JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 145, verses 1 to 4.

“I will exalt you, my God and King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”

The name of Jesus remains the name above all names from generation to generation. His ministry on earth changed lives through preaching, healing, and disciple-making. His sacrifice is remembered for the forgiveness of sins. His resurrection from the dead is celebrated with hope among His followers. His promise to return is anticipated among those who love Him. His grace is still transforming lives today, bringing people into God’s Kingdom. The fruit of His Gospel continues to spread around the world as we declare the good news of God’s love.

The Mighty Acts of God reveal the goodness of God and are reasons to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in John 8:36.

Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

There are five freedoms found in the first amendment of the Constitution: Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the government.

However, Jesus is pointing out an even greater freedom than these-freedom from sin and freedom in Christ. Following Jesus is the pathway to real and lasting freedom. We can experience peace with God, joy in His love, and worship in His presence.

This freedom becomes our experience when we hold to the teachings of Jesus and follow the truth of what He taught us. His words are given to bless us, direct our lives in God’s will, and build our faith.

The freedom offered by Jesus reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Second Samuel 7:22.

“How great are you, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”

This was a prayer from the heart of David, acknowledging that God has no rival to His throne. No one else is worthy to share His glory.  He cannot be outwitted or overpowered. Who can fathom His greatness? Who can comprehend His graciousness?  Who can understand the magnitude of His love? His redemption plan covers His people with grace forever.

David marveled at the great and awesome wonders that God performed for his people. Just as God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt in the days of Moses, so He is able to deliver us from slavery to sin today. Just as God guided the Israelites to the Promised Land, so He is able to lead us to heaven where we can enjoy His presence forever.

The greatness of God reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Mark 1:17.

Jesus said to Simon and his brother Andrew as they were casting a net into the lake, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.

Jesus was inviting these two men into a new way of life that involved following Him. For Simon and Andrew, following Jesus turned them from fishermen into evangelists. Their witness for Jesus would convince others to follow Jesus too.

Following Jesus may lead us to a career change, but then again, maybe not. What is important about accepting His invitation is that we are coming into a relationship with Jesus that gives us peace with God and a higher purpose.  So, when Jesus comes to us and says, “Follow me”, that is a good time to heed the call.

The invitation of Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Hebrews 7:26 and 27.

Speaking of Jesus, “Such a high priest truly meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”

In the Old Testament, the high priest offered animal sacrifices for the sins of the people. This system was in place until the time of Christ. But according to Hebrews 10:4, it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Where the blood of bulls and goats failed, the blood of Jesus prevailed. His sacrifice was enough to cleanse us from sin. Hebrews 9:26 says that He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The Sacrifice of Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Isaiah 55, verses 10 and 11.

This is what the LORD says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth, and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

God is referring to the rain cycle to highlight the refreshment of God’s Word for us. Just as rain brings nourishment to the ground, so God’s Word brings nourishment to our heart. Just as rain is vital to the growth of the crops, so God’s Word is vital to our spiritual growth in the grace of God.

The nourishment of God’s Word reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Jeremiah 15:16.

The prophet Jeremiah said this to the LORD, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.”

Jeremiah took great delight in feeding on the words that God spoke to him. Every day is an opportunity for us to fill up on God’s Word and to draw nourishment by the expressions of God’s love written there. The Bible is reliable for building our faith so that we thrive for God’s glory.

The writer of Psalm 1 described the person who delighted in the law of the LORD as blessed. He said “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers.”

The fulfillment of God’s Word reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Matthew 7:24 and 25.

Jesus wrapped up the Sermon on the Mount by saying this: “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

The word of God is foundational to a strong faith. The Sermon on the Mount is recorded for us in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. That is a great place to start for learning about God’s plan for our lives. That is where we learn about the attitudes that God is seeking for our hearts. That is where Jesus teaches us how to pray. That is where we learn about relating with others in the way of love.

As we put those words from Jesus into practice, our witness for Jesus will have a thriving influence in the world, and our faith will be firmly rooted in the word of God.

The foundation of God’s Word reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in John 8, verses 31 and 32.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus linked His teachings to truth, and He linked truth to freedom. This is the pathway, then, to true and lasting liberty-by following Jesus and living according to His teachings.

As we take the words of Jesus to heart, they will transform our heart and lead us in a life-giving direction. They will move us to express faith with love.

Jesus said in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

The truth of God’s Word reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Romans 15:4.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope.”

The words of the Bible have the power to provide us with hope and encouragement as we learn about Jesus.

The Bible is where we learn about His salvation for all who call on the name of the Lord. The Bible is where we learn about God’s love for us, and the demonstration of His love at the cross and empty grave.  The Bible is where we learn about the truth that sets us free. The Bible is also where we learn about heaven, and the eternal promises that God has planned for those who love Him.

The hope of God’s Word reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com