JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in First John 2:1 and 2.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

In the spiritual realm, Satan is the accuser of God’s followers and Jesus is our defender. This comes to light especially when we disobey the Lord. After Satan tempts us, he accuses us before God. He tries to shame us and condemn us. On the other hand, Jesus is the influence who motivates to trust and obey God. When we fall short, His grace is sufficient to protect us from condemnation. His love for us is very great, and His kindness moves us to turn back from the error of sinful ways to follow Him faithfully.

Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The righteousness of Jesus to defend us reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Luke 15:20.

Jesus told a story about a father who had two sons. The younger son took his share of the estate and squandered his wealth on wild living. But after he spent everything, he was in great need. His desperate circumstances led him to do some serious soul-searching about the direction of his life. He came to his senses and decided to return to his father. How would the father respond to this young man’s return?

Jesus said, “while he was still a long way off, his father was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

This is a vivid picture of God’s embrace for the person who recognizes their need for forgiveness and comes home to His grace.

The compassion of God reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Lamentations 3:22 and 23.

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

God’s love is just as dependable as the rising sun every morning. Sometimes, clouds cover the sunrise, but that does not deny the reality that the sun has risen. In a similar way, the dark clouds of dire circumstances do not deny the reality of God’s constant love for us.

The writer of Lamentations wrote about the faithfulness of God in a national crisis. He said, “My soul is downcast within me.” But the thought that gave him hope was waking up to the reality of God’s constant love every single day.

The constant love of God reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Revelation 5:9.

And they sang a new song, saying “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

This verse highlights the cost of God’s love for humanity and the vast impact of His love. The blood of Jesus was shed for us at the cross and is a sufficient payment to redeem us. Today, the Gospel is bearing fruit all around the world, and will be the good news that reaches people from every ethnic group before the end of this age.

We owed a debt we could not pay. Jesus paid the debt that He did not owe. Because of His sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus is worthy to open the seal that unlocks the future, and He is worthy of our praise.

Revelation 5:12 says about Jesus, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

The cost of God’s love reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Philippians 4:12 and 13.

The Apostle Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

For Paul, contentment was not based on his circumstances. He was focused on the grace of God as his source of help and. hope. Paul lived with godly contentment.

How can we live with this view? Fix our focus on Jesus. Look to Him as the author and perfecter of our faith. Remember His blessings with a grateful heart. Reflect on the ultimate sacrifice He made for our sins. Embrace His unfailing love, and stay connected to Him daily. A mind fixed on Jesus gives us a healthy perspective of hope and faith through challenging times.

“The strength of God as our source of help” reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Psalm 25, verses 4 and 5.

David prayed, “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

In this Psalm, David acknowledged, “Good and upright is the LORD.”

He knows how to steer us in the right direction. He guides us in the way of truth and grace. He leads us in life-giving ways that cause our faith, relationships, and our labor in the Lord to thrive. God is our fountain of wisdom and confides His plan to those who revere His name. So, as we open our ears and our heart to God’s voice, He will be faithful to lead the way.

The guidance of God reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Deuteronomy 31:6.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Israelites were marching toward the Promised Land, and it would require courage on their part to follow the Lord into unknown territory.

Whenever God calls us to do something in His plan, we can go forward with the confidence that He is leading the way. We do not know the outcome of our obedience to God. That is up to Him. But we do have the assurance that as we follow Jesus with a willing heart, He is with us and for us and will bless the fruit of our labor for Him.

The Presence and Faithfulness of God reveal the goodness of God and are reasons to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Luke 4:18 and 19.

Jesus read from the scroll in the synagogue:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus was quoting from the prophet Isaiah to describe the power of His mission to change people’s lives.

His ministry was delivering good news, providing freedom and healing, and bringing salvation to people in need of God’s grace.

The Ministry of Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Second Corinthians 12:8 and 9.

The Apostle Paul told the church about his thorn in the flesh experience.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest in me.”

We might be able to identify with Paul when we think of our own physical limitations or something that causes us to experience pain. Sometimes God does not remove our thorns because He wants us to remain humble before Him. Paul said that the reason for his thorn was to keep him from becoming conceited.

Another reason for thorns is to move us to depend on God’s grace rather than our own strength. His grace is the reliable foundation of our lives and is the shining influence of our witness for Jesus.

The sufficiency of God’s grace reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com