John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – To have a sense of wonder is to marvel or have a feeling of awe or admiration. 

It is quite common for young love to be filled with wonder.  Our relationship with God can start out with wonder at His amazing love for us.  We marvel at His creation, and take time to smell the roses. Worship services stir our soul to deep appreciation and admiration for Jesus. 

Then the time might come when we settle into a routine or get distracted by other things, which dulls our sense of wonder.  Our sense of wonder can be reignited when we remember that God is wonderful.  His deeds are wonderful.  His love is wonderful. His guidance is wonderful.  Each day is an opportunity to think about a specific dimension of Jesus and thank Him for who He is and what He has done for us. Seeing Jesus with a believing heart is the key to being filled with wonder. That was the case in Luke 9:15.  “As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.”  Notice how their sense of wonder propelled them toward Jesus.

Wonder is a quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – A mentor can be described as a teacher or coach.  A mentor has the type of influence on others that spurs growth and character development. Mentors train tomorrow’s leaders.

We have several examples of mentorship in the Bible.  Paul mentored Titus and Timothy to become leaders in the early church.  Moses groomed Joshua for leadership.  Elijah groomed Elisha to succeed him as a prophet of the Lord. And Jesus instructed His followers, and prepared them for leadership in the early church. Also, parents are instructed to be a type of mentor for their children, training them in the instruction of the Lord.

Psalm 78, verse 4 says, “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

With words of wisdom, a life of Christian integrity, and God’s help, we can be effective mentors that train people to become godly men and women of influence.

Mentorship is a quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – William Arnot once said, “If honor be your clothing, your suit will last a lifetime, but if clothing be your honor, it will soon be worn threadbare.”

To honor someone is to show high respect for them. True worship is impossible without high respect for God.  Revelation 5 describes the Lamb who was slain as being worthy to receive honor. 

As our honor for Jesus is demonstrated in our actions, we have this assurance from Jesus.  He said, “My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

It is also God’s will for honor to extend to various kinds of people that God places in our lives.  One of the Ten Commandments is to “Honor your father and your mother.”  We are also called to honor our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Romans 12:10 says, “Honor one another above yourselves.” And elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, according to First Timothy 5.

Honor is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This word is not used very often outside church walls, but it is used often in the Bible, and it deserves our attention.

Sanctification is a word to describe how the Christian is set apart by God for His holy purposes.  Step-by-step, day-by-day, the Holy Spirit is working in the believer to refine our faith, so that we are growing toward the likeness of Christ.  Sanctification is an ongoing process where growth is occurring. God shows us the way to put aside childish tendencies so that we become mature in the faith. 

The affections for the things of this world fade away while our passion for God grows.  We learn the way of love according to Jesus, which includes compassionate outreach, concern for lost souls, and the power to forgive others when they have wronged us. With Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we begin to look at the world from a Biblical viewpoint. Our choices are filtered through the lens of God’s will rather than selfish desires.  We wake up with the ambition to please God more than anything else. The word of God is instrumental in the sanctification process.  In John 17:17, Jesus prayed for his disciples this way, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Sanctification is a process that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Courtesy is behavior that is marked by polished manners or respect for others.  With courtesy, we show love in the little things, and those little things are huge in building meaningful relationships.

It could be in the form of a pleasant greeting, a warm, genuine smile, and eye contact when someone is speaking to us. With courtesy, we are quick to acknowledge someone’s accomplishments. We are careful not to interrupt when someone is speaking to us. We offer kindness without expecting anything in return.  This is possible when we are motivated by the love of Jesus, who put our needs ahead of His own comfort level when He went to the cross. According to Romans 5:8, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

If we want to love people in big ways, we can start with sincere gestures of courtesy.  An early church leader, Titus, was instructed by the Apostle Paul to remind the people to be “peaceable and considerate.”

Courtesy is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Beauty is defined by the quality that gives pleasure to the mind or senses. Beauty is often connected with something in God’s creation, or something artistic, or it may be connected to the qualities of a person.  Much of our society focuses on outward beauty.  While the Bible does describe certain people as having outward beauty, there is also a strong emphasis on inner beauty, which comes from godly character.

Wives are instructed in First Peter 3, not to be defined by outward beauty, but by the inner self.  Inward beauty is described as “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 

God develops beauty in our lives when we give Him the privilege of sculpturing us into His great masterpiece.  He is the potter.  We are the clay.  We are the work of His hands.  One of the ways in which His grace changes people’s lives is that He bestows a crown of beauty instead of ashes.  Through faith in Jesus, God forms beauty in our hearts, decorating our lives with the many colors of His love.

Beauty is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To accept someone is to give them a favorable reception.  We offer a gracious welcome.  It could be through a form of hospitality or kind words that express value for the other person. 

Romans 15:7 is a verse for the church to heed, regarding how we treat each other.  “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

The church can be compared to a family, where the children of God come together to bring honor to our Heavenly Father. Where family members are accepted, there is a sense of belonging. We are encouraged by the fact that we don’t have to face life’s challenges and struggles alone.  There are Christians who will support us with their friendship and prayers. 

Acceptance in the church also sends a message to a world looking on that the love of Jesus is real, and is vibrant in the heart of His followers. Jesus said to His followers, “By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Acceptance is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To be longsuffering is to be able to endure wrongs or difficulties. Another word in the Bible with similar characteristics is patience.

When someone is insulting us or offending us with something they say, it might be tempting to retaliate.  But longsuffering teaches us to restrain from acting out in revenge.  In the midst of being provoked, God trains us to be restrained from lashing out in anger.

One of the reasons that Jesus has not yet come back is because of His longsuffering. Second Peter 3:9 says that the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  This is the way of God’s servants-to give people time to come to their senses and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Sometimes, we may have to show longsuffering, not just in the face of resistance, but open hostility.  Second Timothy 4:2 urges us to preach the Word in season and out of season-to correct, rebuke, and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.

Longsuffering is listed in the Fruit of the Spirit, and is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – To be contrite is to feel or show sorrow and remorse for a sin.  This is a humble disposition before God. The Bible tells us that God gives grace to the humble. He is willing to forgive on the basis of what Jesus did for us at the cross.

Through a contrite heart, we are ready for change.  Contriteness keeps the heart tender before God so that we are willing to adjust our desires and motivations to the way God wants them to be.

The display of a contrite heart was a turning point for David in Psalm 51.  He prayed:  “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”  David also sought God’s help to make changes in his life so that he would live in obedience to God.

He said, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  He acknowledged that God will not despise a broken and contrite heart. This same opportunity for change is possible for us. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Contriteness is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – One meaning of the word, “Undivided” is to be concentrated on one object.  To have an undivided heart toward God is to have our thoughts and affections fixed on Jesus.  He becomes the most important treasure to us. We become united with Him.

David was a man in the Bible described as a man after God’s own heart.  He prayed in Psalm 86:11, “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O LORD my God, with all my heart.”

An undivided heart will guide our footsteps in the path of God’s ways.  We will go in the same direction that God wants us to go. It is interesting to note that after God said that David was a man after His own heart, He made the statement, “He will do everything I want him to do.”  Obedience to God is the outcome of an undivided heart.

An undivided heart is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com