JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the height of God’s love.

Psalm 103, verse 11 says, “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”

High towers are like magnets to our eyes. If we approach a major city, those are the structures that tend to capture our attention first.

But no tower extends into the heavens like the love of God, which reflects the distance that Jesus traveled to demonstrate God’s love at the cross.

Proverbs 18:10 tells us that the name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

God’s love stands tall as a place of refuge for our soul.

The height of God’s love is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the depth of God’s love.

Dwight Moody once said that “God has cast our confessed sins into the depths of the sea, and He’s even put a “No Fishing” sign over the spot.”

The depth of God’s love draws our attention to His mercy and forgiveness.

Micah 7:18 says, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever, but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

When we come into the light through confession and repentance, God casts our sins out of His sight where they are remembered no more.

The depth of God’s love is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason To Believe is the width of God’s love.

This dimension of God’s love highlights the distance He puts between sin and the person who lives in holy reverence for His name.

Psalm 103, verse 12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”

East is as far away as you can get from the west. They are in the opposite direction. As our sins are pulled away from us, they lose their influence over us, and our guilt is removed.

Jesus is the key to forgiveness. He is the One who spread out His arms at the cross and submitted to the Father’s will for the redemption of humanity. As we turn to Him for forgiveness, so our relationship with God is restored. Our spirit is refreshed. Our hope is renewed.

The width of God’s love is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What are some commendable qualities of fatherhood?”

With Father’s Day approaching on Sunday, we turn our attention to the qualities of a dad that are exceptional for training a child in the way they should go.

A father who is a good example is a motivator for their children. In First Thessalonians 2:11, the Apostle Paul told the church that he dealt with them as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging them to live lives worthy of God.

A father who is a good example practices what they teach. We see that in Deuteronomy 6, verse 6: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.” This verse encourages dads to look for teachable moments throughout the day.

A father who is a good example is also patient in the training process. They are not provoking children to anger with unrealistic expectations. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” These are some ways that a father can be a good and godly example for their children in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the conversion of John Newton.

In the 1700’s, John Newton was moved by his relationship with Jesus to leave behind the slave trade and become an ordained minister of the Gospel.

His famous hymn and epitaph reflect the contrast of his life before knowing Christ and after his conversion.

The lyrics to his famous hymn begin this way: Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.

His epitaph reads: John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.

Ephesians 2, verses 4 and 5 shows us how change is possible: “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-It is by grace you have been saved.”

The conversion of John Newton was a life-changing moment and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “Why is it important to praise God?”

There is a close connection in the Scripture between praising God and giving thanks to Him.

In Luke 17, there were ten men healed of leprosy. One of them came back to Jesus, praising God in a loud voice. Then he threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.

Praising God is a significant way to express our gratitude to Him for who He is and what He has done. Psalm 150, verse 2 tells us to praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praising God gives us the opportunity to give credit where credit is due. It’s the right response for a grateful heart.

Praising God is a joyful experience for us as we celebrate the goodness of God.

And praising God gives public testimony that gives others the opportunity to hear what His grace means to us, and how it is shaping our heart.

As the name of Jesus is lifted up, the hearts of people are moved to acknowledge Him as King and Lord in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is God’s control over the weather.

The disciples responded with awe and amazement when they realized that Jesus could settle a violent storm at the command of His word.

In Matthew chapter 8, they were in a boat when they encountered a furious storm. The waves swept over the boat, and the disciples feared that they would drown. They cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save us!” Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The disciples responded to the sudden change in the atmosphere with these words, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

This puts Jesus in a completely different category from everybody else. None of us can control the weather. It takes a Divine presence to guide the path of the thunderstorm or calm the raging sea. Jesus has that authority.
His command over the weather is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “Why do the nations rage?”

This question is raised in Psalm 2.

Verse 2 offers the response to this question. This is what the New Living Translation says, “The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.” They cry, “Let us break their chains, and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

There is a prophetic picture here showing what happens when the leaders of the nations rebel against the authority of God. There is a surge of anger, and that anger is directed against God. What they think leads to freedom actually takes their rage to a boiling point. God responds with His rebuke and terrifies the nations with His fierce fury. He will not be mocked or dethroned.

Psalm 2 can help us avoid this fate by responding favorably to the Lord’s authority. Verse 11 says, “serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Verse 12 adds, “What joy for all who take refuge in him!”

Under God’s authority, there is joy, peace, and liberty in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What does it mean for our bodies to be temples of the Holy Spirit?”

This reference is found in First Corinthians 6:19, which says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

A temple is a place of worship, so in reality, when we become followers of Jesus, our bodies become sacred houses of worship. How then, can we honor God with our body?

This passage specifically is referring to fleeing immoral conduct. It can also refer to how we use the various parts of our body to honor God. With our eyes, we fix our faith on Jesus. With our ears, we listen attentively to His word. With our heart, we desire to love Jesus and know Him better with every passing day. With our mind, we set our thoughts on things above, not on earthly things. With our hands, we serve in Jesus’ name. With our feet, we go to where He sends us to share His gospel.

These are some of the ways we can honor God with our body in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the conversion of the Apostle Paul.

Before knowing Christ, Paul had reasons to put confidence in his flesh. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. This was a man who had religion, but no relationship with Jesus. Then he met Jesus on the way to Damascus, and Paul was changed forever.

He says in Philippians 3:7, “Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”

Paul might have lost confidence in his own credentials, but he gained a relationship with Jesus through faith, and that relationship became his greatest treasure, highest ambition, and source of confidence. From that point on, his boast would be in the Lord.

The conversion of Paul shows us that with Christ’s help, people can change. His conversion is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com