JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 12:32.

Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

There is good reason to believe that Jesus was referring to His crucifixion here, because the next verse says, “He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.”

Darkness covered the land when Jesus died, but the cross stands as a light to a dark world where hope can be found.

Galatians 3:13 tells us that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Jesus did this willingly for us. He was cursed so we could be blessed. He bled so we could be healed. The message of the cross continues to be the power of God for those who are being saved.

This Light Reflection inspires us to draw near to Jesus with worship and gratitude in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to pray for each other.

This is a powerful way to support each other as we go to God with our prayer requests.  Here are some examples of prayer in the Bible.

The Apostle Paul said to the church in Second Thessalonians 1:11, “We  constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power, he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

He told the church in Philippians 1:9, “This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ….”

Charles Finney once said, “Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer.”

Praying for each other is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 2:11.

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The glory of God is a light that draws people to faith and worship. One of the ways Jesus revealed His glory was through signs and miracles.

A miracle is an extraordinary event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. Jesus healed people instantly from sickness. He raised the dead. He walked on water. He fed 5,000 people from five loaves and two fish. In Cana of Galilee, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding banquet. This miracle led His disciples to put their faith in Jesus.

The miracles of Jesus were written for our benefit too.  John 20:30 and 31 says, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to believe in the miracles of Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Cooperation.

One of the great building projects in Nehemiah’s day was completed through the cooperation of many workers.  Nehemiah 4:6 says, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.”  Later, we learn that the wall was completed in 52 days.

Cooperation comes from the heart and works in harmony with others to accomplish something productive.  There is cooperation with the leader and cooperation with others who are serving on the project.

This is one of the ways that the name of Jesus can be honored in the church. Jesus is the head of the church. Ephesians 4:16 says, “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.”

Cooperation is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from First John 2, verses 9 and 10.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing to make them stumble.

Love is a light that represents Jesus to the world, but hatred is a dark place that hinders our view of God and keeps us from reaching out with His love.

The way of love starts with God, who showed His love to us by sending Jesus to the world. There is more to love than mere words. The proof is in our actions. First John 3:17 asks the question, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need, but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to love our brothers and sisters with words and actions in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to bear lasting fruit.

This happens when we remain in Jesus and draw our strength from His grace.

Jesus told His followers in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we reach; being a fruitful witness for Jesus flows out of a faithful relationship with Jesus. We are willing to follow wherever He leads us. We are willing to serve whatever He calls us to do. We are willing to love whoever He brings into our lives.

Jesus appointed His followers to go and bear fruit that will last. That can be our enduring legacy of faith as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Bearing Lasting Fruit is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Titus 1:3.

The Apostle Paul spoke of the hope of eternal life being brought to light through the preaching entrusted to him by the command of God our Savior.

At the time of Paul’s conversion. Jesus explained what his mission would be in Acts 26:18: “I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Preaching is a light to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ where people can receive the gift of God’s grace-forgiveness and a future place in heaven with God.

Not everyone is necessarily gifted in the practice of preaching, but if we follow Jesus, we have a message to share with the world. It can be said in a back-and-forth conversation, or with hands and feet that are willing to serve others.

This Light Reflection inspires us to share the hope of eternal life with those who need Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to follow God wholeheartedly.

That is what Caleb did. Joshua 14:14 records that Hebron belonged to Caleb because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.

We might not inherit land with full devotion to God, but we will have the favor of God shining on us to know the peace of God, the joy of the Lord, and a confident hope of all that God is going to do in us and through us.

What can God do with a life fully devoted to Him? He is able to do far more than we could ever imagine.

Following God wholeheartedly is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com