John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is walking in victory.

Following Jesus is the pathway to victory. His way leads to the triumph of mercy over judgement. His way leads to the triumph of love over hatred. His way leads to the triumph of life over death.  When we follow Jesus with a faithful heart, we live with His resurrection power.

Yes, there will be times of trouble, but we can be encouraged by the light of the Gospel to overcome the darkness. The grave of Jesus is empty, so that our lives can be filled with His Presence.

In light of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and the resurrection of the saints, First Corinthians 15:54 exclaims, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” And verse 57 says, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Walking in Victory is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to pursue peace.

Whenever we use our words for deceitful speech, revenge, or slander, we are not representing the Lord. This has a way of sending our relationships into a downward spiral of hostility and conflict. In addition, our witness is stained if we claim to know God.

However, when we look to Jesus and are inspired by His example, we learn the way of love. We learn to speak the truth with love. We learn to express our faith in love. We learn to build up the lives of others with words of hope and encouragement.

First Peter 3:10 offers this piece of wisdom, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil, and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”

Pursuing Peace 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 Isaiah 53:4 and 5.

This is a prophecy about Jesus, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed.”

This prophecy came to light at the cross, where Jesus died for our sins. At the time this prophecy was written, crucifixion had not been invented. Yet, the prophet wrote about the way Jesus would be pierced for our transgressions.

The cross was the place of the great exchange, where the Savior suffered for our sins so that we could be forgiven by God and restored to a peaceful relationship with God. Our ultimate healing flows from the blood of Jesus shed at the cross.

This Light Reflection inspires us to remember the price that was paid for our redemption in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to walk by faith, not in fear.

Being a witness for Jesus involves taking a public stand for the Gospel. The Apostle Paul was an excellent example of a bold believer.

He said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” He consistently stood for Jesus in crowds that were receptive to his message and crowds that were hostile to his message.

Peter struggled with that kind of boldness at times. After Jesus was arrested, he denied knowing Jesus three times. But later, he would learn from the error of his ways and turn back to Christ.

He encouraged a church under persecution with these words in First Peter 3:14, “Even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.”

Walking by faith, not in fear 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 Isaiah 56:7b.

My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

This yearning came to light in the actions of Jesus when He cleansed the temple by overturning the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He expressed these words from Isaiah and then added, “But you are making it a den of robbers.”

Jesus had zeal for the temple to be a place of worship. That is why He cleared the corruption that was evident there. That is not the only temple that He seeks to purify. The Bible tells us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. In love, He seeks to purify our faith, so that our body is a place of sincere worship.

Jesus is willing to overturn the idols of our heart and the circumstances of our lives, not for the purpose of destroying us, but to cleanse us and set us free to worship God in spirit and in truth.

This Light Reflection inspires us to offer our bodies to God as houses of worship in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Zechariah 9:9.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This prophecy came to light on Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on those animals. If Jesus entered on a horse, He would have come as a military leader. But He came with humility and in peace. There was much rejoicing on that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The crowds shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven.”

Palm Sunday is a celebration to remind us how Jesus comes to us in humility with His offer of grace and peace.

This Light Reflection inspires us to welcome Jesus as our Righteous King and worthy Savior 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 sharing the reason for our hope.

As we set apart Christ as Lord of our lives, our belief turns to conviction. God becomes our source of confidence. We hold dearly to the promises of blessing that He has declared for those who love Him.

The quality of our relationship with God overflows into the way we relate with other people. Because we have tasted that the Lord is good, we want others to experience the goodness of God in their lives too.

And so, in our conversations with people, we can look for timely moments to share the reason for our hope, friend to friend.

Here is how we can represent the Lord in meaningful conversations. First Peter 3:15 says, “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Sharing the Reason for our Hope is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to set apart Christ as Lord.

This is the step of faith that puts Jesus at the throne of our heart. He becomes the king of our ambitions. We turn to Him to be the guiding influence of our lives. What matters to God is a priority for us. We seek to love what He loves and hate what He hates. We want to be in alignment with the purposes of His heart.

First Peter 3:15 says “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord.”

Knowing Jesus this way will better equip us to share the reason for our hope in the Lord with others.

Setting apart Christ as Lord 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 Revelation 19:10b.

“Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

The book of Revelation is a prophetic book. Contained in its writings is a promise of blessing for the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, who hear it, and take to heart what is written in it.

Here we see one of the blessings of taking the prophecy of Revelation to heart. It leads us to worship God. Jesus is revealed as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. His victory is revealed over the forces of evil. His worthiness is celebrated at heaven’s throne among the angels and God’s people.

The prophecies of the Bible are not mere speculation. They are true and trustworthy. Second Peter 1:19 talks about the prophetic message as something completely reliable. We will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts.

This Light Reflection inspires us to heed the prophecies about Jesus in the Bible in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com