JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Acts 9, verses 5 and 6.

Jesus appeared to Saul, who was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

Jesus replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

There are insights to gain here. If we mistreat God’s people, Jesus takes it personally. Persecuting Christians because of their faith is the same as persecuting Jesus. Another insight is that Jesus is willing to forgive us and has the power to change our hearts. For Saul, hatred and legalism were replaced by love and grace. The third insight is that God has a plan for our lives, and when the time is right, He will reveal that plan to us.

The words of Jesus inspire us to answer His call with a willing heart in the Year of Redemption. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 19:23 and 24.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

The lure of wealth can be lethal to our souls. Having wealth is not the problem. Loving our wealth becomes the problem. The rich young ruler turned away from Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, because his wealth had become an idol. First Timothy 6:17 offers wise counsel for the wealthy of this world. Here’s a paraphrase: Don’t be arrogant or put hope in wealth. Put your hope in God. Do good. Be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. Then you will have treasure for a firm foundation in the future.

The words of Jesus inspire us to love God more than our wealth in the Year of Redemption. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 22:51.

Jesus said to Peter, “No more of this.” Then, He touched a man’s ear and healed him.

Peter had just drawn the sword and used it on the servant of the high priest. That was when Jesus stepped into say, “No more of this”-meaning, No more violence. He was telling Peter to put away his sword. 

Earlier, Jesus told the disciples to take two swords, but clearly, it was not for the purpose of preventing His arrest. Jesus told Pilate at His trial, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

The words of Jesus inspire us to use peaceful means in our defense of the Gospel in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 5:31.

Jesus was responding to a question from the Pharisees, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus spent time with people who had sinful reputations because He loved them. He sought to save them from their sins and change their eternal destiny from death to life. In reality, when He came to the world, He came to a situation where there was no one who always does right and never sins. That is the way the world is today too. That means, Jesus came for us in our sinful condition, not to condemn us, but to redeem us and be in relationship with us.

The words of Jesus inspire us to find the cure for our sinful condition in God’s amazing grace in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 28, verses 18 to 20.

Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus said to His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is known as the “Great Commission.” Jesus promises to be with us as we go in His name to produce more devoted followers of Jesus. Notice, the focus of this Commission is not just conversion. God does want us to give people the opportunity to come to faith in Christ. But that is not where it stops. Jesus also told His disciples to teach them to obey His words. That is the process of discipleship, which helps people to grow in their faith as they follow Jesus.

The words of Jesus inspire us to be part of the Great Commission in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 23:3b.

With the LORD as my Shepherd, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

In John chapter 10, when Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd, He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”

Jesus knows how to guide His people in the right direction. His grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. Jesus will not tempt us to do what is wrong, but He will move us to do what is right for the glory of God.

Through Jesus, we are set free to walk on the righteous pathways where God leads us. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 23:2.

With the LORD as my shepherd, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”

In a relationship with God, we can rest in His grace. His love will be our source of peace and confidence. In a works-oriented religion, a person tries to earn the favor of God with good deeds, but with that mindset, there is never any true security that we have done enough to please our Maker. When we see God’s love through the cross, we see His grace as a gift to be received by faith, not a paycheck to earn by our good deeds.  

Our yearning for peace with God is satisfied in Christ, and our thirst for righteousness is satisfied by the gentle flow of His grace.   

Through Jesus, we are set free to enjoy God’s rest and refreshment.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 5:3.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus is talking about the blessing of being humble before God. A person who is proud does not recognize their need for God’s grace. But with humility, we see a clearer picture of who God is, who we are, and how much we need Him.

When David confessed his sin in Psalm 51, he said, “A broken and contrite heart, you, God, will not despise.”

The Kingdom of heaven will be filled with people who have turned to God in their brokenness.

The words of Jesus inspire us to be humble before God in the Year of Redemption. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

John Shirk – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on First Timothy 6:6.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Materialism is not just a spiritual battle in our culture today. It was a struggle in the early church too. Paul the Apostle pointed out that “some people, eager for money, wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Then he turned to Timothy and said, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

It will be much harder to say “No” to something that is bad for us unless we say “Yes” to something that is good for us. The pursuit of godliness helps us to overcome an unhealthy attachment for material things. We will learn to find our ultimate joy in knowing Jesus and developing the qualities of His character.

Through Jesus, we are set free from materialism to enjoy godly contentment.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Revelation 1:18.

Jesus said to the Apostle John,  “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

The resurrection of Jesus means that His followers live by faith in a Risen Savior, NOT a dead Christ.

His resurrection means that we can live in relationship with Him today. His word is living and active to guide us in the truth of God’s plan. He is alive and available to hear our prayers.

His resurrection also means that our faith overflows with hope, because Jesus has released His followers from the power of death and hell.

The words of Jesus inspire us to celebrate the miracle of the resurrection in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com