John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Self-Control.

Second Peter chapter 1 encourages us to add certain qualities to our faith, not because it adds to our salvation, but because it makes our faith more effective and productive.

One of those qualities in verse 6 is self-control.  Self-control can be defined as the ability to control one’s emotions, behavior, and desires in order to obtain some reward later.  An example of that is an athlete training for an event, who avoids overeating to maximize their potential.

Spiritually, self-control is the ability to make choices that prevent other influences from hindering our walk with Jesus. Sometimes, self-control means that we say “no” to harmful influences, and sometimes it means saying “no” to too much of a good thing. But saying “no” in these areas means that we can make better use of our time and energy to say “yes” to God’s plan for our lives.

Self-Control 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 Numbers 6:24 to 26.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

This was the way that Aaron and his sons were to bless the Israelites. It is commonly known as the priestly blessing. This is sometimes used as a benediction in church services today.

When Jesus is brought into view, we can see how He fulfills this verse for those who follow Him. In Christ, we are filled with God’s grace and peace. We are blessed with God’s favor, and kept securely in His love.

This Light Reflection inspires us to proclaim this blessing of God’s peace and 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 Knowledge.

Second Peter chapter 1 encourages us to add certain qualities to our faith, not because it adds to our salvation, but because it makes our faith more effective and productive.

Knowledge is a lot like zeal. If it is not grounded in God’s love, it can be harmful. First Corinthians 8:1 tells us that knowledge puffs up while love builds up.

When guided by love, knowledge equips us to instruct others in the faith. Romans 15:14 says: “I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”

Knowing Jesus is the key to staying planted in His love and growing in the knowledge of His truth.

Knowledge of 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 Ephesians 1:7.

Speaking of Jesus, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”

This is one of the huge blessings of the Gospel. Guilt gives way to freedom at the cross. That is where Jesus shed His blood to take away our sins.

God’s forgiveness is a light that shines hope into our lives. As we turn from sin to Jesus, we go forward in God’s plan to live in freedom, with all the blessings that flow from grace into an abundant and eternal life. Acts 13:38 says, “my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him, everyone who believes is set free from every sin.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to find freedom in the forgiveness of God’s love in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from First John 2:1 and 2.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

The Gospel gives us light for victory over sin. That does not mean that all sin stops in our lives when we give our lives to Jesus. There will be moments when we need to come back to God’s throne of grace to plead for forgiveness. The Bible says that God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus is our defender. He is qualified to protect us from the accuser, so that our sins are not counted against us. He gives us victory over the penalty of sin.  He also gives us victory over the control of sin. He is the Righteous Master, who moves us away from sin and toward purity.

This Light Reflection inspires us to look to Jesus as our Worthy Advocate in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 4:25.

Speaking of Jesus, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

To be justified in God’s sight is to be declared “not guilty.” Yet, the Bible tells us we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. So, how then can those who are guilty be declared innocent in God’s eyes?

The answer is the Gospel, which is the light that reveals our hope by the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the weight of our sins on Himself and paid the penalty for what we deserved. He went there in our place. Trusting in His provision of grace is what makes us righteous in God’s eyes.

Abraham was a man of faith and was given the credit of righteousness. That is what happens to us who believe in God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

This Light Reflection inspires us to believe in the good news about 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 to express faith through love.

In the Christian life, faith and love are essentials for us to be the salt and light that Jesus called us to be.

Galatians 5:6 tells us that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

As we draw closer to Jesus, we will come under His influence. He will inspire change in our hearts. More compassion, more conviction, more sympathy, more courage, more respect, more prayer, more meaningful fellowship with believers, more passion to reach the lost and hurting, more focus on honoring God.

The quality of our relationship with God will motivate us toward loving actions in the way that we express our faith.

Expressing faith through love 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 Second Corinthians 5:19b and 20.

“He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

God’s love is the persuasive factor that moves us to follow Jesus. This is one of the common traits of those who follow Jesus by faith. We rely on His love. God’s love demonstrated at the cross made the way for us to be reconciled to Him.

The Gospel is a light that gives us a message of peace to share with the world. As ambassadors for Christ, we are like foreign diplomats, representing our leader, bringing offers of peace wherever we serve. The message we are entrusted to share with the world is this: Be reconciled to God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to represent Jesus faithfully in our service for the Kingdom in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 16:9 to 11.

David wrote, “My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

David saw hope beyond the grave because of this prophetic truth. God’s faithful one would not see decay. This prophecy came to light when Jesus rose from the dead.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter referred to this Psalm to apply it to Jesus. Acts 2:31 says, “Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”  Our hope for life beyond the grave flows from the reality that Jesus rose from the dead.

This Light Reflection inspires us to rejoice in Jesus as our living hope in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com