John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Isaiah 9, verses 6 and 7 prophesied about the coming Messiah in this way:  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

The Christian links this passage with Jesus, whose wisdom as the Wonderful Counselor is supreme and guides us in the path of God’s will.  He is the Mighty God and is worthy of our worship.  He is the Everlasting Father.  He is our compassionate provider and protector forever. As the Prince of Peace, He will end all wars under His Kingdom, the nations will beat their swords into plowshares.  Instruments that were designed for violence will be used to grow crops and feed people instead.  His Kingdom will also be secure.  No one will overthrow His throne.  Today, the mission of Jesus continues to save souls and bring glory to His name.  We can depend on the word of the LORD to fulfill His promises.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In Psalm 57, verse 2, David said, “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness.”

David was anointed to be a future king.  His purpose was clear.  Yet, between the time of the anointing and the time he became king, David ran for his life.  Why did he live under constant threat?  The obvious reason is that the present king was jealous of David.  The spiritual reason might be harder to understand, but God may very well have used the king’s jealousy toward David to groom him for leadership.  We tend to be humbled by difficult circumstances.  Times of isolation and danger are also opportunities to seek God, and place our confidence in Him. He is stronger than our greatest adversaries.  He has a plan for us, and in His wisdom, knows how to guide us through times of trouble. 

From heaven, God saves us.  He sends His love and faithfulness. He did this when He sent Jesus to the world.  We can trust Him to save us from our sins and guide us to fulfill His purpose while we live on the earth.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Even before his birth, John the Baptist leaped for joy in his mother’s womb when she heard Mary’s greeting, who was carrying Jesus. This indicates that John was full of life even before seeing the light of day.

John’s response offers a thoughtful challenge to us.  What is our response to the sound of Jesus’ name?  Do our hearts leap for joy?  Are we moved by the thought that Jesus has come to earth as a gift of God? 

This Christmas season is a reminder that Jesus comes to us as proof of God’s love.  We can respond with receptive hearts that welcome His presence, and move us to expressions of thanksgiving and praise to God.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In His own words, Jesus said in John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 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 him up at the last day.”

If you believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, then you belong to God. That is good news to the extreme. Not one of Jesus’ truly devoted followers will perish in the realm of eternity.  Death will be but a mere bump in the road that leads to streets of gold.  The grace of the Lord Jesus is strong enough to prove God’s promises faithful. 

This means that we can live with encouragement and hope, as we live with confidence that nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – About Jesus, Acts 3:26 says, “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

One of Jesus’ first recorded statements as an adult was this:  “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!”

The Gospel is a picture of a ship sailing in the wrong direction, and heading toward disaster.  Maybe a tidal wave.  Maybe an iceberg. Maybe a deadly hurricane.  But before the ship reaches the place of its breaking point, Jesus intervenes.  He becomes the turning point that saves the ship.  Likewise, Jesus is the turning point of human history, showing us the way to God through Himself.  When we follow Him by faith, He becomes our turning point from our wicked ways to His righteous paths, from our bad news to His good news.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Galatians 4:4 says, “when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”  

The passage further states that “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father.”  The term “Abba Father” refers to a childlike intimacy and trust.  It’s a family term that Jesus used in prayer when addressing God, the Father.

The coming of Christ brings us to an age of maturity where we can enjoy the full privileges of being a child of God.  That includes having a relationship with God and having the inheritance of eternal life along with the blessings that are waiting in heaven. The coming of Jesus means that we can belong to God’s family through faith in His name to save us from our sins.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

There is a big contrast between Satan’s agenda for our lives, and the Lord’s agenda for our lives.  Satan seeks to deceive us.  Jesus describes Satan as the father of lies.  Jesus is the truth.  He speaks the truth, and fills us with His truth when we are receptive to His words.

Satan wants to rob us of God’s love, joy, and peace.  Jesus came to fill us with these enduring qualities. Satan’s agenda is to destroy us.  Jesus describes Satan as a murderer.  Jesus came with God’s breath so that we might be born spiritually, not just physically.  Spiritual re-birth leads to eternal life. 

There will be voices that tell us that we need to have toys and presents in order to have a meaningful Christmas.  However, Jesus is our greatest need. He is the reason why we celebrate. Through His presence, we can have a life of abundant spiritual blessing that fills us with truth, grace, and the hope of eternal life with God.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – The joy of Christmas is enhanced when we know what we are celebrating.  This week, our Mission Statements focus on why Jesus came to the earth.

Today’s Mission Statement focuses on His rescue mission.

First Timothy 1:15 says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.” 

The Apostle Paul was like you and me in the sense that he had a guilty past. And there are indications that he was aware of his vulnerability to sin after becoming a believer in Jesus. He is the one who said in Romans 7, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.”  However, Paul also recognized that there was a Savior for his wretchedness as a sinner.  Jesus was his capable rescuer.  We can take heart that if Jesus can touch a man like Paul and turn him around from sinner to saved, He can do the same with us. 

Verse 16 says, “For that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”  The season of Christmas is meaningful when we accept God’s gift of love to us in the form of Jesus Christ.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Moses is found in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.  Consider how some of his choices as a younger man affected his future:

Hebrews 11:24 says, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharoah’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with God’s people rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”

Our choices today affect our direction for the future. The life of Moses would have turned out differently if he had chosen the path of least resistance.  However, he had a faith that looked beyond the value of the pyramids to see the treasure of God’s Kingdom, even though it meant suffering disgrace. As a result, he left the easy life and turned his back on sinful pleasure.  We might not have heard of Moses if he conformed to his upbringing.  Yet, he chose the better path, which led to deliverance for the Israelites from slavery. His example teaches us to have higher regard for God’s truth than man’s opinions. They lead to two very different places.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – We find that key in Proverbs 3:5 and 6. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”

The Bible says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Left on our own, we would not be able to make choices that lead to life.  However, God has spoken words of life to us in the Bible and through His One and Only Son, Jesus, who becomes our source of life and wisdom when we put our faith in Him.

God does not just want us to acknowledge Him in the midst of some decisions.  He wants us to be mindful of Him in all our ways.  The more clearly we understand His heart, the more clearly we will see the paths He wants us to take. Wess Stafford has said, “What the Bible asks of us is simply this: ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him.’ Not just on Sunday mornings, not just in formal rituals, but throughout the ordinary days and nights of our lives, month after month, year after year.” Day by day, following Jesus provides wise direction for life’s decisions. 

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com