JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 3:12.

Speaking of Jesus, “In him and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Faith and freedom go together. As we put our confidence in God’s love for us, we pray with the faith that He hears us and cares for our needs.

By faith, we do not fear condemnation for the wrong things we have done, but trust Jesus to defend us as our source of righteousness.

By faith, we do not fear what could go wrong in the future, but live with hope for the good things God has planned for those who love Him.

By faith, we are not paralyzed by the fear of opposition, but believe that God is stronger than our greatest adversaries.

This Light Reflection inspires us to approach God with freedom and confidence 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 turn to Jesus as our Advocate.

Grace is a wonderful gift from God, but it is not cheap. It came at the price of the blood of Jesus at the cross. Therefore, grace is not something to take for granted, but is to be received with gratitude.

When we sin against God, there is a place to turn for the help and hope that we need.

First John 2:1 says, “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.”

Jesus is able to forgive our sins, renew our joy, and restore our relationship with God to a healthy place.

Turning to Jesus as our Advocate is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

To have reverence for God is to have a deep respect for His name and high regard for His Word. With sincere gratitude for His grace, we desire to honor Him in our words and actions.

That is what Joseph did in Genesis 39:9, and it was this character quality that helped him say no to temptation. He said, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” After that, Joseph was falsely accused and went to prison, but he would come out of that jail cell to save many lives during a severe famine. Joseph’s faith and hope in the Lord motivated him to make wise decisions.

Proverbs 14:27 says, “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.”

Reverence for God 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 Second Corinthians 2:15 and 16.

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

The Apostle Paul compared our witness for Jesus to a certain kind of smell that we spread to others. Some will receive it as a fragrance that brings life and will move closer to Jesus, while others will get as far away as possible as though it was a bad odor. Our influence for Christ will have a different impact on different kinds of people.

The big question to ask ourselves is “Am I consistently representing Jesus in my words, in my conduct, in my beliefs, and in my character?” We will always need the grace of God to help us represent Jesus well. So, let’s stay close to Jesus and let His influence guide our way.

This Light Reflection inspires us to a fragrant life of following Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ezekiel 1:28.

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

As Ezekiel was receiving his calling into ministry, he had an encounter with the living God. He responded with reverence, awe, and humility. In the presence of God, we are often moved by the holiness of God and the mercy of God at the same time. We are likely to be convicted of our own sinfulness, but at the same time, encouraged by the grace of God to give us a place of belonging to His family and service in His church.

Greater understanding comes to the worshipper of God. We see Jesus more clearly, we see ourselves more clearly, and we see our purpose in Christ more clearly when we surrender to God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to worship God in humility when He calls us to service 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 guard against overconfidence.

First Corinthians 10:12 says, “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”

One of the spiritual blind spots that can lead us into temptation is when we think we are stronger in our faith than we really are.  An example of that is Simon Peter, who insisted to Jesus that he would not deny knowing Jesus. He said he was ready to go to prison and die for Jesus.

But when his courage was tested, he denied Jesus three times the next morning.

The good news from this story is that Peter rebounded from his failures and went on to serve God with a strong faith. We can learn from our failures, accept God’s forgiveness, and recognize our need for His grace to be strong in times of temptation.

Guarding against overconfidence 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 4:23 and 24.

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman by the well, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

What does true worship look like? Here are some expressions.

True worship seeks the glory of God rather than glory for ourselves.

True worship celebrates God’s grace with profound gratitude.

True worship seeks to know God personally as He really is.

True worship commits our ways to God’s plan for our lives.

True worship approaches God with humility and reverence.

This Light Reflection inspires us to worship God in the Spirit and in truth 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 live with confidence in God.

There is a lot of emphasis in our world today on self-confidence, having the assurance that we have what it takes to get the job done and be successful. Someone who displays self-confidence may draw people to themselves, but confidence in God will draw people to Christ.

The Apostle Paul lived with confidence in God and lived as an ambassador for Christ.

In Second Corinthians 3:4, he said, “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”

What Paul understood was that his strength came from God. He only had a platform to make a difference in people’s lives because of the grace of God. This kept him humble and his source of confidence focused in the right place.

Confidence in God 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 Romans 8:28 and 29a.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

God works through the circumstances of our lives for His glory and our good. The good that He seeks to accomplish in our lives is to conform us to the image of Jesus. So, as we go through various experiences-(challenges, opportunities, victories, and disappointments), God is able to weave all those circumstances together to build our character to reflect the likeness of Jesus.

The trials and the painful situations that we face are opportunities to grow more mature in the faith.

This Light Reflection inspires us to grow with God through the circumstances of our lives in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com