John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the depth of God’s love.

In Ephesians 3:18, The Apostle Paul prayed that we might have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how deep is the love of Christ.

One of the ways we can tell that someone loves us sincerely is by their willingness to make sacrifices on our behalf. Jesus passes this sincerity test with flying colors.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” That is exactly what Jesus would do less that 24 hours after making this statement.  Because of His sacrifice, we can call on God to save us from our sins, and He will be faithful to hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Titus 3:4 and 5.

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. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

We can thank God for His mercy. It was God’s mercy that stopped the stoning of a woman who had been caught in adultery. It was God’s mercy that turned a persecutor of the church named Saul into an apostle of the church named Paul. And God’s mercy changes our lives when we see the kindness of God expressed in Christ.

Jesus did not come to a world that had its act together. Rather, He came to a world in a sinful condition. He came because we needed His mercy. That is what He provided for us when He shed His blood at the cross.

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of new life in His kindness and mercy 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 power of God’s mercy to transform our lives.

In Romans 12, verses 1 and 2, we see God’s mercy as the starting place for transformation from the inside out.

“In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Of all the voices that seek our attention, the most important voice is God. He has spoken at the cross. He has spoken at the empty grave, and He has spoken in the Bible. His message speaks to us of mercy as Jesus took the penalty for our sins on the cross. Keeping God’s mercy in view, we are moved to gratitude and worship. We are also better equipped to discern the will of God for our lives.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 14, verses 1 to 3.

Jesus told His followers, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

This statement gives us a view of what Jesus is doing right now. He is preparing a place for His followers to be with Him in His Father’s house. Today, we look around and we see the beauty of the earth which God has formed in six days. How much more beauty will we see in heaven, which Jesus has been preparing for two thousand years? In those days when we feel down or discouraged, we can look to the LORD with hope in our heart. Jesus is alive and well, and He is preparing a glorious future for His followers to be with Him in a glorious place.

Jesus is our source of good news, leading us to a place of heavenly hope 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 Father’s will.

Jesus said in John 6:40, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

The Bible tells us that salvation is found in no one else. Jesus is the name given to mankind by which we must be saved. He is God’s precious gift from heaven. As we look to Jesus with a believing heart, He will be our source of righteousness and salvation. He will be our source of peace in times of conflict; He will be our source of confidence in times of crisis.  

Focusing on Jesus as the reason for our hope 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 eyes of the Lord.

Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

Where God sees faithfulness in us, He notices and encourages us with His love. Satan also does a scan around the world with his eyes, but with very different motives. The devil is our enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. He is looking for the worst in us, while God is looking to bring out the best in us. And so, the devil will tempt us and accuse us, while God will seek us in order to encourage us, so that we might walk with Him in the refreshment of His grace.

Focusing on the encouragement 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 racial equality.

The love of God breaks down racial barriers. Peter was a Jewish leader in the early church who learned this lesson of faith when he went to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius.  

He made this statement in Acts 10:34, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

No one race of people is superior or inferior to another race. God will welcome into His presence faithful believers from all races. Revelation 7:9 views the picture of heaven with a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.

Focusing on God’s love for all races of people 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 motivation of a godly example.

In Philippians 3:17, the Apostle Paul said, “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters. And just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”

If you think of someone who is a godly example in your life, you are probably thinking of someone with exceptional character qualities. They love Jesus and it shows in the way they live their lives and treat other people. They are grateful to God and serve others with an attitude of humility.  Observe how people like that live out their faith. They will motivate us to be faithful to God. As a mentor to others, Paul encouraged others to follow him as he followed Christ. 

Focusing on godly examples gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 6:23.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s grace is a gift extended to sinners. Instead of despair, we can live with hope, because God has remembered our desperate situation in our sinful condition, and provided a remedy through Jesus Christ.  

Just as employees earn wages by their work in the positive sense, so in the negative sense, we deserve death because of the sins we have committed. But when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, God no longer holds our sins against us for judgment. He sets us free from condemnation and releases us from guilt. God’s grace is the ultimate gift to save us from our sins.

Jesus is our source of good news, leading us to live with hope on the road that leads to heaven in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on God’s faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22 says, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

In the morning, some people see a sunrise. In his view of the sunrise, the writer of Lamentations saw more. He saw hope in the Lord. He was reminded of the faithfulness of God.

Focusing on God’s faithfulness gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian faith.

John Shirk

John @wjtl.com