John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the purpose of Jesus to enrich our lives.

Second Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, so that you, through his poverty might become rich.”

Jesus left His place of honor and glory in heaven to become the suffering servant on earth. This was for our benefit, not for the purpose of giving us material riches, but to give us God’s grace. That is the richest place for us to be. That is where we have the favor of God. That is where we have peace with God. That is where we experience the joy of the Lord. That is where we live with the hope of moving forward in God’s plan until we reach His glorious destiny. We gain access to these treasures through faith in Jesus to save us from our sins.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

“See that great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

That word “lavish” is a rich word, meaning that God’s love was expressed to us generously and extravagantly. He did not withhold His very best from us, but offered Jesus to be a sacrifice for our sins at the cross. That was the purpose for Jesus’ birth 2,000 years ago. He came as God’s gracious and generous gift to the world.

One of the benefits of knowing God’s love is to be included in His family as a child of God. Speaking of Jesus, John 1:12 says, “To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of being identified as a child of God in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 10:28 and 29.

Jesus spoke of His followers this way, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

The grace of God is firm and secure. He will not let go of those who belong to Him. Today, we can live with the confidence that nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tragedies may shake our world, but they do not have the power to shake us from God’s love. We don’t have to be paralyzed by fear of what the future holds when our hope is in Christ. The people of God are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. His promises are true and reliable. Jesus will keep His followers close to His heart forever.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of security in His saving grace in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Mark 10:44 and 45.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

James and John were two of Jesus’ disciples who were seeking a place of honor when Jesus’ reigns in His glory. Jesus showed the path to greatness through service and humility.

If we want to know anything about being great in the kingdom of God, we need to look at the example of Jesus. The king of heaven became a servant on earth. He washed His disciples’ feet using a basin and towel. Then, He went to the cross and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. He pursued the needs of others at a high cost. That is the expression of love to a great measure.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of humble service in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Here are some highlights from the Retro-Countdown in early December 2013 at WJTL.

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Deuteronomy 32:4.

Moses said about the LORD, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”

That is a remarkable statement about God. He has never made a mistake. He has never done anything that requires an apology. We may not always understand His ways, but we can trust God to be morally perfect and faithful. In Psalm 145:17, we learn that He is also loving toward all he has made. That includes each one of us.

He was not obligated to create us, but He chose to create us because it pleased Him to give us life. And when we sinned against Him, He pursued us again with His love by sending Jesus to the earth to save us from our sins. Now, because of Jesus, we can draw near to Him by faith and live in relationship with Him forever.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of confidence in His faithfulness and justice in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-Today’s Good News Focus is on Matthew 7:7.

Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Jesus is NOT saying that we will get everything on our Christmas wish list. But He IS saying that if we want to have a relationship with the living God and be part of His family, that opportunity is ours for the asking.

The door of heaven can be opened through faith in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. He is the key to our salvation. He is the way to a fulfilling and meaningful relationship with God. He is the source of grace that we need to enjoy His presence for today and forever.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of grace and peace in relationship with God in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Second Timothy 3, verses 14 and 15.

“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Bible study is an important part of growing in our understanding of who God is. Much like giving of our tithes, it is not meant to be a begrudging duty, but a joyful delight. It can be one of the highlights of our day, to open God’s word and read about His salvation plan through Jesus Christ. This is where we learn of God’s love to the world in need of a Savior. And through Jesus, He provided the solution for the sinful human condition.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of trusting His grace to save us from our sins 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 heart of David to get right with God.

This happened in Psalm 51, after he was confronted about unconfessed sin in his life.

David humbled himself before God and confessed his sin to Him. In doing so, David had to face his character flaws and be honest about his sinful nature. It is not an easy thing to go there, but it is the path to a purified heart.

David said in verse 3, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”  He sought God’s forgiveness by saying “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

He sought to change course when he said, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 51 is a good prayer for anyone who is seeking to get life back on track with God.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com