JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Proverbs 2:6.

For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Wisdom is what Solomon requested from God when he became king and the Lord honored his request.  People from all over the world came to hear his wisdom.

Wisdom may not make us famous, but will bless us in various ways. It starts with reverence for the Lord, and a simple request of God. Then comes a willingness to search for wisdom as hidden treasure.

Proverbs chapter 2 highlights some of the benefits of having wisdom from God. “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.”

Wisdom 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 Corinthians 10:13.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

While it is true that we have a sinful nature and have yielded to temptation in the past, we are not destined for moral failure in the midst of temptation today. There is an escape route available to us called grace.

Titus 2:12 tells us that the grace of God has appeared and teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Intimacy with God builds resistance to temptation. His grace gives us the power to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God’s righteous ways.

God’s Gracious Escape Route 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 Zephaniah 3:17.

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

One of the ways that God’s people celebrates the love of God today is through music. This verse points to a day when God will sing over His people. Will He have a different song for every person? What will the lyrics be like? We don’t know what it will sound like, but we know this: It will be music to our ears. This is the picture of a God who enjoys being with His people.

God’s love is vast, but it is also very personal. God loves the world, and He loves you. He calls us by invitation into a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the God who saves us from our sins, and leads us to eternal life with Him.

God’s Delight in His people 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 John 1:29.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

The closer we get to Jesus, the more clearly we see the magnitude and meaning of His mercy toward us. At the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sins. He took our place, taking the wrath of God on Himself so that we could experience God’s mercy.

The gift of grace is free for us to receive by faith, but it came at a great cost to Jesus. He went through extreme pain to set us free from condemnation. The message of the cross is a hopeful message of love and forgiveness. God has made a way for our sins to be removed from our record so that they are not counted against us. Jesus is that way.

When we sin against God, we can echo this plea of confession made by David in Psalm 51:9 and 10- “Blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Sin Removal 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 Isaiah 26:3.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

The peace that God provides for His people goes beyond human understanding. It’s the kind of peace that shines brightly in times of turmoil. It’s the kind of peace that grows out of a trusting relationship with Jesus Christ.

When our thoughts are focused on Jesus, we can live with the calmness that our lives are secure in His grace. Anxious times call for a strong and loving God who cares about us and has a good plan for our lives.

Philippians 4:8 gives us this focus point for our thoughts: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” This is how we can replace anxiety with peace.

The peace 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 Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Jesus would often state his identity, starting with the words, “I am.” What was true of the identity of Jesus then is true of His identity now.

The promises Jesus made in the past will be fulfilled in the future.

The commands of Jesus that were given then are relevant today.

The love that Jesus demonstrated at the cross is reaching out to the world today to save those who are lost in sin.

In Hebrews 13:5, God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So today, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”

The unchanging nature 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 First John 5, verses 4 and 5.

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Victory is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. He conquered the grave so that we might overcome the world. The system of the world tries to lure us into the trappings of pride, greed, and lust. But the power of God is at work in the lives of believers to reject that way of life and to embrace God’s purposes for our lives.

Those purposes include the way of love for God and love for people. Those purposes include worship for God, and encouragement for people.

Those purposes include trusting God and living out our faith with integrity. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we live with a faith that endures through time and overcomes the world.

Victory in 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 Psalm 94:18 and 19.

When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

When we feel overwhelmed by challenges or conflicts that lead to anxiety, there is a place to turn with our needs–the throne of grace. God may not take us out of our challenging circumstances, but He is able to support us in our time of need. His wisdom, compassion, and peace are available to guide us and relieve our anxiety. He truly cares for us.

Times of adversity remind us that we need God’s hand to support us. Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

God’s support 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 1:18 to 20.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”

Even before sin entered the human race, God was putting a plan of redemption in place to rescue us from our desperate condition. The blood of Christ would be the payment needed to save us from sin. The good news is that Jesus did not remain in the grave following His crucifixion. He rose from the dead three days later. Verse 21 says, “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

God’s provision to save 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 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