JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Luke 7:47 and 48.

Jesus was talking to a Pharisee named Simon about a woman who put oil on his head and perfume on his feet.

“Her many sins have been forgiven-as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Jesus then said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

This exchange is encouraging for anyone who feels like they have blown it so many times that they feel like they are beyond redemption. Jesus assures us that forgiveness is available for anyone who calls on His name. It is quite common for the person who has been to the lowest places of depravity to rise to new levels of appreciation for the many sins that Jesus has forgiven. So, wherever we are on life’s journey, this story in the Bible reveals that we need Jesus. We need His grace. We need His forgiveness. We need His mercy. And as we are set free from guilt by faith in His name, we are filled with love and are moved to express our love for the Savior who died for us and rose again.

Forgiveness 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 46, verse 1.

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble.

His grace is like a strong shelter in the midst of the storm. Jesus never promised an easy road on the journey of faith. In fact, He told His followers we would have trouble. But He also promised us His presence in the midst of trouble.

That perspective changes how we view times of trouble. The writer of Psalm 46 could view life through eyes of faith rather than fear. In light of God’s help, he concluded, “Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

In the midst of earth-shaking events, we can live with confidence that God is still on the throne. His helping hand is our source of strength.

The ever-present help of God in trouble 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 Romans 3:23 and 24.

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.

God’s grace has the power to change us from a sinner to a saint. The Bible tells us that righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. So, God covers the sins of the believer with the righteousness of Christ. We cannot earn God’s grace with human merit or buy God’s grace with any amount of money. Grace is a gift to be received by faith. When we believe the Gospel and follow Jesus wholeheartedly, we are set free from sin and experience the peace of God’s forgiveness.

Grace 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 Matthew 5:43 to 45.

Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecuted you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Elsewhere, Jesus says that the Most High is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. It takes an extraordinary love to pray for our enemies and do good to them. But when we walk with Jesus, this way of love becomes possible. Jesus practiced what He preached. From the cross, He prayed about His persecutors, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ We had a hand in His death on the cross. We were the reason that He gave His life. God’s justice demanded the shedding of blood for our sins, and God’s love for us sent Jesus to die in our place.

Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love for enemies 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 145, verse 13.

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.”

Political speeches and sales pitches will offer us many lofty promises, but those promises don’t always deliver according to plan. God’s Word, however, is dependable. We can trust the promises of God to be fulfilled according to His plan in His perfect timing. That is because God is true to His word. He has the power and integrity to fulfill what He says He will do. The fulfillment of prophecies in the Bible and the testimony of Jesus give us sufficient reasons to believe God’s promises.

The trustworthiness 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 Psalm 96, verses 1 and 2.

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.”

Here we see that the salvation of the LORD is worth celebrating on a daily basis. Through Jesus, we are saved from our sins and are given the free gift of eternal life with Him. This promise guarantees a bright and glorious future for those who lean on the grace of God. We don’t have to wonder if God loves us. By faith, we can know that God loves us with an everlasting love that will never fade away.

One of the ways we can celebrate this salvation is by praising God through our music. This is a creative way to express our thanks to God for the salvation that is found in Jesus.

Salvation 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 First Peter 2:22 and 23.

Concerning Jesus, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

Jesus stands out in history as the only sinless person to walk the earth. All the rest of us have sinned against the Lord, which is why we need a Savior. It takes just one committed sin to make us guilty. It takes just one pardon to free us from guilt. That is where Jesus is relevant for our needs. His sinless life and sacrifice for our sins makes Him a worthy Savior to redeem us from guilt.

The Sinlessness 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 Timothy 4:7 and 8.

Near the end of his life on earth, the Apostle Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

The hope of Christ’s appearance has a purifying effect on our faith. We want to be ready for that day when Jesus takes His followers home to be with Him forever. Paul described this event in First Corinthians 15:51 when he said, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

Those who look forward to this day will find encouragement to be faithful today, and live with a bright hope for the future.

The Crown of Righteousness 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 James 1:12.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

There is a crown that awaits the servant of God who loves Him and perseveres through the trials of life. We need God’s help for this. We cannot rely on our own strength. Discouragement, Persecution, and Opposition test the strength of our resolve to press forward in the faith. At those times, we might feel like giving up. But that is where our reliance on God is necessary for overcoming our feelings.

James is encouraging us to remember the eternal perspective of life beyond our temporary trials on this earth. God is faithful to His promises, and He notices when we press on in the faith through painful trials.

The Crown of Life 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 First Peter 5, verses 2 through 4.

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

There is a reward for faithful leadership in the church. It’s called the Crown of Glory. Peter gives us a pathway to fulfilling this calling in a way that honors the Lord-with honesty, a willing heart, eagerness to serve, and being a godly example for others to follow. God notices and remembers the faithful service of a church leader who fulfills their calling with the heart of a shepherd.

The Crown of Glory reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com