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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Isaiah 59:1.

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.”

God’s love is long enough to reach us and rescue us from our sin. Verse 2 tells us that our iniquities have separated us from God. That is why we need redemption. Jesus stretched out His arms at the cross to extend forgiveness to us. Our barrier of sin is removed when we open up to God’s grace.

Jesus went to great lengths from heaven to earth to save us. With His long arm of salvation, He embraces us with His love, brings us into His family of believers, and gives us eternal life. Eternity is a long time. His grace lasts forever.

The length 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 Psalm 103, verse 12,

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

God’s love is wide, extending to people of all nations, ethnic groups, and languages around the world. His love is full of mercy, extending forgiveness and salvation to those who put their faith in Jesus.  According to the Bible, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Psalm 103 instructs us to remember all of God’s benefits, and then identifies some of them. Mercy stands out as one of those benefits. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. He is able to separate us from sin so that nothing in all creation can separate us from His love.

The width 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 Ephesians 3:17b to 19.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Consider the dimensions of God’s love-

God’s love is wide, stretching across the earth from the east to the west.

God’s love is long, enduring forever.

God’s love is high, extending from the heavens to the earth.

God’s love is strong and mighty to save.

And God’s love is deep, expressing compassion for us with sincerity.

Embracing God’s love every single day will encourage us to grow on that foundation and enjoy the presence of God.

The dimensions of God’s love reveal 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 90:14.

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

The unfailing love of the LORD is satisfying to our soul. God’s love is like the sunrise-a dependable source of light for our day.

As God’s love refreshes us with grace, we are filled with joy. We have a reason to sing songs of praise to the LORD.  We have motivation to share His love with others because of what the Lord has done in our lives. Thanksgiving overflows into a testimony of God’s goodness.

As we journey through this life, we will find God’s love as the fulfilling place to be. There is power in the blood of Jesus to forgive our sins. There is strength in God’s hand to lead us to a destiny of victory.  Exodus 15:13 says, “In your unfailing love, you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength, you will guide them to your holy dwelling.”

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

John@wjtl.com

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s goodness is found in Philippians 1:6.

The Apostle Paul expressed his gratitude to God for his partnership with this church.

He said, “Being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

What an amazing privilege to participate in the mission of the Gospel! God has a plan and purpose for us to glorify His name and to spread His good news of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. The work that He starts in us, He is also able to complete.

Our legacy of faith extends beyond life on this earth. It speaks in the lives of anyone who is persuaded to follow Jesus by the word of our testimony. They will go on to be an influence for the Gospel to future generations. In that way, God’s good work in us will continue until the day of Christ’s return.

“God at work in 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 John 11:35.

Jesus wept.

This is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it says a lot about the compassion of Jesus toward those who are hurting and grieving the loss of a loved one. Jesus wept by the graveside of Lazarus, and it prompted witnesses of this scene to respond with these words, “See how he loved him!”

We could go through life without experiencing grief, but that would probably mean living without much love for others. Along with much grief, there is generally a history of love and good memories with family and friends. Jesus knew what it was like to grieve because His love for people was very great.

The heart of Jesus sympathizes with us in our times of grief. He has walked the road of suffering. He is familiar with our pain, and is that voice of encouragement to help us in our time of need.

The empathy 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 Psalm 100, verses 4 and 5.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

God’s love and faithfulness have enduring value that is relevant for our generation. The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross 2,000 years ago, and still has the power to cover our sins, so that we are declared “Not guilty”. For a love that stands the test of time, we can find it in the arms of God’s saving grace. Romans 10:13 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That is still true today. God is faithful to His word. His love will not fail us.

God’s enduring love and faithfulness 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 Galatians 3:13 and 14.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

The curse of the cross became a lifeline to the lost. This was the journey that Jesus took to find us and set us free from sin. The love of Jesus extends this offer of forgiveness and eternal life to all who will put their faith in Him. This is how we are restored to a right relationship with God. Second Corinthians 5:21 explains:

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God’s plan of redemption through Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com