John Shirk

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

JOHN SHIRK – Reaching others at their point of need-this is the way of Jesus, who saw our need for a Savior, and offered Himself for the forgiveness of our sins.

First Thessalonians 5:14 says, “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”

God works through leaders, parents, and mentors to facilitate growth and provide for people’s needs.  Some people will benefit most through direct confrontation for their careless decisions.  Nathan was an excellent example of that when he confronted David about his adultery.  This helped David to come to his senses.  The timid need an encouraging voice, and the weak need a helping hand. Different approaches for different people, but patience and kindness are good for everyone. This is where we need the Lord’s compassion and wisdom to know how to best serve others at their point of need.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -When the circumstances of our lives seem to be caving in on us and applying pressure to our sanity, that is a good time to press closer to Christ-to reflect on His mercy and strength.

In a climate of upheaval in the world, Psalm 46 tells us that Someone is eventually going to make wars cease.  He is going to restore order where chaos once stood.  Verse 10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

There are many important characteristics that describe God.  One of those characteristics is that He is Sovereign.  That means, He is on the throne.  Jesus is described as “the Alpha and Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”  There has never been a time when Jesus was not God. The Bible tells us that His Kingdom is coming.  When He comes, His reign will be evident for all to see.  Remembering God’s Sovereignty brings hope for troubled times, security in times of crisis, and peace in times of conflict. When Jesus reigns on the throne of our hearts, we have the assurance that nothing in all creation can separate us from His love.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Psalm 118:24 reminds us that “this is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

When we woke up this morning, we were given another opportunity to live for the glory of God.  As we think of His blessings in a given day, we are moved to thanksgiving.  A pastor named George Butterick once said, “Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin; we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world.”

We can thank God for His opportunities in a given day to be a witness for Jesus. We can thank Him for His strength to do what He calls us to do. We can thank Him for having a clear purpose to serve others for the glory of His name.  We can thank Him for His provisions like food, clothing, and shelter.  We can thank the LORD for those special people he places in our lives who are a treasure to us.  We can thank God for the gift of His Son Jesus, who is our greatest blessing of all. It will make a difference in our attitude if we remember to give thanks to God for His many blessings.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – If we note carefully the letters of the Apostle Paul, we will see that it was Paul’s tendency to express thanks to God for his readers.

In Philippians 1:3, he said, “I thank my God every time I remember you.”  And in Romans 1:8, he said, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” In Second Thessalonians 1:3, he said, “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”

This is a good practice for Christians today. Express thanks to God for those people in relationship with us, and express why we are thankful for them. This is an effective way to communicate that we value others.  These expressions of thanks also build hope and encouragement in the body of Christ.

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com