John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 5:25 to 27.

Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

The relationship between a husband and wife will flourish under the influence of Jesus, who brings out the best in His followers by His love. As God’s love moves us to holiness, we reflect God’s graciousness and truth by the words we say and how we live. Love makes a difference in our relationships, whether we are married or not. Jesus shows the way for us to live a life of love that shines brightly, and reflects His glory.

This Light Reflection inspires us to be made holy by the love of Jesus and wholly love others in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to be quick to listen.

Taking time to listen often reflects an open heart to the speaker.

James 1:19 is an important verse for followers of Jesus. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

The writer of Ecclesiastes says there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Good listening builds trust and open communication.

When someone is confiding in us, we can respond with a caring heart by offering a listening ear. It is a significant way of giving someone our attention and showing our concern. By listening, we can better understand a situation. By asking questions and giving opportunity for a response, we can experience the joy of learning from each other.

God listens to our prayers. That is one way He demonstrates His love for us.

Being quick to listen is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Revelation 1:18.

Jesus identified Himself by various “I Am” statements. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He can accomplish on our behalf.

Jesus said to John in Revelation 1:18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now, look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Jesus really did die on that cross 2,000 years ago, but the good news is that He did not stay in that grave. He rose from the dead 3 days later and lives forever. That means He can hear the prayers of our heart, He can help us in our time of need, and He can save us from our sins. He has authority over our eternal destiny. He has the power to give us a place in His Heavenly Home, where there is no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain.

Romans 10:9 says “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to trust in Jesus as the Living One who faithfully loves us in the Year to Shine.

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is casting our anxiety on Jesus.

If you research how to cope with anxiety, you will find various recommendations from therapy to physical exercise to taking medication. They might help us, but that is not the complete picture.

Another suggestion is to talk with someone we trust. No one is more trustworthy than Jesus. He is truthful. He is full of love. And He can fill us with peace that the world cannot comprehend.

First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” It takes trust to confide our fears and concerns to someone else. And Jesus is there to hear us.

This was the practice of David who wrote many of the Psalms. When he was in trouble, he turned to God for help. That is because He trusted in God. He wrote in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Casting our Anxiety on Jesus is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection comes from Revelation 22:16.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” statements. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He can accomplish on our behalf.”

Jesus had a word for the Apostle John, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The book of Revelation shows the brilliance of Jesus in His glory in a number of places. This is one of them.

Jesus identifies Himself as the bright Morning Star. In the heavens, the morning star appears as a visible light in the east before sunrise. It breaks the darkness. That is the significance of Jesus to our lives. He breaks the darkness of our sin, confusion, and despair with the light of His grace and truth.

This Light Reflection inspires us to look to Jesus to break the dark areas of our lives in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is delegation of responsibility.

When the workload is overwhelming, that’s a good time to delegate. In Acts chapter 6, verse 3, the church turned this challenge into an opportunity for growth by doing just that.

As the church was growing in numbers, there were also more needs to address. Some widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.  So, the Twelve leaders in the church gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

They presented seven men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. As a result, the word of God spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.

Delegating Responsibility is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 8:58.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” Statements. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is, and what He can accomplish on our behalf.

In John 8:58, Jesus made an astonishing statement that stirred anger among the religious leaders who opposed Him. Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!”

Their reaction was to pick up stones to throw at Him. They recognized that Jesus was claiming to be God. But they resisted His claim, which led to the fulfillment of God’s redemption plan.

First Peter 1:20 talks about Jesus being chosen before the creation of the world to shed His precious blood on the cross.

God would use the hatred of the religious leaders to express His love for the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to acknowledge Jesus as God in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to reach out to the drifter.

We might have believing friends who wander away from the truth to pursue their own path.  Whether they know it or not, they need a friend who can redirect them back to Jesus.

In Ezekiel 34, the LORD confronted the shepherds of Israel about their apathy. He told them, “You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost.”

Apathy lacks concern for the well-being of those who have drifted away, but love looks for reasons to pursue them. Let love be the motivating force for seeking their restoration.

James 5:19 and 20 says, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

Reaching Out to the Drifter is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 8:12.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” statements, which are recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He can accomplish on our behalf.

As morning light broke through to chase away the darkness of the night, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Just as physical light has a way of breaking the darkness, the light of grace and truth is able to break the darkness of our sin. Just before Jesus said this, a woman was caught in adultery. A crowd was ready to stone her to death. But Jesus disarmed these religious men by saying, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  He let her go free by saying, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”  This is how grace and truth can set us free.

This Light Reflection inspires us to come out of the darkness of sinful patterns and follow Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com