JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 6, verses 5 and 6.

Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders turned prayer into a spectator event. Jesus tells us that the purpose of prayer is not to impress a crowd, but to spend time in communion with God. In those quiet places of prayer, God will meet us and be there to strengthen our faith in Him.

Walking with pure motives in prayer is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Barnabas.

He was a great encouragement to young believers in the Lord. When others were not sure if Paul’s conversion to the faith was authentic, Barnabas was there to help build bridges between Paul and other church leaders.

Barnabas was also influential when he visited believers in Antioch. Acts 11:23 records that “when he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”

Never underestimate the potential for encouragement to make a difference in someone’s life.

The faithfulness of Barnabas to bring people to faith in Christ inspires us to be a voice of encouragement today and live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye On Integrity is based on Matthew 6:1.

Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Jesus was talking here about motives-why we do what we do. Do we seek attention for ourselves with acts of righteousness or do we seek the glory of God? In the previous chapter of the Bible, (Matthew 5) Jesus was encouraging us to let our light shine so that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Drawing people’s attention to the love of Jesus is a pure motive for our good deeds.

Walking with pure motives to carry out good deeds is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on James 3:13.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Humility is a quality that recognizes our need for God’s grace and places value on the people God has brought into our lives. Whatever we do, let it be done with a spirit of humility. Then, people will be blessed and God will get the glory for what we have accomplished.

Walking in the way of humility is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity is the Apostle Paul.

According to Acts 20:19, he told the church leaders at Ephesus, “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

Here was a man who persevered through times of testing and tears in his ministry for the church. He stayed true to his calling and consistently preached the message of the Gospel to the crowds. For Jews and Greeks, his message was the same: Repent. Turn to God. Have faith in the Lord Jesus.

The faithfulness of Paul to the Gospel inspires us to stay true to God and live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – We have a new theme this year for encouraging growth in your relationship with God. 2018 has been designated as the Year of Integrity. We will take a look at what God’s Word has to say about integrity. We will also examine how God’s people walked with integrity.

Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Ephesians 5:1 and 2.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

This is a good starting place for integrity. If we recognize that we are dearly loved by God, then we will be inspired to follow Him and to love others in the way that Jesus loves us.

Walking in the way of love is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – We have a new theme this year for encouraging growth in your relationship with God. 2018 has been designated as the Year of Integrity. We will take a look at what God’s Word has to say about integrity. We will also examine how God’s people walked with integrity.

Today’s Person of Integrity is Jesus.

When Jesus was inviting people into a relationship with Him, He used two words that were life-changing for whoever would accept His invitation.

Those two words were “Follow me.” There are many faithful people in the Bible with godly characteristics to admire. But no one was like Jesus. He was the Only One who always did what was right and never sinned. He becomes the perfect example of integrity for us to follow. He is full of grace and truth. If we follow Him as Savior and Lord, He will save us from our sins and transform us into His likeness. Under His influence, we will experience a life of love and freedom and joy that this world cannot offer us.

The faithfulness of Jesus to fulfill His mission inspires us to follow Jesus and live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as our Prince of Peace.

The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when a child would be born and a son would be given to us.

According to Isaiah 9:6, one of the ways we could identify this child is that He would be called “Prince of Peace.”

This description refers to the end of armed conflict between nations and the end of hostility toward God.

War and violence are part of this broken world tainted by sin. But Isaiah was inspired by the Holy Spirit to envision a day to come when all bloodshed will stop through the reign of the Messiah.

Isaiah 2:4 says, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

This will happen in a favorable spiritual climate where the people walk in the light of the Lord.

Knowing Jesus as our Prince of Peace is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as the Promised One.

According to Acts 13:22, the Apostle Paul spoke of David as a man after God’s own heart. David reigned as king over Israel in one of their best moments in history, when they were established in the land under a king who trusted God.

Then, in the sermon, Paul pointed to a descendant who was even greater than David. “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.”

David was a king, but Jesus was the promised Messiah, the One foretold in the ancient Scriptures. He was the One people were anticipating.

Just as Jesus came to the world as the fulfillment of God’s promise, He will fulfill the promise of forgiveness and eternal life to all who call on His name for salvation.

Knowing Jesus as the Promised One is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on Psalm 48:14.

“For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.”

We can cling to God with the assurance that He will never leave us or forsake us.

When we come to a fork in the road, God is there to guide us with His wisdom.

When we need a friend, He is forever faithful.

When we need strength to overcome temptation, God is there with His grace to help us in our time of need.

We needed the hope of heaven, and God provided the way when He sent Jesus into the world to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God’s guidance to the end is a promise of hope for those who follow Jesus in the Year of Trust.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com