John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Jesus’ compassion for people.

The ministry of Jesus changed people’s lives in dramatic ways. He would go through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. That is what Jesus did for people. Here is why He did those things.

Matthew 9:36 says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 

Compassion was at the heart of Jesus’ ministry, and moves His followers today to reach the world with God’s love.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Colossians 3:1.

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

With eyes of faith, we set our affections on Christ, His Kingdom, His truth, His grace, and His priorities. What matters to Jesus is what matters to us. This is what happens when we identify with Christ. He forms our identity into His likeness. 

Colossians 3:4 describes Christ as our life. He is our motivation for waking up in the morning. He defines our purpose and mission in life. He is the reason we have hope in broken circumstances. He is the spark that ignites love in our heart to glorify His name, and encourage others with His love.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of aligning ourselves with God’s priorities in the Year of Vision.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on James 5:13.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

We will experience different seasons of life. Sometimes, we will be on the mountaintop of celebration. At other times, we will be in the valley of grief and sorrow. The circumstances of our lives give us opportunities to draw closer to God if we respond to them with faith.

Rick Warren has said, “In happy moments, praise God. In difficult moments, seek God. In quiet moments, worship God. In painful moments, trust God. In every moment, thank God.”

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of prayer and praise through the various seasons of life in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK- Here are some highlights from the Retro-Countdown from early October 2002 on the Friday Time Capsule.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Titus 2, verses 11 and 12.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Here we see the power of God’s grace to save us and transform us through Jesus Christ. He gave Himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of freedom and pure devotion in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Luke 24:44 and 45.

Jesus said to His disciples, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

There were times during Jesus’ ministry when He would tell the disciples that He was going to the cross and then would rise from the dead.  They had no idea what He was talking about.  But after the fact, and after Jesus explained the meaning of it all, then they understood. 

Sometimes, when we read the Bible, we might not understand everything we read. But the more we search the Scriptures, the more we will learn, and the more we learn, the better we will understand. Jesus invites us to approach Him and learn from Him. He guides the humble and teaches them His way.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of understanding the Scriptures in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Micah 4:5.

“All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”

This chapter reveals the blessing of belonging to God and His Kingdom. The prophet lays out a vision of the future where God teaches us His ways so that we may walk in his paths.

The word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem. Nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. No one will make them afraid.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of grace, truth, and peace 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 identity of believers as children of God.

This is what Ephesians 1:4 and 5 says about the identity of those who are faithful in Christ.

“He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

When we respond to the Good News of Jesus with a trusting heart, God includes us in His family of believers. He gives us a new identity as a new creation in Christ. We are born of God and loved by God as His child. We become a citizen of heaven, temple of the Holy Spirit, and light in the world to reflect God’s glory and goodness. God’s love forms our identity to see ourselves as God sees us. 

Focusing on our identity as a dearly loved child of God gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

In case you missed the Friday Time Capsule, or if you would like to hear the songs again, here is the Playlist from the Lunchbreak on Friday.