John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is showing respect for the elderly.

Leviticus 19:32 says, “stand in the presence of the aged; show respect for the elderly and revere your God.”

We can learn so much from the elderly. They can offer us valuable wisdom through the lessons of life that they have learned by experience.

They have stories to share that give us insight into another time period before we were born. Deuteronomy 32:6 says, “consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you; your elders, and they will explain it to you.”

Many elderly people would welcome our visits and offers of a helping hand. If we are blessed to have an elderly person in our family or neighborhood, those are opportunities to check in on them and spend quality time with them.

Showing respect for the elderly is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This week’s Light Reflections examine some of the bright spots in the book of Acts when God was on the move in the hearts of people.

One of those places is Acts chapter 11, verse 24 when Barnabas made a trip to Antioch. He was sent by the church in Jerusalem to follow up on the news that a great number of people there were believing and turning to the LORD.

When Barnabas arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their heart. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

How might God use our words of encouragement to build the church? He might make us a motivational influence for someone to keep serving God. Or He might make us a persuasive influence for someone to take that first step of faith.

This Light Reflection inspires us to encourage others to live with true devotion to the Lord 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 in awe of God.

Many Bible characters were filled with awe in God’s presence.

When Ezekiel saw the glory of the LORD, he fell facedown.

When Moses saw the glory of the LORD at the burning bush, he hid his face.

When Isaiah saw the glory of the LORD, he said, “Woe is me. I am ruined, for I am a man of unclean lips.” These prophets and more were raised up by God to serve their nation in productive ways.

To be in awe of God is to recognize that we are in the Presence of someone greater than ourselves. We have reverence for His name, regard for His power, and respect for His authority. We may feel unworthy in His holy presence, but we are not unloved in His amazing grace. Being in awe of God is being in a place of worship.

Habakkuk 3:2 says, “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD.”

Being in Awe of God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This week’s Light Reflections examine some of the bright spots in the book of Acts when God was on the move in the hearts of people.

One of those places was Acts chapter 8:35, when Philip was led by the Lord to a desert road going to Gaza.

On his way, he met an Ethiopian official who was on his way home from Jerusalem. He was in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. Philip ran up to the chariot and asked the man, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The Ethiopian official replied, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” So, he invited Philip to sit with him. Philip began with the very passage of Scripture that he was reading and told him the good news about Jesus. Later, Philip baptized this Ethiopian official, who went his way rejoicing.

This Light Reflection inspires us to always be ready to share the good news of Jesus with those who have questions 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 honor God in our workplace.

Work has been part of the human race, even before sin entered the human race. God created Adam and gave him the task of taking care of the Garden of Eden and naming the animals.

Work is an opportunity for a productive day. Through work, we can provide a service that helps other people and provide for our own families. Our faith has a thriving influence when we serve others with a generous attitude. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s workmanship. The way forward is to do the will of God with the skills He has provided for us. Then, reach out to customers, clients, and co-workers with the question,  “What can I do for you today?”

Colossians 3:23 says, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Honoring God in our workplace 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 – This week’s Light Reflections examine some of the bright spots in the book of Acts when God was on the move in the hearts of people.

One of those places was Acts chapter 4 after Peter and John were released from the interrogation of the religious leaders.

Verse 23 says that they went back to their own people and reported all the chief priests and the elders said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.

In verses 29 and 30, we learn what they prayed for: “Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

This Light Reflection inspires us to seek God for a bold faith 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 Intimacy with God.

James 4:8 invites us to a closer relationship with God.  “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” How would our lives look different if we accepted this invitation?

An intimate relationship with God means that we know Him personally. We are familiar with His ways and seek His will. The more we walk with Him, the better we understand His heart. We are moved by His unfailing love for us to live by faith in Him.

In the Old Testament, David yearned for an intimate relationship with God. He wrote in Psalm 63:1. “You, God, are my God. Earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you…”

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul expressed a similar yearning in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings…..”

Intimacy with God is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This week’s Light Reflections examine some of the bright spots in the book of Acts when God was on the move in the hearts of people.

One of those places was Acts chapter 4, as Peter and John, two followers of Jesus, were speaking to the people. Verse 2 tells us that the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Some of the religious leaders seized Peter and John and put them in jail the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

Through changing times and the current issues that the church is compelled to address, we are wise to stay focused on the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. That is where our ultimate hope is found. That is where the battle was won for those who would believe in Christ. Those moments in history draw us to Jesus as forgiver of our sins and the source of our salvation. The message of the cross and the empty grave remind us of the victory that we have in Jesus over our greatest adversaries.

This Light Reflection inspires us to remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, and share that message with 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 Remembering those in poverty.

The Gospel reveals a loving God who sent Jesus to us in our spiritual poverty. We needed a Savior, and God provided what we needed.

This kind of love compels us to reach out to those who are struggling to put food on the table for their families. There are practical ways we can help such as giving care packages or providing meals for friends and neighbors in need. We can also sponsor a child in another country.

In the early church, leaders were called to different missions, but they all had a heart for those in poverty. In Galatians 2:10, the Apostle Paul said, “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.”

Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”

Remembering those in poverty is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com