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

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye On Integrity is based on Psalm 1, verses 1 through 3.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.”

We hear many different voices in a given day. The ones who influence us are the ones we believe. If we walk with the wise, we will grow wise. This Psalm is speaking to us about the productive blessing of delighting in God’s Word.

Meditation is the process by which the words of God leap off the pages of the Bible and find a place in our heart. If we feed on God’s Word today and consider it as a precious treasure, it will teach us the way of wisdom and lead us to a thriving faith in the Lord.

Walking in the delight of God’s Word 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 10:9.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The Gospel is the good news of what Jesus did for us when He went to the cross and rose from the dead three days later. This is the defining moment in history that gives us hope. No longer will God hold our sins against us if our faith is in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Our failures are not fatal. Our faith is not futile. Death is not final. The resurrection of Jesus was a game-changer. His grace freely given is a life-changer.

Walking by faith in the resurrected Christ 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 6, verses 5 and 6.

Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders turned prayer into a spectator event. Jesus tells us that the purpose of prayer is not to impress a crowd, but to spend time in communion with God. In those quiet places of prayer, God will meet us and be there to strengthen our faith in Him.

Walking with pure motives in prayer 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 Barnabas.

He was a great encouragement to young believers in the Lord. When others were not sure if Paul’s conversion to the faith was authentic, Barnabas was there to help build bridges between Paul and other church leaders.

Barnabas was also influential when he visited believers in Antioch. Acts 11:23 records that “when he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”

Never underestimate the potential for encouragement to make a difference in someone’s life.

The faithfulness of Barnabas to bring people to faith in Christ inspires us to be a voice of encouragement today and live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye On Integrity is based on Matthew 6:1.

Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Jesus was talking here about motives-why we do what we do. Do we seek attention for ourselves with acts of righteousness or do we seek the glory of God? In the previous chapter of the Bible, (Matthew 5) Jesus was encouraging us to let our light shine so that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Drawing people’s attention to the love of Jesus is a pure motive for our good deeds.

Walking with pure motives to carry out good deeds 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 James 3:13.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Humility is a quality that recognizes our need for God’s grace and places value on the people God has brought into our lives. Whatever we do, let it be done with a spirit of humility. Then, people will be blessed and God will get the glory for what we have accomplished.

Walking in the way of humility 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 is the Apostle Paul.

According to Acts 20:19, he told the church leaders at Ephesus, “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

Here was a man who persevered through times of testing and tears in his ministry for the church. He stayed true to his calling and consistently preached the message of the Gospel to the crowds. For Jews and Greeks, his message was the same: Repent. Turn to God. Have faith in the Lord Jesus.

The faithfulness of Paul to the Gospel inspires us to stay true to God and live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – We have a new theme this year for encouraging growth in your relationship with God. 2018 has been designated as the Year of Integrity. We will take a look at what God’s Word has to say about integrity. We will also examine how God’s people walked with integrity.

Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Ephesians 5:1 and 2.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

This is a good starting place for integrity. If we recognize that we are dearly loved by God, then we will be inspired to follow Him and to love others in the way that Jesus loves us.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com