JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is building up our neighbors.

Our neighbor does not have to be confined to the person who lives beside us. A neighbor can be someone who works beside us, or worships at church beside us. A neighbor can be anyone we encounter in a given day.

Romans 15:2 says, “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

This can happen through a word of encouragement, or a service that meets a particular need. It might mean offering a listening ear when they have something to share with us. Or it might involve giving a gift that would be meaningful for them. Relationships are much healthier when we approach someone with the attitude of “what can I do for you?” rather than, “what can I get from you?”

Building Up our Neighbors for their good is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Luke 22:31.

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Satan has declared war on the human race, but God loves the human race and has provided a way for us to overcome through Jesus.

Notice the words of encouragement that Jesus has for Simon. I am praying for you that your faith may not fail. After you deny me three times, you will turn back to where you belong, and when you do, build up others who are in the faith.

Hebrews 7:25 says about Jesus, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to find encouragement in the intercession of Jesus on our behalf in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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