John Shirk

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

The Bible directs us to Jesus Christ as Savior, who is qualified to redeem us from sin and to save our souls.

This is one of the reasons why we can celebrate Christmas with so much hope: We have a Savior in Jesus Christ. We needed a rescuer because of our sin, and God saw our need. He did something about it by sending us His precious gift.

In Luke 2:11, the angelic announcement to the shepherds echoes through the centuries around the world to this generation:  “Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Find encouragement in knowing Jesus as Savior, Messiah, and Lord in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to build up others with our words.

Ephesians 4:29 instructs us with these words, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

If we are going to meet people at their point of need, we will need to use words that are wholesome and filled with encouragement.

Ephesians 5:4 tells us that obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking are out of place for God’s holy people. Instead, we are called to speak words filled with truth and thanksgiving, in a spirit of love.

One of the great encouragers in the early church was Barnabas. Through his words to the believers in Antioch, “a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” That is what can happen when God’s Spirit directs our words to build up others in the faith.

Take the Daily Challenge to build up others with wholesome and encouraging words on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to express praise for the Lord.

When we read the Psalms, we find many words of praise that express the joy of knowing God. Many of us relate with the Psalms, because we can put those words into the context of our relationship with God and personal experiences.

When we express praise for God, we invite others to celebrate God’s goodness and greatness with us.

David wrote in Psalm 34, verses 1 through 4- “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

Take the Daily Challenge to express praise for the Lord on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

A kingdom is defined as a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. It also refers to the spiritual reign or authority of God.

The angel Gabriel told Mary about the destiny of Jesus in Luke 1:32.

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

The good news about this never-ending kingdom is that Jesus has made a way for us to receive it-through His death and resurrection. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who embrace Jesus as king of their hearts.

Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

Find encouragement in the kingdom that God is preparing for those who love Him in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to hold out the word of life to this present generation.

Philippians 2:14 says, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation’. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”

In a relay race, runners carry a baton and pass it along to the next runner. That is, in a sense, how the Gospel passes to the next generation. As we hold out the word of life that we have been holding on to, the gospel gets passed along to those who accept God’s good news.

Grumbling or arguing will undermine our witness for the Gospel. But if we have the attitude of Jesus, then our words will have life and point people to the saving grace found in Jesus.

Take the Daily Challenge to hold out the word of life to this present generation on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

To express thanksgiving to God is to show appreciation for His goodness to us and the many ways in which He blesses our lives.

In Luke 17, Jesus healed 10 men of leprosy, but only one came back to throw himself at Jesus’ feet and to thank Him.

Expressing thanksgiving to God is a form of praise, acknowledging the blessings that flow to us from His gracious hand. There is something refreshing that happens to us when we remember to give thanks. We are taking time to enjoy and appreciate what God has provided for us.

Psalm 95 invites us to give thanks to God with songs, “Come let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.”

Find encouragement in offering thanksgiving to God 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 give thanks to God in all circumstances.

These are the words of First Thessalonians 5:18-“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Not everything that happens to us is a good thing, but through the good, bad, and ugly circumstances of our lives, God is able to accomplish good things. If He used the cross in the redemptive plan of Jesus, then He can use our circumstances for redemptive purposes.

Earlier in life, a man named Joseph was badly treated by his brothers. He went to Egypt because of their bad treatment. But Joseph stayed close to God, and when his brothers needed his help many years later, Joseph treated them with forgiveness rather than revenge. Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” This story encourages us to see how God can overcome evil with good.

Take the Daily Challenge to give thanks to God in the present circumstances of our lives on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to rejoice in the Lord.

First Thessalonians 5:16 instructs us to “rejoice always.” Philippians 4:4 reiterates the point. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

How can joy be fulfilling part of our Christian journey? When we look into what the Bible says about “joy” and “rejoicing”, we will often see those words connected with worship.  With the eyes of our faith focused on magnifying Jesus, the door is open for us to experience His joy. We see His greatness, we taste His goodness, and we experience His forgiveness.

Psalm 68, verses 3 and 4 connects joy with worship: “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him-his name is the LORD.”

Take the Daily Challenge to rejoice in the Lord on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com