John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on a prophecy about Jesus’ death.

It’s found in Isaiah 53, verses 4 to 6. “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

This prophecy contains the prediction of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Suffering is a harsh reality of life, and sometimes people blame God for it. But one thing that we learn here is that Jesus would be willing to take on the pain of our sin’s penalty to extreme measures. He knows the pain of the cross. 

His pain had a redemptive purpose-to restore us to a right relationship with God.

Focusing on Jesus as the Suffering Savior gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of kindness.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is kindness.

Kindness uses a gentle tone rather than a Megaphone to draw attention to God’s love for the world. Kindness is how God moves us to places of repentance. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. When we think of the price He paid for our sins, we are humbled. 

The Apostle Paul noted the contagious effect of God’s kindness on his life. He wrote in Titus 3:3, “At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of good deeds.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is good deeds from pure motives.

God’s love is pure motivation for carrying out good deeds. Titus 3:14 says, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.” In the present climate, there will be serving opportunities and sharing opportunities to reflect God’s love with those in urgent need.  

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Focusing on good deeds that shares God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of a credible witness.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is a credible witness. 

In a court of law, a witness is called upon to testify to the truth of what they saw.  Jesus called His followers to be witnesses of His good news. As they were faithful to the task, the gospel spread around the world, starting in Jerusalem.

Acts 11:19 records that after persecution broke out against the church, believers scattered to various parts of the world. Some went to Antioch, telling the Greeks the good news about the Lord Jesus. “The LORD’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

Focusing on being a credible witness for Jesus gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of courage.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is courage. 

Sometimes, one person’s willingness to step forward and stand for God motivates others to step forward too. This can happen when someone leads the way by example or offers words of encouragement for someone who is feeling timid or fearful. Billy Graham has said that courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. 

Jesus is the ultimate example of courage. Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Focusing on the courage of Jesus to go to the cross gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of Love.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is love.

God loves us, and inspires us to love. Our capacity to love others is influenced by the fact that God loved us first. Whenever God’s people are motivated by the love of Jesus, we are sending a powerful statement to the world. 

Jesus said in John 13:34, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The love of Jesus was a sincere expression of God’s grace extended at the cross. That is the kind of love that is able to turn sinners to saints.

Focusing on the life-changing impact of God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of sympathy.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is sympathy, which expresses sorrow with someone in the midst of troubled times.

Second Corinthians 1:3 says, God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

Jesus went to the cross. He understands our pain. As we find comfort in His compassion, we learn how to be an instrument of God’s grace to someone else in trouble. We are sensitive to their pain, and are willing to walk alongside of them as a voice of comfort.

Focusing on the comfort of God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of motivation.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is motivation.

Hebrews 10:24 encourages us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

We can all probably remember an influential teacher, pastor, or coach who has mentored us to reach the next level of personal growth. They brought out the best in us and inspire us to be that kind of influence for others. The call of the Christian is to be a voice of encouragement for others to grow in love and good deeds. How can we do that? We can motivate others by our example, with words of hope, and by connecting with them on a regular basis.

Focusing on ways to motivate others in the faith gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of the Good News.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is good news. 

Isaiah 52:7 says “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Good news brings hope, encouragement, and refreshment to our soul. Followers of Jesus have the best news to share of all. 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.

Focusing on the good news of Jesus to save us and transform us gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Jesus as the radiance of God’s glory.

This is what we see in Hebrews 1:3-The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

One of Jesus’ disciples named Philip once requested that Jesus show them the Father.

Jesus answered Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”   If we want to know what God the Father is like, we can examine the character of Jesus and His teachings. His testimony as the Son of God and Savior of the world shines brightly in the hearts of His faithful followers.

Focusing on Jesus as the radiance of God’s glory gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.   

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com