John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 1:23.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means, “God with us.)

The coming of Jesus to earth as a baby was tangible evidence of God’s love for the world. Knowing that God is with us and NOT against us makes a huge difference in how we approach life.

We can live with courage, knowing that God is with us. The LORD told Joshua, just before taking the Israelites into the Promised Land, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with youwherever you go.”

We can also live with godly contentment, knowing that God is with us. His grace is sufficient for our needs. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Walking in relationship with Jesus is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on John 3:16 and 17.

“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.”

Jesus came to the world on a rescue mission for souls that were lost without God and were helpless to produce a remedy. Jesus came to be the remedy. He is the gift from God that this world needs for forgiveness and eternal life. We can find a certain hope for our souls by trusting in His grace to save us from our sins. That is the message of the birth of Jesus, His death, and resurrection. Acts 2:21 assures us that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Trusting in Jesus for salvation is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 9:12.

Jesus said this to a group of skeptics, who wondered why he was eating with tax collectors and sinners.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus did not come merely for a social call. He came on a rescue mission. The church serves as the hands and feet of Jesus to reach out to the lost and hurtingtoday. Ravi Zacharias says, “Those who are hurting and faltering need the strong arm of God to hold them. The Church has to provide those arms…..If we are to reflect Christ to the world around us, we need to learn what this means”…..’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’

Walking with a mission of mercy is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Joseph (whose story is found in the book of Genesis).

Hebrews 11:22 says something curious about this man of God: “By faith, Joseph when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.”

Joseph’s forefathers were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They each received specific instructions regarding the promised land for Israel. Joseph knew that Egypt was not the permanent home for his people. Near his death, he said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” He then proceeded to make the Israelites swear on oath that when God comes to their aid, his bones must be carried up from this place. That is exactly what Moses did at the time of the Exodus.

The faithfulness of Joseph to believe the promises of God inspires us to trust His words in the Bible and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 51:12.

David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

After David confessed his sin to God, he asked for two important requests in this verse.

He asked for the joy of his salvation to be restored. When he was covering up his sin, David lost the joy of his faith. Sin has a way of doing that. David earnestly wanted the joy of the Lord to return. The grace of God is able to do that for us when we return to God.

David also asked for a willing spirit to follow God. We cannot do this on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to write God’s laws on our heart so that we want to obey His commands consistently.

Walking in prayer, confession, and obedience to God are virtues to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Peter 2:12.

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

The call to Christian integrity goes beyond mere words to a way of life that reflects the actions, attitudes, and teachings of Jesus Christ. One famous quote commonly associated with St. Francis of Assisi is, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”

Jesus emphasized the importance of letting our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Walking in the light of God’s goodness is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Romans 12:21.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The way of the Gospel takes the high road through times of adversity and conflict. When someone hurts us, the natural reflex is to seek revenge. But we are not called to do things in the natural realm. We are called to follow the example of Jesus, who overcame evil with good at the cross. That is where He died for the very same people who despised Him. Romans 12:17 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”

Overcoming evil with good is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Romans 12:9.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

This was the way of Jesus when He walked on the earth, and He shows us by example how to love people without compromising righteous standards.

He was a friend to sinners without sinning. He proclaimed good news, set captives free, and confronted evil. He taught us the way of love in various ways.

Do to others what you would have them to do you.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Love one another as Jesus loves us.

Walking in sincere love is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First John 4:20 and 21,

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

God is the source of love. He enables and motivates us to love our family members and our church family. If we sense that there is room for growth in these areas, we can turn to God for help. His love for us makes a difference in how we see God, how we see ourselves, and how we treat other people. There is great encouragement in knowing God’s love. There is great virtue in passing it along.

Walking in God’s love is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Ephesians 5, verses 18b to 20.

“Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Lord is honored in various styles of songs. If not, He would not have invited us to use three different types of songs for worship. He works just as powerfully in the hymns as He does in worship choruses, as long as the content of the songs reflects Him accurately.

We can use music for worshipping God and for teaching others about Him. In these ways, music builds our faith in Jesus.

Celebrating Jesus in music is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com