JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on David’s heart to obey God.

At the end of your life, when all has been said and done, how would you want God to remember you?  

David was a man in the Bible who lived an extraordinary life. He went from serving his father as a shepherd to serving his king as a warrior and musician. He then became a nomad, hiding in caves from a jealous king until he became king over Israel, as a shepherd over God’s people.  

How did God remember David? In Acts 13:22, God said, “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

David did not always do everything right, but he was focused on God and delighted to be in relationship with Him.  Our love for God will move us to obey God’s will and live for His glory.

Focusing on loving and obeying God gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Here are some of the highlights from the Retro-Countdown 33 years ago.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on First Corinthians 15:58.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Because Jesus lives, we can serve God with meaningful purpose and eternal impact. All over the world, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing. When we belong to Jesus, we get to be part of this movement of God to share this good news with the world.

Where might God be calling you to serve? He is able to make us instruments of grace to bring about lasting fruit for God’s glory.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of service with meaningful purpose in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK –

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 1:17.

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.”

The book of Romans makes it very clear that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That puts us in debt to God. We owe Him more than we can offer Him.  Our good deeds are not enough to earn credit. Our tithes and offerings are not enough to buy credit. But God’s grace has been revealed through Jesus and is a gift by which we can receive the credit of righteousness, which clears our debt of sin.

Romans 3:22 says that this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. That is how we can truly live in the light of God’s love.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of forgiveness, faithfulness, and righteousness in the Year of Vision.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 14:23.

Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

Doing good deeds does not always reflect love for Jesus with pure motives. However, a sincere love for Jesus always motivates us to obey the teachings of Jesus.  

Humility is the quality that we need to be teachable and to stay on track with God.

God gives grace to the humble and makes Himself at home with the humble heart. Isaiah 57:15 talks about the two dwelling places of God. One of those places is a high and holy place, but the other place is with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit. He revives the heart of the contrite.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of meaningful relationship with God in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on prayer with God in a place of privacy.

In Matthew 6:5, Jesus taught, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then, your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

In Jesus’ day, hypocrites were actors who appeared religious on the outside, but inside, they were full of greed and self-indulgence. The reward they received for their religious show was praise from people, but not favor from God.  Jesus instructs us to find a quiet place and have a talk with God. That is where our relationship with God has an opportunity to grow stronger. Then the practice of our faith will be guided by pure motives that reflect our love for God.

Focusing on personal time with God in prayer gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the extraordinary faith of ordinary men.

Peter and John were two of Jesus’ disciples.

In Acts 4:12, Peter made this public declaration about Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Here is how the religious leaders responded to this statement: When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  

One of the demonstrations of extraordinary faith is courage, and the pathway to extraordinary courage is time well spent with Jesus.

Focusing on being with Jesus daily gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Jesus’ compassion for people.

The ministry of Jesus changed people’s lives in dramatic ways. He would go through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. That is what Jesus did for people. Here is why He did those things.

Matthew 9:36 says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 

Compassion was at the heart of Jesus’ ministry, and moves His followers today to reach the world with God’s love.

Focusing on the compassion of Jesus for people gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com