JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Galatians 3:13.

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.”

That is what Jesus did for us when He died on a cross. He took the curse of our sin upon Himself so that we might be blessed with His righteousness. 

We can respond to this historical moment with gratitude. This was a sacrifice that Jesus endured voluntarily, because He loves us. We can say thank-you by trusting Him to forgive us and to lead us every day for the rest of our lives. It will not be the most popular path nor the easiest path. But His way will prove to be the only path forward in His grace and mercy.

Through Jesus, we are set free from the curse of the law to experience the blessing of His grace.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Habakkuk 1, verses 2 and 3.

Habakkuk said to God, “How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?”

This may not sound like a freedom phrase, but it is in the sense that this Habakkuk felt the liberty to ask God some perplexing questions on his mind. The book of Habakkuk follows this conversation between God and the prophet. 

God can use our questions to take us a deeper level of faith and a deeper understanding of who God is. Through Habakkuk’s questions, he grew deeper in his resolve to find his joy in God. He said at the end of this book, that even if the fields produce no food, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Through Jesus, we are set free to be honest with God about tough questions.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com 

JOHN SHIRK-Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 26:52 to 54.

Jesus said to one of His companions, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

A legion was a unit of about 6,000 soldiers. So, Jesus was saying that at the very least, 72,000 angels would be able to join a heavenly army to protect Jesus from going to the cross if they were called to do so. But they never received that call, because Jesus was willing to die for us. The nails did not drive Jesus to the cross as much as His love. 

The words of Jesus inspire us to marvel at the wonders of His love for 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 Proverbs 18:10.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

The gospel of Jesus stands tall as a refuge for our soul. Consider the security of God’s grace in these verses of the Bible.

From John 10, Jesus said, “I give them (my sheep-my followers) eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

From Second Timothy 1, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

And from Romans 8, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Through Jesus, we are set free to live in the security of God’s grace.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 19:5.

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

These are significant statements showing us how Jesus transforms a life from the inside out.

Notice that Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name, while Zacchaeus was in a tree. Jesus is personal. He calls us by name. We matter to Him.

Jesus tells Zacchaeus to come down immediately. “Now” is an important time to respond when Jesus calls our name.  

Jesus also tells Zacchaeus that He must stay at his house today. It was important for Zacchaeus to receive Jesus.  And that is how he responded. He came down from the tree and welcomed Jesus gladly.

The words of Jesus inspire us to receive Jesus as Lord of our home and Lord of our lives in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Joel 2:13.

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”

In Jewish history, the tearing of the clothes often was a sign of deep anguish or extreme grief. Jacob, for example, tore his clothes when he thought that his son Joseph had died. 

Here in the book of Joel, the LORD is calling His people to a contrite heart-one that is broken with sorrow because of sin.  In the Bible, sin is a big deal because the LORD is holy. God demands justice for it. At the cross, God showed that His grace is an even bigger deal when Jesus took the punishment for our sins. If we have lost our way by running away from God, there is a way to return through Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Through Jesus, we are set free to return to God and experience His abounding love.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 33, verse 1.

“Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”

When we commit our lives to Jesus, we are moved by His love to honor Him in worship. God has given us a meaningful way to express our devotion and praise to God from the overflow of our joy. That way is music.   

Verse 2 of Psalm 33 encourages us to “praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

Through Jesus, we are set free to celebrate His glory and grace with songs of worship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 13, verses 20 and 21.

Jesus said, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Many times in the Bible, yeast is considered a bad thing, but not in this parable. Jesus is referring to the permeating influence of God’s Kingdom to have a strong impact on the world. 

The Gospel also has a permeating influence on our lives. When we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, His influence becomes the dominating factor that transforms us, so that we are moved to honor Him with our entire being.

The words of Jesus inspire us to invite God to move in us and through us to advance His Kingdom in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 24:14.

Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

This was the mission that Jesus left with His followers before ascending to heaven: He told them to preach the good news to all creation and to make disciples of all nations. Jesus says the Gospel will have an impact on every nation. In heaven, there will be representatives from every nation joining in the celebration.

Through the efforts of missionaries to share the Gospel and efforts to translate the Bible into more languages, the good news of Jesus continues to spread around the world. Opportunities for evangelism continue to abound, thanks to the increase of technology, air travel, the internet, and the commitment of Jesus’ followers to share the good news.

The words of Jesus inspire us to go on mission with God and tell others about His saving grace in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 7, verses 15 and 16.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them.”

Jesus is saying that not everyone who claims to speak for God really does speak for God. Some are false prophets and dangerous to the body of Christ. This is why we need discernment. Look at the fruit of their ministry. Does their teaching line up with the truth of the Bible? Do they encourage us to follow Jesus as Lord? Do they live what they teach? Is the love of Jesus evident in their lives? 

These are some relevant questions to explore. Jesus said that every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

The words of Jesus inspire us to use discernment when people claim to speak for God in the Year of Redemption. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com