John Shirk

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1DnMZRVEswufNxSAuvseKe?si=7c430c3df7e74963

March

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 19:7 and 8.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

God’s Word is a precious gift to us. Some people have described the Bible as God’s love letter to the world. The wisdom of His words teaches us and guides us in the path of God’s will. The encouragement of His words reveals to us that our lives matter to God, and that He dearly loves us. The plan of salvation is revealed in the good news of His Word, which directs us to faith in Jesus Christ. That is where we find forgiveness, true love, certain hope, and eternal life.

These faith-building verses inspire us to spend quality time with God by reading His Word in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EUplrj69GCXI6B4A3O2XA?si=f85ac96696fa4a6a

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is grace.

We can be useful instruments of God’s redemptive plan as His grace flows through us in our relationships. Here is how:

Grace can flow through us in a friendly greeting. The Bible is filled with greetings extending the grace and peace of God to someone else.

Grace can flow through our generous spirit. Second Corinthians 8:7 challenges us to excel in the grace of giving.

Grace also flows through acts of service. First Peter 4:10 instructs us to use whatever gift we have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

God also works through our gracious conversation to be voices that reconcile people to God and build meaningful relationships.

Grace is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is confession.

James 5:16 instructs us to “confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

In confession, we admit the wrongs that we have committed. In confession to God, we agree with Him about our sinful actions and seek His forgiveness.

Sometimes, it is necessary to go to a person we have wronged and to ask their forgiveness. At other times, we may seek the support of another believer to help us overcome a perpetual sin. Confession opens the way for addictions to be broken and strained relationships to be healed.

Confession is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are First John 5, verses 3 through 5.

From the New Living Translation: “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

The real champion is Jesus, who overcame the world by His perfect obedience to the will of God. He resisted the temptations of the devil by the power of God’s Word. He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins by the power of His blood.  Then, He gave us the hope of eternal life by the power of His resurrection.

His Presence in our lives gives us the power to overcome the world. Out of the overflow of life’s most important relationship, we are moved to obey God’s commands. We are set free from the power of darkness, and live in the light of grace and truth.

These faith-building verses inspire us to trust and obey God in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Fellowship.

In the Bible, fellowship refers to meaningful connections that lead to spiritual growth among followers of Jesus.

In this type of relationship, we have opportunity to walk with other brothers and sisters in Christ to share how the Lord is working in our lives. We can encourage each other to grow more mature in the grace of God. Jesus is at the center of true and meaningful fellowship that unites God’s people in love and purpose.

A relationship with God opens the door for these kinds of relationships to develop. First John 1:3 says, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”  First John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Fellowship is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Matthew 10:41.

Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.”

Whenever we give support to a servant of God, we are participating in their ministry. In God’s eyes, we also share in their reward.  Jesus told His disciples, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

There are various ways we can support missionaries, pastors, and evangelists-with notes of encouragement, hospitality, financial support, and prayer.

This faith-building verse inspires us to look for ways to bless God’s servants with acceptance and encouragement in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2oOdJPQit46SuyQIwdfhUd?si=d990f626085b4f53

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is hope.

According to First Corinthians 13:7, love always hopes.

Whenever love is in the picture, hope is in view.  God’s love fills us with overflowing hope.

That hopeful perspective shines in our relationships with one another. One dimension of this hope is seeing the potential of others. We see someone else in the image of God, and treat them with dignity and respect. We see what they are capable of becoming under the influence of God’s grace.

Jesus loved Peter through his many flaws and failures. He never gave up on him. Instead, He prayed for him and worked with him.  In the process, Peter was groomed for leadership in the church that changed many lives for the glory of God. That is how God can use hope when it is expressed in love.

Hope is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com