JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Luke 9:16 and 17.

One of Jesus’ miracles involved the feeding of the five thousand from a small amount of food. Good things can happen when we offer to Jesus something that seems small and insignificant to us.

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.”

Notice, that Jesus included the disciples in the distribution of the food. In much the same way today, Jesus has abundant grace to pour out on people in need, and works through His followers to reach them.

Through Jesus, we are set free to serve others in ways that meet their needs.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Philippians 4:8 and 9.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-thing about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Sometimes, we can be disturbed by our thought patterns. Fear and anxiety paralyze us from moving forward in God’s will. Self-righteousness keeps us from loving people. Complaining thought patterns keep us from the joy of thanksgiving. But if we fix our thoughts on Jesus, a new way of thinking will emerge that focuses on the virtuous qualities of the Bible.

Through Jesus, we are set free to focus our thoughts on Jesus and experience His peace.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 19:30.

From the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

This was not an admission of defeat. It was a statement declaring that His mission was successfully accomplished. The Scripture foretelling the death of Jesus was fulfilled. The price has been paid for our redemption. 

The crucifixion of Jesus is the most vivid example of how God can overcome evil with good. His death was not wasted. His death was the pathway to the resurrection and our lifeline to true and lasting freedom.

The words of Jesus inspire us to embrace the message of the cross as the power of God in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 3:16.

Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This is one of the most familiar Bible verses in the Bible. Billy Graham has said that this verse is the Gospel in a nutshell. 

It is a fitting verse for various occasions. At Christmas, this verse shows how Jesus is God’s precious gift to the world.

On Valentine’s Day, this verse can be used to focus on Jesus as the highest expression of God’s love.

And on Good Friday, this verse can be used to emphasize the sacrifice that Jesus made for us when He went to the cross.

This verse can also be used to invite others to receive the gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

The words of Jesus inspire us to trust in His grace for eternal life in the Year of Redemption. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 21:16.

After
Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, children were shouting in the temple courts,
“Hosanna to the Son of David.”  The
religious leaders were annoyed, and asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children
are saying?”

Hosanna
is a term that means “Save.” It can be a plea for salvation or an expression of
thanks for salvation. The religious leaders were troubled by the way these
children were acknowledging Jesus as a Messianic figure.

But Jesus did not water down their lyrics. He replied to the religious leaders, “Yes, have you never read, ‘from the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?’”

Jesus
was referring to a passage in Psalm 8, acknowledging the praise of these children
in the temple courts as a fulfillment of these words.

The words of Jesus inspire us to praise Him with words like “Hosanna” in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 14:27.

Jesus
told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.”

The
peace of God is a wonderful treasure and is available for those who trust in
Jesus completely. Just before Jesus died, He was talking about peace that was
better than anything this world could give.

With
faith in Jesus, we are able to rest in God’s grace. We don’t have  to prove our worth to Him. He has proved His
love for us.

With
faith in Jesus, we have a secure relationship that is built on sure promises of
blessing.

With
faith in Jesus, we have a Savior, who does not count our sins against us. We
are forgiven and reconciled to God through Jesus.

The words of Jesus inspire us to embrace the peace that Jesus offers us in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Matthew 27:26.

Then
Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over
to be crucified.

Barabbas
was a well-known prisoner at the time of Christ’s crucifixion. It was customary
for Pilate to release a prisoner at the time of the Passover. That particular
year, Pilate gave the crowd a choice between Barabbas or Jesus. And the people
wanted Pilate to release Barabbas instead of Jesus.

The
innocent man died, and the guilty man was set free. That is also the message of
the Gospel. Second Corinthians 5:21 says that “God made him who had no sin to
be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Through Jesus we are set free from the chains that held us captive.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 26:39.

On the
night before Jesus was crucified, He prayed three times in the Garden, “My
Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will,
but as you will.”

In the
Bible, the number three refers to completeness. So, it is significant here that
Jesus committed Himself to doing the will of His Heavenly Father three times.
His obedience to the mission was complete.

Jesus
was not asking for the mission of redemption to be aborted. He was asking for
His cup to be taken from Him if there was another way to achieve redemption.
But there was no plan B. So, Jesus went to the cross. This prayer highlights
the importance of the cross to the Gospel. To those who are being saved, the message
of the cross is the power of God.

The words of Jesus inspire us to entrust ourselves to the will of God in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 22:19.

At the
Last Supper, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them
(the disciples) saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance
of me.”

One of
the elements that we take at communion is the bread, which reminds us that
Jesus gave His body as a sacrifice for our sins.

Hebrews
10:5 says that when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and
offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt
offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am-it is
written about me in the scroll-I have come to do your will, my God.”

The
sacrifice of Jesus accomplished what other offerings could not accomplish-the
forgiveness of sins.

The words of Jesus inspire us to remember with gratitude the sacrifice of His body for our sins in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Acts 3:19.

Peter
said, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that
times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

God’s
kindness leads us to turn away from our sins and turn in faith to Jesus for His
grace. That kindness was ultimately demonstrated at the cross.

At the
point of repentance, a great burden is lifted from us-the burden of guilt is
released from us and we find our refreshment in the cleansing of God’s grace.
Some people think they have done things that are so bad that not even God could
forgive them. But if you think that way, remember this: Peter was speaking to a
crowd of people who had been directly involved in the death of Jesus. He told
that group of people that refreshment would come to them if they repented and
turned to God.

Through Jesus, we are set free to experience the refreshment of God’s grace.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com