John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Hosea 6:1.

“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.”

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were prone to wandering from God. They were similar to many of us today. It is interesting that Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, and His followers as sheep. Sheep are prone to wandering without a shepherd to direct them.

When the Israelites wandered, they would experience the Lord’s discipline, because the Lord loved them. It’s the same way when we wander away from Him. In His love, God disciplines us for our good so that we might share in His holiness. His discipline is meant to get our attention so that we might correct our course and return to Him.

He is ready to welcome us with open arms.

Returning to God through His discipline 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 Galatians 6, verses 9 and 10.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

As long as we have breath, God has a purpose for us to fulfill. What is that mission? Whatever God calls us to do specifically, it involves doing good for other people. It might be acts of service, or building someone up with our words, or giving someone the gift of our time with someone who needs a listening ear. For the endurance to complete God’s work, we can gain inspiration from Jesus Christ who endured the pain and agony of the cross on our behalf. We can also gain inspiration from God’s promises of blessing to us that will be fulfilled at the proper time. A third incentive is to see the difference in other people’s lives through our expressions of love for them.

Walking in the endurance of doing good deeds for others 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 Proverbs 2, verses 6 through 11.

This passage in the Bible highlights the benefits of embracing wisdom for our lives. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk in blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

This chapter gives us a few clues on how to gain the wisdom that we need for taking every good path. The first clue is to accept God’s words as wisdom. The second clue is to look for it as a treasure. And the third clue is to fear the LORD with holy reverence. According to Proverbs 9:10, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Walking in the way of wisdom 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 a man delivered from demons.

When this man approached Jesus, the demons were terrified. They begged Him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. Instead, they came out of the man and entered a herd of pigs.

The pigs then rushed down a steep bank into a lake and drowned. This shows the destructive tendencies of these demons that were cast out of the man.

After his deliverance, the man begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” According to Luke 7:39, he went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

The faithfulness of the man set free from demons to talk about his deliverance inspires us to share with others what Jesus has done for us and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Jeremiah 9, verses 23 and 24.

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.’”

Any wisdom, strength, or wealth that we have is very limited compared to the treasures of knowing God. A relationship with God will change us so that we learn to delight in that which delights the LORD.

Walking in relationship with God 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 Proverbs 17:17.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

There is a lasting bond in an authentic friendship. When we face turbulent times, like a job loss or an unexpected diagnosis from the doctor, or a broken marriage, our true friends become a support system that help us to get through those difficult times.

Friends are loyal. That does not mean they will approve of everything we do, but it does mean they care about us and are willing to speak truth into our lives if we have wandered off course. They will encourage us when we are disheartened.

They will walk with us through the valleys of despair.

They will celebrate with us when we reach the mountaintops of victory.

Walking as a faithful friend 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 Second Corinthians 10:5b.

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Our thought life can have a tremendous impact on the desires of our heart. Author Jerry Bridges has said that self-control of our thoughts means entertaining in our minds only those thoughts that are acceptable to God. We might not always have control of an initial thought that comes to our mind. For example, someone might say something that affects what we think. But then the question becomes, “What will we do with those thoughts? Will we dismiss them or entertain them?”

Philippians 4:8 gives us a focus point for our thought life: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

Walking with a thought life in obedience to Christ is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Haggai.

He was a prophet of God in the Old Testament who encouraged the Jews to rebuild the temple.

His words were inspired by God and are recorded in the book of Haggai. “Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.”

Haggai assured the people that God was with them. The Bible says that “the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.”

Ezra 6:14 says that the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet….They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel.

The faithfulness of Haggai to encourage the Jews to complete the building of the temple inspires us to be a voice of encouragement to build God’s church and to live a life of Integrity.

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 5:9.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

One of the purposes of those who follow Jesus is to be agents of reconciliation. Second Corinthians 5:19 tells us that God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We have good news to share with the world that God’s forgiveness is available through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no greater way to be a peacemaker than to be an influence for the Gospel, where people come into relationship with God and experience His peace.

Another way to be a peacemaker is to have a mediating role between two conflicting parties. This takes wisdom and patience to rebuild relationships that have been strained by conflict.

God’s peacemakers in the world will be called God’s children in His kingdom.

Walking as a peacemaker 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 14:15.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Where love is at the heart of our motivation, keeping God’s commands becomes a delight rather than a duty, because in such a case, our desire is to please God with our actions.

In verse 21, we see that we gain greater understanding of who Jesus is as we follow Him. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Our Creator knows how we are wired. He knows how His blessings can benefit our lives, and He knows how our sin can destroy us. His commands guide us in the path of freedom.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com