John Shirk

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

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to embrace the peace that God offers us through Jesus Christ.

The prophet Isaiah described the coming Messiah as the Prince of Peace. Jesus becomes our source of peace when we trust Him as our Savior and Lord. He will establish peace among the nations in the future, but right now, He is our pathway to peace with God through forgiveness of sins and the promise of a hopeful future with Him.

That same prophet said in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”

We can trust Jesus to be the anchor that keeps us together when our world feels like it is falling apart. He will be our source of hope, our reason for praise, and our place to turn for unfailing love.

Take the Daily Challenge to embrace God’s peace on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

The arrival of Jesus brought the promise of peace, stirring praise among God’s people and angels.

In Luke 2:13, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace is a good reason for praising God. His favor extends to those who humbly recognize our need for grace. The love of Jesus is our source of peace, breaking down our barriers of pride and selfishness that keep us from knowing God. His peace is not based on favorable circumstances, but rather has its foundation on the favor of God.

Romans 5:1 says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Find encouragement in the gift of peace that comes through knowing Jesus Christ in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

The definition of this word is “greatly surprised; astonished.”

We have a reason to be amazed at the birth of Christ. His arrival marked a major step forward in God’s redemption plan for us. God came to earth and was made in human likeness. He humbled Himself and would go to the cross to save us from our sins. Christmas reminds us of when God came near to us.

The shepherds were eyewitnesses to the manger scene, and heard the angelic announcement concerning Jesus birth.

Luke 2:17 says, “When they had seen him they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Find encouragement in the amazing grace of God in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

Many predictions of human origin fail to materialize, but in the course of time, the prophecies of the Bible prove to be reliable.

Here are just a few prophecies about Jesus’ birth which came true hundreds of years later.

Isaiah 7:14 said “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”  That happened when Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Micah 5:2 predicted Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. That was fulfilled in Matthew chapter 2.

And when Jesus went to Egypt, Matthew quoted Hosea 11:1 to link that event to a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Second Peter 1:21 tells us that “prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Find encouragement in the prophecies of the Bible to give us hope in Christ in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

According to Micah 5:2, Bethlehem was small among the clans of Judah, and would be the birthplace of the Messiah.

This was the prediction about Jesus in that passage, “Out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

In Matthew 2:1, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea.”

Jesus could have been born in a larger city or a more strategic place to be noticed. But instead, He was born in a small town not far from Jerusalem.

One insight to gain from Bethlehem is that God loves to work through places and people that others consider to be insignificant. He works through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes. This can be our reality when we make room for Jesus to be the guiding influence of our lives.

Find encouragement in Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus to see what He can accomplish through us in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com