JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to put on the full armor of God.

The Christian life is a spiritual battlefield, not with the weapons of the world, and not against flesh and blood.  Our battle is against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. The weapons available to us consist of truth, faith, prayer, salvation, righteousness, and God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

Satan tries to influence us through temptation, accusation, condemnation, and confusion. But the weapons that God provides for us are strong enough to resist the devil’s influence, so that we can follow Jesus with a fully devoted heart.

Second Peter 1:3 tells us that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” The armor of God equips us to stand firm in the faith.

Putting on the full armor 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, our 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 16 when Paul and Silas were in prison for their faith.

Verse 25 reveals what happened about midnight. As Paul and Silas were worshipping God, there was a violent earthquake. The foundations of the prison were shaken. The prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw what happened, he was about to kill himself, but Paul and Silas intervened by assuring him that none of the prisoners had escaped.

The jailer asked them, “What must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.”

The jailer came to be filled with joy because he had come to believe in God–he and his whole household.

This Light Reflection inspires us to hold out the word of life for those who need hope 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 pure devotion to God.

In Psalm 24, verse 3, David asked the question, “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.”

With clean hands, we can raise them up to God in worship, or reach out to embrace someone with God’s love. With clean hands we can work productively and bless others by our service.

With a pure heart, we are motivated to seek God and build relationships that honor Him. The desire of our heart is to seek His honor, glory, and fame, not our own or anyone else.

Clean hands, a pure heart, and true worship express our delight in God and invite His blessing on us.

Pure Devotion to 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, our 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 in Acts 9:36 through the witness of a woman named Tabitha.

She was always doing good and helping the poor. When she died, Peter went to the place where she died. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Tabitha had made while she was still with them.

What happened next was a miracle. Peter said, “Tabitha, get up.” He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. This miracle became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Tabitha’s faith was active and radiant with acts of service that blessed people and glorified God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to serve the Lord faithfully with the breath and strength that He gives us in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjt.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to wake up to the voice of grace.

Ephesians 5:14 says, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The voice of God’s grace is calling us out of a place of spiritual slumber into the light of God’s glory. That is where we can truly shine in this generation with His goodness, righteousness, and truth.

The voice of grace calls us out of apathy into the way of love.

The voice of grace calls us away from the deeds of darkness into the light of God’s pleasing will.

The voice of grace awakens our hearts to seek God’s Kingdom and righteousness as the top priority of our lives. Jesus becomes the focus of our faith and our ultimate treasure. The joy we have from His love overflows into our relationships.

Waking up to the voice of grace is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – This week, our 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 in Acts 9:18, when Ananias ministered to a new convert named Saul.

He was in Damascus when the Lord called him to visit Saul who was praying. His assignment was to place hands on him to restore Saul’s sight. Ananias was familiar with the harm Saul had done to God’s people before converting to Christ.

But the Lord reassured Ananias, saying, “Go, this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”

Ananias took a step of courage. He went to Saul, and placed his hands on him. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. After taking food, Saul regained his strength.

This Light Reflection inspires us to support new believers as they follow Jesus 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 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