JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His purpose for coming to the world.

According to First Timothy 1:15, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

The Christmas season is full of special activities, shopping sprees, decorations, and gifts. It can be a busy season that keeps us doing things that may be good, but may also keep us from slowing down to reflect on the greatest gift of all-the reason why we celebrate Christmas.

God’s love for us prompted Him to send Jesus to the world on a rescue mission. Jesus did not come to us because we were good, but because He is good. His blood shed for us at the cross was an acceptable sacrifice for our sins, and as a result, we are declared acceptable to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot enter heaven on our own merit, but it is possible to enter heaven on the merit of Christ and what He has done for us at the cross. That was the purpose of Jesus that adds meaning to Christmas.

A daily connection with Christ is our lifeline to God’s forgiveness and His gift of eternal life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His letter to the church at Thyatira.

In Revelation 2:22, the main message to this church was to turn away from immorality and idolatry, and turn to God. The whole church was not corrupted, but some were by the influence of a woman named Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess.

The church was making some progress. Jesus identifies their deeds, their love, their faith, their service, and their perseverance, and says, “You are now doing more than you did at first.”

But they were too tolerant of the sinful practices that Jezebel promoted. Tolerance is consistent with the Christian faith when it reflects kindness and respect to a person who disagrees with us. But tolerance goes too far if we are putting our stamp of approval on sin. Validating sin leads to the spread of a spiritual cancer throughout the body.

Romans 2:4 talks about the riches of God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience as influences to lead us to repentance.

A daily connection with Christ teaches us to love God, love people and hate sin.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

The Extraordinary Give, Lancaster County’s Largest Day of online giving begins tonight at Midnight and runs all day tomorrow (Friday November  20th) until Midnight!!!

Last year, WJTL listeners showed their generosity and helped WJTL raise $113,085 during Extraordinary Give 2014!

We would love to have your support this year! We know there are many worthy organizations vying for your attention and donations during Extra Give. We want to invite you support this radio ministry – WJTL!

Click here when you are ready to make your donation.

Any donation made online tomorrow – Friday, NOVEMBER 20th will be stretched by $250,000 from the Lancaster County Community Foundation and their sponsors. Plus, there are $50,000 in prizes we can win instantly from your donation!

Tell your friends and show your support for WJTL!

Thank You!

In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His letter to the church at Pergamum.

In Revelation 2:14, The main message to this church is to beware of falling into an immoral lifestyle. There was evidence of compromise in the church at Pergamum. The whole church was not infected, but some within the church were being corrupted. In His love for the church, Jesus calls the compromisers to repentance. To those who did not fall into false teachings or an immoral lifestyle, Jesus commends them for remaining true to His name.

Pergamum was identified as a place where Satan has his throne. Believers were in a tough place. There can be many temptations and different forms of persecution in communities where Satan has a stronghold. There was a hostile climate toward Christians in Pergamum as seen by the reference to the death of Antipas, who was a faithful witness for Jesus.

A daily connection with Christ calls to an uncompromising faith.

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His letter to the church at Smyrna.

In Revelation 2:9, His main message to this church is to commend them for their faithful witness. He says, “I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich.” “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

The witness of this church reveals that followers of Christ will, at times, face persecution for our faith.

Polycarp was the bishop at Smyrna, and when he was 86 years of age, he was pressured to acknowledge Caesar as Lord. But Polycarp would not bow to the pressure. He said, “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” As a result of his stand for Jesus, Polycarp became a martyr for the faith.

A daily connection with Christ inspires faith and courage for times of testing.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His letter to the church at Ephesus.

It appears in Revelation 2. This is the first of seven churches to receive a message from the Lord. Each message is different, but they reflect the character of the same God who is loving and holy.

The main message to the church at Ephesus is this: “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Here was a church that was still working for the Lord and enduring hardships. They were discerning truth from error among their teachers. However, over time, they lost their first love. They may have been going through the motions of the Christian life, but lost the delight of their service and their radiance.

Jesus loves this church, and because He cares, He calls them to return to the love they once had for Him-to recapture that sense of wonder of God’s amazing grace that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

A daily connection with Christ calls us back to our first love.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Galatians 6:6.

“Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.”

There are at least three ways in which students of God’s Word can share all good things with our instructors.

The first way is to support them financially. According to the Bible, the worker is worth their wages, and this is true of those who work hard among us to teach us God’s Word. This will encourage our instructors to continue their good work as God provides their needs through our giving.

Another way to share good things with our instructor is to tell them how we are applying their lessons of faith into our lives. It shows we are attentive and receptive to their words. This reflects spiritual growth through their ministry.

Another way we can share good things with our instructor is to tell them how their teaching is shaping our character into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This reflects the good fruit of their ministry.

Sharing good things with our instructor is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Philippians 4:2 and 3.

The writer was the Apostle Paul, and here he addresses a serious conflict between two women who love the Lord. He urges them to agree with each other.

Then he says, “I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

The identity of the loyal yokefellow is not immediately clear. However, it appears that this conflict is serious enough to require mediation. Paul is not taking sides on this conflict, but he is intensely interested in seeing them come to agreement. There are several things we can learn from this passage of Scripture.

1) It is entirely possible for sincere Christians to have disagreements.

2) Mediation may be necessary when the unity of believers is threatened.

3) It is important to make efforts to work through conflicts in a spirit of grace and truth.

4) Reconciliation is possible through the influence of Christ on conflicting parties.

Working through conflicts is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Daniel 12:2 and 3.

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

As the light of the stars breaks the darkness of the night, so our witness for Jesus can break the darkness of doubt, despair, or deceit as we present Him as the way, the truth, and the life.

Each day is an opportunity to look for connections with people who need God’s saving grace, and then to share the reason for our hope in Christ.

Shining the light of God’s love in our sphere of influence is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines hope and purpose.

In Philippians 1:21, a follower of Jesus made this remarkable statement, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

What did that statement mean for the Apostle Paul? He went on to elaborate that if he went on living in the body, that would mean fruitful labor for him. After he departed through death, he would be in the presence of Christ, which he described as “better by far.” He saw death as a promotion into heaven.

Yet, in the body, he recognized his purpose to spread the good news of Jesus to unbelievers and to build the body of Christ. His relationship with Jesus is what enabled Paul to live with this perspective.

A daily relationship with Christ inspires higher purpose and heavenly hope.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com