JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Remembering the Least of These.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:40-The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

The Gospel is a great message of life-changing grace. God reached down to help us in our helpless and sinful condition. When the Gospel takes hold in our heart, we are moved by God’s compassion to pass His love to others who are in vulnerable and difficult places.

Those who lack food, water, and clothing. Those who are sick or in prison. Those who are strangers, and need a friend. How we treat people in these places is how we treat Jesus.

Remembering the Least of These is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Exodus 4:29 to 31.

“Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”

For many years, the Israelites worked under the bondage of slavery in Egypt. But when Moses encountered God at the burning bush, he learned that God had a plan in place to deliver the Israelites, and to work through Moses and Aaron to accomplish that plan.

We might wonder where God is in our suffering and pain. But as He expressed His concern for the Israelites in Egypt, so He sees our pain and cares for us. As we are mindful of His concern for us, we are motivated to worship Him and to find hope in His grace. He will be our source of strength in times of weakness.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to be encouraged by God’s concern for us in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is being a spiritual mentor for someone.

Second Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

This is the verse that motivated Dawson Trotman to become a mentor for someone else. Eventually, a whole movement grew out of his influence as a mentor. We know that movement today as the Navigators, which is seeing lives changed by God’s word around the world through one-on-one mentorship.

Being a mentor means investing in someone else’s life with our time, energy, and experience. It involves personal conversations that allow for spiritual growth to happen. When we serve as a mentor for someone else, we are an instrument of God’s grace to encourage them to be true to the Lord and to be a fruitful witness for Jesus.

Being a Spiritual Mentor for someone is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2eHTtfNi9sYucQ1kzazK72?si=Ug-VWBNET1SbF3csMvPyXQ

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Cheerful Giving.

When appealing for financial support for Christians in need, the Apostle Paul said to the church in Corinth.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Paul was not telling them to send a certain amount of money. He was giving them the liberty to give lavishly. There is something that enriches our heart when we give with a cheerful attitude. It is not the obligation that we have to give, but the opportunity that we get to give. Giving out of a sense of delight in the Lord is a sustainable way to excel in the grace of giving.

Cheerful Giving is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 9:1 and 2.

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

The wonderful deeds of the LORD can have a strong impact on our lives in the following ways.

They lead us to faith. When we ponder His love for us at the cross, His power of life over death at the empty grave, and His life-changing grace, our trust and confidence in Him grows stronger.

The deeds of the LORD also lead us to gratitude. We recognize that by His grace and mercy, we don’t get what we deserve by our sins. Instead, He has made a way for us to be forgiven and redeemed.

The deeds of the LORD also lead us to praise. He puts a song of joy in our hearts to express our love for Him.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to places of faith, gratitude, and praise in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is cooperation with God’s plan.

One of God’s plans for our lives is to be in community-to get out and be with people. This is how we can get to know people and bless them with God’s love. That is where the disciples were when they cooperated in the miracle of feeding 5,000 people from five loaves and two fish.

Matthew 14:19 says that Jesus “directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.”

Elizabeth Elliot has said that God “summons us to cooperation. We are honored in being given the opportunity to participate in his good deeds.”

Cooperation in God’s plan is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Philippians 1:21.

The Apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

As long as we are alive in our bodies, we have the opportunity to know Jesus personally, to live for Him, and find our purpose in Him. Paul reasoned that as he went on living in his body, that would mean fruitful labor for him. Yet, to be with Christ was better by far. So, he viewed death as a promotion into the presence of God.

So, as we live for Jesus today, we have the opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God. This happens as we work for the progress and joy of believers, and persuade unbelievers to become followers of Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to use our time on this earth to live for Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is choosing places of humility.

In Luke 14:8, Jesus taught a parable to show the value of seeking humility rather than honor for ourselves.

Jesus said that when someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited…..When you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Philippians 2:3 instructs us with these words, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

Choosing places of humility is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com