John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to offer our eyes to God.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:22, “the eye is the lamp of the body. If our eyes are healthy, our whole body will be full of light. But if our eyes are unhealthy, our whole body will be full of darkness.”

Our desires often follow what we choose to see. A negative example of that is the Garden of Eden, when Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye. She was not glancing at the fruit. She was focusing on it, and thinking about it, until it led to an unholy desire and disobedient choice. There is something for us to learn from that moral failure.

If viewing the forbidden fruit can lead us into sinful actions, then it stands to reason that noble actions flow out of fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Offering our Eyes to God 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 Psalm 107:14.

“He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.”

The grace of God changes lives in many ways, including the ability to set prisoners free. When Jesus announced His ministry, He proclaimed freedom for the prisoners.

There are certain sins that may be tempting for us, deceiving us into thinking that we will enjoy freedom by doing what we want. But disobedience to God is not liberating. Jesus taught quite the opposite. He said in John 8:34 that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. He also said in verse 36 that if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

So, there is hope for freedom. Our chains of sin come loose when we come to Jesus with a heart that is focused on following Him.

This Light Reflection inspires us to find ultimate freedom in a relationship with Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 5:8 to 10.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

In relationship with God, we come out of the darkness of our own sin and into the light of His grace and truth. In light of our identity as children of God, the writer is urging us to live that truth out in our attitude, speech, and conduct. The words we say and the things we do will please the Lord if they are motivated by our love for the Lord and in line with His goodness, righteousness, and truth.

This Light Reflection inspires us to find out what pleases the Lord and live it out 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 offer our heart to God.

When we talk of the heart in the spiritual sense, we are talking about the seat of our desire or ambition.

Isaiah 26:8 is a statement to the LORD, “Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

When this is our passion, God’s love is our greatest joy and God’s glory is our ultimate aim. The Gospel becomes our mission and worship becomes our way of life. Our faith in God and love for God find expression in our work, in our songs, in our words, and in the way we treat other people.

Offering our heart to God 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 Psalm 30:11 and 12.

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.”

We go through various seasons of our lives. There are seasons of brokenness, grief, pain, sickness, and sadness. That is part of the human experience. Believers in God and unbelievers face these kinds of challenges.

But God’s grace offers us light at the end of the tunnel. David wrote in Psalm 30, verse 5, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”  That is similar to what Jesus told His disciples the night before He died. “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”  The disciples did rejoice when they saw the Lord after His resurrection.

This Light Reflection inspires us to praise God for the evidence of His grace 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 offer our ears to God as an instrument of righteousness.

Having our ears open to God’s counsel is vital for building our faith, giving us direction, and gaining wisdom.

Offering our ears to God involves listening for God’s heartbeat-getting on board with what He loves and rejecting any activity that grieves His heart.

God wants us to listen for His voice, not just to edify ourselves, but also to share with others what we are learning from Him.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:27, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”  This is how we can be an influence for the Gospel today-by passing along what we have learned from the Lord.

Offering our ears to God 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 offer our feet to God to share His good news.

Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.”

He has entrusted us with a message to share with the world. Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Some believers have traveled great distances to share this message overseas. Others have walked across the street to share this good news with their neighbors.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” As we go in Jesus’ name, we get to proclaim Jesus as the good news of God’s peace plan.

Offering our feet to God for spreading the Gospel 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 First Timothy 1:13 and 14.

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Do you ever feel insecure about being near a person because you think they are not safe? Christians had a good reason for not feeling safe with Paul before he came to Christ. When his name was Saul, he was a violent man who persecuted Christians for their faith. However, he became a follower of Christ when he saw the light of God’s mercy shining on him.

Paul’s testimony changed people’s perceptions about him. Instead of causing fear, his testimony was stirring praise for God. Through Jesus Christ, change is possible. When we follow Him, change is inevitable.

This Light Reflection inspires us to celebrate changed hearts by the grace of God in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Titus 3, verses 3 through 5.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

The love of God is a life-saver and life-changer for those who are receptive. His kindness leads us to make U-turns when we are going the wrong direction or need an attitude adjustment. This will make a difference in the quality of our relationships. In God’s grace, we come home to His peace and forgiveness. In God’s grace, we come home to godly contentment. That is where we learn that His plan for our lives is better than any plan we could have ever charted for ourselves.

This Light Reflection inspires us to respond favorably to the kindness and love of God in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com