John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 40, verse 3.

David
said, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will
see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.”

It is
not a coincidence that David wrote over 70 Psalms that reflect his love for God
in various ways.

There
is something that happens in our spirit when we open our heart to God and
consider His love for us an eternal treasure. We might not all write songs, but
our music begins to change to the tune of a new Conductor. God puts a song in
our heart that celebrates the name of Jesus and His amazing grace given to us.

Through Jesus, we are set free to sing a new song of praise to the LORD.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Acts 16:34.

One
person whose life was dramatically changed by the Gospel was a jailer who put
his faith in Jesus.

He was
filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-he and his whole
household.

He was
suicidal after an earthquake shook the prison he was guarding. But Paul and
Silas intervened. They assured the jailer that none of the prisoners had
escaped. Then the jailer asked the life-changing question, “Sirs, what must I
do to be saved?”

They
replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your
household.” That is exactly what happened. Through faith in Jesus, the love of
Jesus has the power to fill us with the joy of Jesus from this time forward.

Through Jesus, we are set free to experience a new joy that is based on knowing Him.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Acts 17:28a.

The
Apostle Paul said, “For in him we live and move and have our being.”

The
good news of Jesus gives us a new purpose in life. Our focus when waking up in
the morning is to know God better and be an instrument that makes Him known in
the world. First Corinthians 10:31, says, “whether you eat or drink or whatever
you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

As we
walk with God, our mind becomes trained to commit all our activity to the glory
of God, even in the ordinary activities of eating and drinking. This is the
main purpose of our lives-to glorify God. That is also the motivation of our
heart that enables our faith to be a thriving witness for Jesus.

Through Jesus, we are set free with a new purpose to glorify God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Lamentations 3:22 and 23.

“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.”

God’s
faithful love for us is written in the sky each morning with the reliable
appearance of the sunrise. Even as the sunrise breaks the darkness of the
night, so the grace of God has the power to break the spiritual strongholds in
our lives that keep us in the darkness.

While
his people were living in captivity, the writer of Lamentations was comforted
by the compassion of God to be their source of light and hope.

Through Jesus, we are set free to receive a new start for a brighter day.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Ezekiel 36, verse 26.

“I will
give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your
heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you
and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

The
Gospel is a message of hope for change. This change begins in the heart to
recognize the value of God’s grace to save us from our sins and transform us
into His likeness.

He
gives us new ambitions, so that our ultimate desire becomes pleasing God with a
faithful heart. Flowing out of that faithfulness is a willing heart to serve
God and to obey His Word. His love will compel us to express our faith in love.

Through Jesus, we are set free to receive a new heart that is focused on following Him.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Second Corinthians 5:17.

If
anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is
here.

A
relationship with Jesus begins our journey of a redeemed life. 

We
become a new person with a fresh hope and a greater purpose beyond ourselves. God’s
love moves us to a place of forgiveness.

Before
Christ, we were lost without clear direction. After coming to faith in Christ,
we are found in His grace. 

Before
Christ, we were enslaved by sin. But after coming to faith in Christ, we were
set free.

Before
Christ, we were condemned without Jesus. But after coming to faith in Christ,
we were saved to be with Jesus.

Through Jesus, we are set free to become a new creation in relationship to Him.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on First Corinthians 6:19.

“Do you
not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom
you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”

This
was a message to the church. The bodies of believers are compared to a temple,
which is a house of worship. When we look at our body this way, it makes a
difference how we use the various parts of our body to please God.

With
our mouth, we express devotion to God.

With
our ears, we are receptive to hearing the words of God.

With
our feet, we take the Gospel with us in our travels.

With
our hands, we serve others in Jesus’ name.

And
with our heart, we love God with sincerity.

Through Jesus, we are set free to honor God with our bodies.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Luke 6:41.

Jesus
said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye’ when you yourself fail to see
the plank in your own eye?’ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your
eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s
eye.”

Jesus
was talking about the danger of using a double standard with this statement. It
would be hypocritical for us to look past our own flaws to see the smaller
flaws of another person.  Dealing with
the speck in someone else’s eye diverts attention away from the plank in our
own eye. Jesus wants us to examine the sin in our own lives and remove it first.
Then, we will be in a better place to help our friends to overcome their issues
that hinder spiritual progress.

The words of Jesus inspire us to live out our faith with integrity and mercy in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Philippians 2:13.

“For it
is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good
purpose.”

After we come to faith in Jesus, we will come to realize that God has a good purpose for us while we live on the earth.  We are not left alone to figure it out all by ourselves. God is right there with us. He offers His Word to equip us, and His Holy Spirit to guide us. He is our motivating force and our power source. His love mobilizes our faith into action and inspires our purpose to bring glory to God.

Through Jesus, we are set free to live out the good purpose that God has for us.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Matthew 25:22 and 23.

Jesus
was telling a Parable that revealed how three different people handled the
wealth that their master gave them. The master gave them different amounts.

“The
man with two bags of gold came and said, “Master, you entrusted me with two
bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.”

His
master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master’s happiness.”

This
servant did not receive as many bags of gold as another servant in the story
who received five bags. Nor did he produce as much as that servant. But
he managed what he was given faithfully. What has God entrusted with us? Those
are opportunities to invest in His Kingdom and to make a difference in this
world for the Gospel.

Through Jesus, we are set free to share in the labor of the Lord, and to share in our Master’s happiness.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com