JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Luke 12:6 and 7.

Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet, not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

In the time of Christ, sparrows were among the cheapest birds on the market, and yet, every single sparrow had God’s attention. Jesus turns to us and says, “You are worth more than many sparrows.” He knows all the details about us. That includes the number of hairs on our head. If God notices the sparrows of the air, who are worth pennies to people, how much more valuable are people, who were redeemed by the blood of Jesus? This comparison between sparrows and humans highlights the significance of God’s love for us. Each person matters to God. Jesus went a great distance as proof.

God’s view of our value 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 Proverbs 19:17.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.

God has a tender heart for those in places of poverty and notices when we are moved by His love to be kind to the poor. The Gospel is about lifting people up who are in places of brokenness.

In Galatians chapter 2, we see the leaders of the early church filled with the compassion of Christ, and agreeing in their ministries to remember the poor.

God’s reward for faithful service reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in First Chronicles 29:12 and 13.

David was praising the LORD in the public assembly:

“Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”

God supplies us with material wealth, not for the purpose of hoarding it for ourselves, but to be generous with others and use it for the glory of His name.

He also supplies us with energy to accomplish certain tasks. He provides us with intelligence and strength to develop skills and do certain jobs that provide valuable services for others. And so, our jobs and resources can become a testimony of God’s blessing in our lives designed to bear fruit for His glory.

The strength of God to provide for 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 First John 1:5.

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Verse 9 shows us how we can step into the light if we are walking in darkness: Confess our sins. The Bible tells us that God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Confession is a major step forward to breaking the darkness of our sin with the light of God’s grace and truth.

The faithfulness of God to forgive confessed sin reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – 2024 is the Year of Gratitude at WJTL. In our 40^th year of ministry, we are thankful to God for His faithfulness and thankful for our family of listeners.

Each weekday, we will share a Scripture with you that focuses on God’s goodness, which gives us a reason to be grateful.

Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in First Timothy 1:15.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.

The Apostle Paul lived with profound gratitude to God for His grace and mercy that reached him when he was at the lowest depths of depravity. He had been filled with hatred toward followers of Jesus, but was stopped in his tracks on the way to Damascus, where he had an encounter with Jesus that changed his life. The journey of Paul to faith reminds us that no one is a hopeless cause beyond God’s ability to reach them.

The mission of Jesus to save sinners reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com