JOHN SHIRK -Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 5, verses 6 to 8.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is hard to fathom a love that is willing to go the extra mile like this. Jesus did not die for those who were righteous, because there were none righteous except for Him. Jesus died for us in our sinful condition. His motive for going to the cross was love, which moves us to receive His gift of forgiveness.

Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of redemption in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on God’s accomplishments through us.

If there is one thing about the Christian life that is both humbling and exciting, it is found in being chosen as instruments of God to accomplish great things while we live on the earth.

Whether we are building up the church or speaking out against injustice; whether we are singing a new song to the LORD or volunteering for a local ministry, God’s grace enables us. That means that He deserves the credit for whatever good we accomplish.

Isaiah 26:12 says, “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”  And Psalm 115, verse 1 says, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Focusing on God’s accomplishments through us gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Daniel 6, verses 26 and 27.

After Daniel was delivered from the den of lions, King Darius wrote this message to all the nations of the earth, regarding Daniel’s God.

“He is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

One of the metaphors for Satan is a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to devour, but we don’t have to live in fear of his power if we are close to God. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

The deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den is an inspiring story, and it is also our spiritual reality when we are faithful to God.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of deliverance from the spiritual forces of evil in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the wisdom of God’s counsel.

In Isaiah 48:17, This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

God has a plan for our lives. His instruction is for our benefit. He made us, so He knows how we are wired, and what is ultimately for our good. Trusting in God’s guidance is foundational for being teachable. Why would we follow someone if we thought they were leading us to a dead-end? God’s plan is NOT a dead end. He is leading us somewhere good. God supplies us with His sufficient grace for our journey of faith. He leads us by His Word, in His will, and for His glory.

If we don’t know where God is leading us in the present time, we can start with a prayer like this recorded in Psalm 143, verse 10: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.”

Focusing on the wisdom of God’s counsel 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 love of God to break down racial barriers.

In the early church, there were racial divisions. But God worked through the apostles to show how His love broke down those barriers.  Peter was especially influential. At a church conference, in Acts 15, there were divisions between Jews and Gentiles. 

Peter spoke up to recall an experience he witnessed, saying, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.”

Revelation 5:9 tells us that it was the blood of Jesus that purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Focusing on the love of God for people of all racial backgrounds gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Galatians 3:26.

“So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

Each member of God’s family has many spiritual blessings to celebrate. We are connected to the people of God. He places us in a spiritual family with His believers. That spiritual family is called the church. There are times of rich fellowship together as we share what God is doing in our lives. 

The most precious blessing is that we belong to God as one of His children. He is our Father. Jesus is our Savior. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor. We live with an awareness that the One who made us is the One who loves us with an everlasting love.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of belonging to God and His spiritual family in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit to assure us that we belong to God.

Romans 8:14 tells us that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father”. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

The ministry of the Holy Spirit casts out our fear with God’s perfect love. He reminds us of our identity as a child of God. One of His roles in the believer’s life is to assure us of our salvation in Christ. 

To those standing firm in Christ, the Apostle Paul wrote in Second Corinthians 1:22 that God set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Focusing on our identity as a child of God 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 work of the Holy Spirit to tell us of things yet to come.

Second Peter 1:21 says, “Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The prophecies in the Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit. When we take the words of the prophets to heart, they have an impact on our lives in a number of ways. Here are two of them.

The words of the prophets build faith. Jesus Himself said, “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” When we see a connection between a prophecy and its fulfillment, we are moved to a greater confidence that God’s word is trustworthy and true, and that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Another impact of prophecy is that we are moved to worship. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, which directs us to view Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Focusing on the prophecies of the Bible gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Ephesians 6:10.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to this church: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

We are engaged in a spiritual battle, and sometimes the battle gets intense. The devil has declared war over our souls, and he wants to deceive us into believing his lies. He tempts us, and then accuses us. But the good news here is that God is stronger, and He makes His mighty power available for us to fight the good fight of faith.

He provides us with weapons of righteousness. These are not weapons used by the world.  These weapons include the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

These are a few of the helpful tools for building our faith and taking our stand against evil influences in the world.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of having a strong faith that resists the devil in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit to remind us of Jesus’ words.

In John 14:26, Jesus told His disciples, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Some of those disciples went on to write letters in the New Testament that were inspired by the Holy Spirit, namely Peter, John, and Matthew.

The Holy Spirit is our Advocate too, guiding us in the truth, and reminding us of the teachings of Jesus. When we read the Bible and take the teachings of Jesus to heart, we open the door for the Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth. The Holy Spirit is the holy Presence within us, moving us to do what is right in the eyes of God.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com