JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in John 6:11.

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

Jesus demonstrated that He can do a lot with the little that we offer him. A boy offered 5 loaves and 2 fish, and it was multiplied into a feast for thousands of people.

Jesus started this miracle by thanking His Heavenly Father for the food that was offered to Him. Food is a precious source of nourishment for our bodies. Where God provides for our physical needs, that is a reason to offer Him thanks. Where we see the need around us, that is a reason to be generous with others.

The provision of food 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 10:9.

If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We are dead in our sins until we come alive to God. This transformation happens when we recognize our need for a Savior, and call on Jesus for forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. His resurrection is the defining moment in human history that makes eternal life possible.

The Apostle Paul reasoned in First Corinthians 15:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” But Paul affirmed that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, and that means victory over death for those who follow Jesus as Lord.

The Resurrection 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 First John 1:9.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

It’s incredible to think about God’s provision of forgiveness for our sins. That is why Jesus went to the cross, to extend mercy and grace to a world that needed a Savior.

Jesus is the only one qualified to save us from our sins, because of what He accomplished at the cross and the empty grave.  He invites us into an honest relationship with Him, where we can be open about our sorrows, our struggles, and our sins. He is able to not only forgive us, but also to make our heart clean again, so that we are considered pure in God’s sight.

Forgiveness for the contrite heart 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 Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

To understand the value of God’s grace, think about where we would be without God’s grace. There would be no Savior. There would be no hope. There would be no forgiveness. In this chapter, verse 3 tells us that we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But because of God’s great love for us, God is rich in mercy. He sent Jesus into the world to die for our sins and rise from the dead. That’s good news to embrace for our lives. Jesus is the difference maker who rescues us from the wages of sin.

The gift of grace 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 First John 2:1 and 2.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

In the spiritual realm, Satan is the accuser of God’s followers and Jesus is our defender. This comes to light especially when we disobey the Lord. After Satan tempts us, he accuses us before God. He tries to shame us and condemn us. On the other hand, Jesus is the influence who motivates to trust and obey God. When we fall short, His grace is sufficient to protect us from condemnation. His love for us is very great, and His kindness moves us to turn back from the error of sinful ways to follow Him faithfully.

Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The righteousness of Jesus to defend us 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 Luke 15:20.

Jesus told a story about a father who had two sons. The younger son took his share of the estate and squandered his wealth on wild living. But after he spent everything, he was in great need. His desperate circumstances led him to do some serious soul-searching about the direction of his life. He came to his senses and decided to return to his father. How would the father respond to this young man’s return?

Jesus said, “while he was still a long way off, his father was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

This is a vivid picture of God’s embrace for the person who recognizes their need for forgiveness and comes home to His grace.

The compassion 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 Lamentations 3:22 and 23.

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

God’s love is just as dependable as the rising sun every morning. Sometimes, clouds cover the sunrise, but that does not deny the reality that the sun has risen. In a similar way, the dark clouds of dire circumstances do not deny the reality of God’s constant love for us.

The writer of Lamentations wrote about the faithfulness of God in a national crisis. He said, “My soul is downcast within me.” But the thought that gave him hope was waking up to the reality of God’s constant love every single day.

The constant love 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 Revelation 5:9.

And they sang a new song, saying “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

This verse highlights the cost of God’s love for humanity and the vast impact of His love. The blood of Jesus was shed for us at the cross and is a sufficient payment to redeem us. Today, the Gospel is bearing fruit all around the world, and will be the good news that reaches people from every ethnic group before the end of this age.

We owed a debt we could not pay. Jesus paid the debt that He did not owe. Because of His sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus is worthy to open the seal that unlocks the future, and He is worthy of our praise.

Revelation 5:12 says about Jesus, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

The cost of God’s love 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 Philippians 4:12 and 13.

The Apostle Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

For Paul, contentment was not based on his circumstances. He was focused on the grace of God as his source of help and. hope. Paul lived with godly contentment.

How can we live with this view? Fix our focus on Jesus. Look to Him as the author and perfecter of our faith. Remember His blessings with a grateful heart. Reflect on the ultimate sacrifice He made for our sins. Embrace His unfailing love, and stay connected to Him daily. A mind fixed on Jesus gives us a healthy perspective of hope and faith through challenging times.

“The strength of God as our source of help” 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 Psalm 25, verses 4 and 5.

David prayed, “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

In this Psalm, David acknowledged, “Good and upright is the LORD.”

He knows how to steer us in the right direction. He guides us in the way of truth and grace. He leads us in life-giving ways that cause our faith, relationships, and our labor in the Lord to thrive. God is our fountain of wisdom and confides His plan to those who revere His name. So, as we open our ears and our heart to God’s voice, He will be faithful to lead the way.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com