JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is John 18:37.

Jesus told Pilate when He was on trial, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

In a world that is concerned about the spread of misinformation and fake news, we can take comfort in the truth of the good news found in Jesus Christ.

The truth that Jesus taught was not a confining message to ruin our fun. It was a liberating message to save us from our sins. Jesus said in John 8:32 that the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to walk in the truth of God’s good news in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Galatians 4:4 and 5.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

If we live by the law, we will die by the law. The law can show us the difference between what is good and what is evil. The law also exposes where we have fallen short of God’s glory by our sins. The law is powerless to save us from our shortcomings. But where the law fails to save us, the grace of Jesus is sufficient for our greatest need. He is able to set us free from the penalty of the law and make us right with God.

Romans 3:21 says “Now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to stop trusting in our good deeds to save us and start trusting in Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is clean, wholesome fun.

Not all humor is created equal. Some humor can stir us to laughter that brightens our day. Other forms of humor are harmful when it puts down other people or makes fun of them.

The Bible talks about laughter and joking in a number of places.

Ephesians 5:4 talks about obscenity and coarse joking being out of place for the believer in Christ.

Proverbs 26:18 and 19 says, “Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking.”

On the positive side, Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to laugh. That moment is right during celebrations, fun times with friends, and having a heart filled with happiness.

Clean, wholesome fun is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Ephesians 2:17.

Speaking of Jesus, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who are near.”

Jesus is our source of peace. He has the power to give us peace with God, peace with others, and peace within.

In Luke 2:14, the announcement of Jesus’ birth stirs praise among the heavenly host to say, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace comes to those who have God’s favor, and God’s favor extends to those who humbly recognize our need for Jesus to save us from our sins.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to find peace with God by following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is confronting sin carefully.

Nathan was a prophet who confronted King David about serious sin issues in his life. He told a story to help David see the injustice of his actions and the pain that he caused. David repented of his sin and Nathan supported his leadership in the days that followed.

Confronting sin is not easy. It is an attempt to stand for righteousness and help someone to be set free from sin. The purpose of confrontation is not condemnation, but rather it is restoration. It is an opportunity for a spiritual breakthrough.

Galatians 6:1 says this: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”

Confronting sin carefully is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is standing by our friends in their trials.

Just before going to the cross, Jesus told His disciples in Luke 22:28, “You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom….”

When the world is a harsh place for our friends, that is not the time to turn away from them. That is the time to stand with them. The Apostle Paul felt the support of the Philippian church when he said, “It was good of you to share in my troubles.”

Here are a few things we can do to support our friends in their trials.  Pray for them. Keep the communication lines open. Find out how they are weathering the storm. Offer words of encouragement. Offer the gift of time and attention. Help them find their strength and hope in God.

True friends are great company for our celebrations and a great support for our trials.

Standing by our friends in their trials is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Luke 19:10.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

One of the big reasons that Jesus came to the earth was to pursue the lost. He had just witnessed the conversion of a tax collector named Zacchaeus when He made this statement. Jesus said, “Today, salvation has come to this house.”

Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. Jesus knew that his motives were sincere, and proceeded to invite Himself to the home of this wealthy tax collector.

The Gospel is a pursuit of the lost: seeking people who are outside of fellowship with God and inviting them to call on Jesus in faith and repentance. The kindness of Jesus draws them into God’s family, as we go forward in His name and reach out with His love.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to join the purpose of God to pursue the lost in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is John 12:46.

Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

One of the reasons for Jesus coming to the earth was so that we might not remain in the darkness of our own sin. The light of Jesus brings the hope of a new day for our souls. We can begin again, change direction, and walk with Jesus in the light of His grace and truth.

By following Jesus, He will help us to see ourselves and others more clearly with value and dignity.

He will also give us clarity for going forward in God’s will. A prophecy in Isaiah 2:3 says that He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to come out of darkness into the radiant light of following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Walking with God’s Spirit.

Galatians 5:19 to 26 presents two very different lists. Which list contains qualities that lead to thriving relationships?  The first list consists of Hatred, discord, jealousy, impurity, fits of rage, selfish ambition.

The second list consists of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.

The answer is obvious. The first list flows out of the acts of the flesh. The second list is the fruit of the Spirit and flows out of keeping in step with the Spirit of God.

This is how God’s Spirit instructs us to live. “You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Walking with God’s Spirit is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com