us inspires us to have a tender heart for others. Ephesians 4:32 says: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Walking with great compassion 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 Timothy.

He worked with Paul the Apostle, who mentored him and spoke highly of him in his writings.

On one occasion, he wrote in First Corinthians 4:17, “For this reason, I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus.”

On another occasion, he wrote in First Thessalonians 3:2, “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.”

In these two letters, we see Paul’s confidence in Timothy to be reliable to send edifying messages to the churches.

The faithfulness of Timothy to be one of Paul’s trusted messengers inspires us to build the church 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 Isaiah 12:5 and 6.

“Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

If there is one thing that will give the follower of Jesus real joy, it is to notice when God does glorious things in the world.

It might be the conversion and salvation of a precious soul to Christ.

It might be the mending of a troubled marriage.

It might be the opening of a new church in the neighborhood.

Or it might be seen in a person who is moved by God to help their neighbor in a meaningful way.

As we notice the glorious things that God is doing among us, we will have a reason to sing songs of praise from a joyful heart.

Walking in praise and joy 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 Ephesians 4:15 and 16.

“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Before we send a message to someone, it is good to ask these two questions: “Is it truthful?” and “Is it loving? Words of truth without love can come across as blunt and hurtful. On the other hand, words meant to build up, but not grounded in honesty amount to empty flattery.

But when we speak the truth in a spirit of love, good things happen. People are encouraged to grow in their relationship with God. The trust factor is strong. There is a greater atmosphere of freedom to be honest about our struggles because of the support structure that is in place. When this is happening in the church, God’s people grow together in love, and character is transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ.

Speaking the truth in love 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 Joseph.

In his teen years, Joseph’s brothers mistreated him badly. They sold him off to a foreign land.

Many years later, these same brothers came to Joseph to seek his help during a famine. What they did not know at the time was that they were seeking help from the brother they had disowned so many years ago.

Joseph had regard for God throughout his life. When given the opportunity to get revenge, he instead opened the door for reconciliation. In Genesis 50:20, he revealed his identity to them and said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid, I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

The faithfulness of Joseph to seek reconciliation with his brothers inspires us to overcome evil with good and to live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 19, verses 12 and 13.

“Who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.”

These thoughts express the earnest desire of a man to be cleared of wrongdoing and to have a right relationship with God. Prayer and surrender are good starting places for making things right with God. Prayer and surrender are good starting places with God every day.

Jesus came to set us free from the tyranny of sin. If we follow Jesus daily, His truth reigns over us, and sin no longer has control over our lives. His peace will fill our hearts, and enable us to live without fear of condemnation.

Walking a blameless life 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 37, verses 4 to 6.

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust in him, and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

The starting place for standing for righteous causes is a relationship with God where we delight in Him. He then plants holy desires in our heart that become righteous causes.

For Billy Graham, that cause was preaching the Gospel.

For Mother Teresa, that cause was helping the poor.

For George Mueller, that cause was helping orphans in their distress.

For Chuck Colson, that cause was reaching out to prisoners and their families with the love of Jesus.

What will your righteous cause be? Let God be the One to move you and guide you. Commit that cause to God.

Walking with delight in the Lord 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 4:19.

“We love because he first loved us.”

God is our teacher on the lessons of love. He initiated love at creation, and at the cross in the midst of our sinfulness. He gave His best for our worst, so that we might have the opportunity to be restored to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

There is a Portuguese Proverb that says, “To love God is the greatest of virtues; to be loved by God is the greatest of blessings.”

There is a way for us to grow in love every day, and that is to embrace the grace that Jesus offers us and to walk in the footsteps of His love day by day.

Walking in the way of Christ’s love 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 the Prodigal Son.

This person is mentioned in a story taught by Jesus in Luke 15.

The word “prodigal” describes someone who spends money recklessly. In this story, the Prodigal Son left home and squandered his father’s wealth on wild living. There is nothing noble about that. But that is not where his story ends. People with godly integrity are not perfect, but they are purified.

Jesus said, “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” That is exactly what he did, and his father welcomed him with open arms. He was filled with love and compassion for his son as he returned home.

The faithfulness of the Prodigal Son to make things right with his father inspires us to be reconciled with our Heavenly Father through Jesus and to live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com