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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is serving others from our heart.

This quality is found in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Our jobs are opportunities to be productive in our community and to provide for the needs of our family. In our area of customer service, how would we do our job if we were serving Jesus? For followers of Jesus, that question challenges us to give our very best, because in reality, we are serving Christ where we work.

This motivation brings out the best in our efforts to provide quality work that makes a difference in people’s lives. First Corinthians 15:58 tells us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Serving with all our heart is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith Building Verses are Psalm 20, verses 7 and 8.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”

Chariots and horses would have represented military power at the time these words were written.  Some people find their security in the weapons of this world. But God’s people find strength in the armor of God. These are not military weapons, but weapons of righteousness. They are reliable for helping us to stand firm in the faith.

Ephesians 6 identifies them as the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, ready feet to go and share the Gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Verse 13 says, “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand.”

These faith-building verses inspire us to trust in the name of Jesus on the spiritual battlefield of life in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Ephesians 3:20 and 21.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

God’s power is at work in the world today through hearts that believe the Gospel. Jesus was able to feed at least 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish that were offered to him. His power is not just in the physical realm, but also the spiritual realm. All over the world, this gospel is bearing fruit. We might not know the impact of our skills and resources on the kingdom of God. But as we commit what we have to Jesus, we can count on Him to multiply our offerings with His blessing.

These faith-building verses inspire us to stay connected to Jesus and see His power work beyond imagination in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – 2022 is the Year of Relationship at WJTL. We will examine what the Bible has to say about key elements that lead to thriving relationships, including our relationship with God.

Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Encouragement.

First Thessalonians 5:10 and 11 say this about Jesus:

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

The presence of Jesus is a comfort to our soul. We were not left alone to live the Christian life. Jesus is right there with us, guiding us, helping us, interceding for us, and blessing us with His grace. When we die, Jesus will be right there to welcome us to our new heavenly home. One way we can encourage one another in the faith is to be voices of hope about the presence of Jesus.

Being a voice of encouragement is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – 2022 is the Year of Relationship at WJTL. We will examine what the Bible has to say about key elements that lead to thriving relationships, including our relationship with God.

Today’s Faith-Building Verses are John 10, verses 14 and 15.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Jesus has an ongoing relationship with His followers. His love is so strong that He was willing to lay down His life for us at the cross. Then, He rose from the dead to give us a living hope for today and forever. The Shepherd-Sheep relationship reveals God’s tender love for His people. Isaiah 40:11 says, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.”

These faith-building verses inspire us to know Jesus as our Good Shepherd in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Glorify.

To glorify God is to give Him honor and praise.

There are several people who glorified God at the birth of Jesus.

One of those people was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who said in Luke 1:46, “My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

After the Shepherds went to Bethlehem to see Jesus as a baby, they returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Jesus is the perfect gift from above. Nothing else we receive during this Christmas season can measure up to the great value of His grace.

Find encouragement in the opportunities of the Holiday Season to glorify the Lord with a joyful heart in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to reflect on why Jesus came to the world.

His birth took place in Bethlehem in the midst of humble circumstances. Luke 2 tells us that Mary wrapped Jesus in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Those are the circumstances of His birth, but why did He come to the world? What was God’s motivation for sending Jesus here 2,000 years ago?

John 3:16 and 17 give us insight: “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Here we see that God’s love was the motive for Jesus’ arrival, and His precious gift that He extends to us is eternal life with Him.

Take the Daily Challenge to reflect on why Jesus came to the world and be inspired by God’s love on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

In the Biblical account of Christ’s birth we see the evidence of celebration.

One of those vivid expressions of celebration can be seen in the response of the shepherds after they visited Jesus lying in the manger.

Luke 2:20 records that “the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Out of a grateful heart to God, our mouth speaks praise. The birth of Christ is a moment of history that gives us a good reason to express thanks to God for His indescribable gift.

Take the Daily Challenge to celebrate the birth of Christ by praising God on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com