JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to invite someone to church.

One simple question can bring an unchurched friend through our church doors. “Will you go to church with me?” There are various reasons that someone might step into church for the first time, but the most common way they get there is because someone invited them.

It’s good to think about our circle of friends and who might be open to such an invitation. Ultimately, it’s not about getting people to church, but getting them to have the opportunity to respond to the voice of the Savior, who says, “Follow me.”

In Psalm 122, verse 1, David said, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”

Inviting Someone to Church is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 10:14.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” statements, which are recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He is able to accomplish on our behalf.

In John 10:14 and 15, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

This statement refers to the intimate relationship that He has with His followers. His love for His people is sincere and tender. He was willing to lay down His life for us at the cross. Isaiah 40:11 tells us that “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to stay close to the heart of Jesus and follow His voice in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to find our identity in Christ.

That is what Tim Tebow did. He shares at Christian Headlines dot com that when he was a younger athlete, he was striving for wins and agonizing over losses. When games become our identity, we ride the roller coaster of all the highs and lows.

He goes on to say that when God’s grace shapes our identity, we get the firm foundation of who Jesus is and what He’s done for us on the cross. We aren’t defined by our scars. We are defined by His.

Those are the words of Tim Tebow. These are the words of First John 3:1- “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.”

Finding our identity in Christ is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 15:5.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” statements, which are recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He is able to accomplish on our behalf.

As Jesus was walking with His disciples in a garden, He said to them in John 15:5:

“I am the vine: you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Here we see that a productive faith flows out of an intimate relationship with Jesus. How can we stay connected with Jesus every day?

One way is through prayer. Ongoing communication builds thriving relationships. Prayer is how we have a conversation with God. Another way is by reading the Bible, which is God’s inspired word given to us. That is where God shows us how to live a life that pleases Him.

This Light Reflection inspires us to remain in Jesus and bear much fruit in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to put God first.

Making God first priority in our lives is the right thing to do because He is worthy of our ultimate allegiance. In the first of the 10 Commandments, the LORD says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Anything that becomes more important to us than God is an idol.

According to First Corinthians 15:3, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is a matter of first importance. Jesus instructed us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The first and greatest Commandment in the whole law is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul.

When we put God first, our priorities become aligned with God’s priorities. Our focus turns to the treasures of His kingdom.  Romans 14:17 tells us that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Putting God first is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

This morning’s Praise & Worship Playlist is packed with anthems from Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, Thrive Worship, Chris Tomlin, Brooke Ligertwood, Red Rocks Worship and more! We’re focusing on Bible verses from the Psalms, Ephesians and Isaiah.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 6:35.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” statements, which are recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He is able to accomplish on our behalf.

After Jesus miraculously turned a boy’s lunch into a feast for 5,000 people, He made this statement about Himself:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus was pointing to the spiritual reality that His grace is sufficient to satisfy our soul. Blaise Pascal once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to find fulfillment in knowing Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is the humility of a child.

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus honors the quality of humility, and directs our attention to a child as a visual example. Sometimes, children can learn from adults, and sometimes adults can learn from children.

Humility makes children teachable while they grow. Humility also moves them to a place of trust and dependence on their parent or guardian. Humility builds better relationships. These are some of the ways that child-like humility can help us to grow in our faith.

First Peter 5:5 teaches us to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

Having the Humility of a Child is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Exodus 4:12.

At the burning bush, The LORD said to Moses, “Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

God was calling Moses to return to his people in Egypt so that the Israelites might be delivered from slavery. Moses tried to make excuses to be excused from this assignment. Yet, God insisted that Moses would have all that he needed for the task. He would have God’s favor.

We will likely not meet God at a burning bush like Moses did. But if we belong to God, there will be a time when the light of His calling will be revealed.  It might not come to us all at once. We don’t have to wait to take the first step until we have the whole plan figured out. The time to start is when God says “Now.” God sees the big picture, and He knows how to fit the pieces of the puzzle together for our mission to succeed.

This Light Reflection inspires us to trust and obey God wherever He leads us in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to accept children with God’s love.

Jesus called a little child and had him stand among His disciples. Then He taught in Matthew 18:5, “Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”

Jesus loves children. He demonstrated that in His earthly ministry with His prayers and affection. When the disciples wanted to keep the children away from Jesus, He called the children to come closer.

That is what can happen when we welcome a child in Jesus’ name-whether it’s helping with children’s ministry at church, or by becoming a sponsor for a child in another country to help them with daily necessities. Our loving outreach to them will give them a glimpse of how much Jesus loves them.

Accepting Children with God’s love is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com