John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 25, verses 8 and 9.

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

The goodness of God is the foundation of His moral direction. He does not lead us to places of corruption or compromise. He leads us in His righteous way. He moves us to faith in Jesus. We can hear His voice speaking in the Bible. That is where His inspired words can be found.

Sometimes, God will work through our circumstances to guide us.  Paul and Silas were imprisoned for effective ministry, and it led them to a place where they could lead the jailer to faith in Christ.

God also speaks through His faithful followers. When a decision was needed about caring for widows in the midst of a growing early church, God spoke through the disciples of Jesus to chart a pathway for that ministry.

The Guidance of God’s Instruction reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Psalm 1, verses 1 to 3.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.”

There is wonderful counsel in the wisdom of God’s voice. A thriving faith flows out of delighting in God’s Word. That is where we learn about His unfailing love for us. In the quietness of the day, we can open our Bible, and find hope and encouragement to move forward with God. We get aligned with His heart and focused on His will. We learn what it is like to love like Jesus and to follow His way of righteousness. God’s Word prepares us for being a bright light in a world that needs His saving grace.

The Fruitfulness of God’s Word reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in First Corinthians 16:8 and 9.

The Apostle Paul said, “I will stay on at **Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

God was opening this effective door. It was not an easy path with smooth sailing. There was opposition to the Gospel where Paul was preaching. Yet, Paul was also seeing fruit from his labor, and discerning that this was God’s will for him to remain where he was.

Where there is an open door, there is an opportunity to make a difference that glorifies God’s name. God gives us certain spiritual gifts, He gives us energy, and He opens up avenues for us to serve people with God’s love. Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Windows of opportunity reveal the Goodness of God and are reasons to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Proverbs 2:6.

For the LORD gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Wisdom is what Solomon requested from God when he became king and the Lord honored his request.  People from all over the world came to hear his wisdom.

Wisdom may not make us famous, but will bless us in various ways. It starts with reverence for the Lord, and a simple request of God. Then comes a willingness to search for wisdom as hidden treasure.

Proverbs chapter 2 highlights some of the benefits of having wisdom from God. “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.”

Wisdom reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in First Corinthians 10:13.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

While it is true that we have a sinful nature and have yielded to temptation in the past, we are not destined for moral failure in the midst of temptation today. There is an escape route available to us called grace.

Titus 2:12 tells us that the grace of God has appeared and teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Intimacy with God builds resistance to temptation. His grace gives us the power to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God’s righteous ways.

God’s Gracious Escape Route reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Zephaniah 3:17.

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

One of the ways that God’s people celebrates the love of God today is through music. This verse points to a day when God will sing over His people. Will He have a different song for every person? What will the lyrics be like? We don’t know what it will sound like, but we know this: It will be music to our ears. This is the picture of a God who enjoys being with His people.

God’s love is vast, but it is also very personal. God loves the world, and He loves you. He calls us by invitation into a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the God who saves us from our sins, and leads us to eternal life with Him.

God’s Delight in His people reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in John 1:29.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

The closer we get to Jesus, the more clearly we see the magnitude and meaning of His mercy toward us. At the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sins. He took our place, taking the wrath of God on Himself so that we could experience God’s mercy.

The gift of grace is free for us to receive by faith, but it came at a great cost to Jesus. He went through extreme pain to set us free from condemnation. The message of the cross is a hopeful message of love and forgiveness. God has made a way for our sins to be removed from our record so that they are not counted against us. Jesus is that way.

When we sin against God, we can echo this plea of confession made by David in Psalm 51:9 and 10- “Blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Sin Removal reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Isaiah 26:3.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

The peace that God provides for His people goes beyond human understanding. It’s the kind of peace that shines brightly in times of turmoil. It’s the kind of peace that grows out of a trusting relationship with Jesus Christ.

When our thoughts are focused on Jesus, we can live with the calmness that our lives are secure in His grace. Anxious times call for a strong and loving God who cares about us and has a good plan for our lives.

Philippians 4:8 gives us this focus point for our thoughts: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” This is how we can replace anxiety with peace.

The peace of God reveals the Goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Jesus would often state his identity, starting with the words, “I am.” What was true of the identity of Jesus then is true of His identity now.

The promises Jesus made in the past will be fulfilled in the future.

The commands of Jesus that were given then are relevant today.

The love that Jesus demonstrated at the cross is reaching out to the world today to save those who are lost in sin.

In Hebrews 13:5, God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So today, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”

The unchanging nature of Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in First John 5, verses 4 and 5.

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Victory is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. He conquered the grave so that we might overcome the world. The system of the world tries to lure us into the trappings of pride, greed, and lust. But the power of God is at work in the lives of believers to reject that way of life and to embrace God’s purposes for our lives.

Those purposes include the way of love for God and love for people. Those purposes include worship for God, and encouragement for people.

Those purposes include trusting God and living out our faith with integrity. With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we live with a faith that endures through time and overcomes the world.

Victory in Jesus reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com