John Shirk

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JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Devotion to Church Fellowship.

The church is God’s plan for advancing the Gospel around the world. By participating in fellowship, we can build healthy relationships that become a support structure for each other in the faith.

The church is not perfect. There are plenty of flaws in church history to document that fact. But God still works through imperfect people to spread the word of His perfect love. And we get to be part of what God is doing in the church.

Acts 2:42 reveals what happened among believers in the early church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved. The devotion of those disciples to fellowship was one of the factors that contributed to the vibrant influence of the early church.

Devotion to church fellowship 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 6:15.

Stand firm then…with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace.

The armor of light consists of ready feet to share the Gospel wherever we go.

The gospel is a refreshing message of good news, peace, and hope.

We cannot separate Jesus from this message. He is our source of good news. He is our source of peace with God and hope for a blessed future. Jesus is the One who died for the forgiveness of our sins and rose again to offer us eternal life. This is the message that the world needs to hear. God has placed us on the earth for such a time as this to share it.

Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

This Light Reflection inspires us to be ready to share the Gospel wherever we go in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 6:14.

Stand firm then…with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

The breastplate of righteousness is part of the armor of light that is given to us to fight the good fight of faith.

The breastplate of righteousness guards our heart. That source of righteousness is Jesus Christ, and is given to us through faith in His name. In First Thessalonians 5:8, we are instructed to put on faith and love as a breastplate. These are the qualities that protect our heart from corruption and compromise, and give us the ambition to do what is right in the eyes of God. Faith, expressing itself in love, is how we can live out a fruitful life devoted to God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to stand firm in the faith with the breastplate of righteousness 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 with Others.

If we have been blessed with material possessions and notice that someone else in need, that is an opportunity to be a modern-day Good Samaritan.

Hebrews 13:16 says, “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

In the early church, Acts 2:44 records that all the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

This is one of the ways that the witness of the early church served as a shining light for the Gospel. The Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Sharing with others 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 hope in the Lord.

Hope is often connected with looking forward to something in the future. The Apostle Paul asked the question, “Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Our hope for the future is connected with believing in the promises of God. We believe, based on the death and resurrection of Jesus, that God is faithful to His Word and loving toward His people. His promises of blessing are guarantees of a secure future in His grace. Because of our hope for tomorrow, we can have a thriving faith in the Lord today.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Hope in the 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 Ephesians 6:14.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.”

The belt of truth is part of the armor of light that is given to us to fight the good fight of faith. When a Roman soldier wore a belt, he was wearing a piece of armor that held his other weapons. So, by wearing the belt, he was ready for battle.

Some people might view the truth of the Bible as confining, but when we apply that truth to our lives, the opposite actually happens. Jesus said that the truth will set us free.

Wearing the belt of truth protects us from the lies of the enemy that could lead us astray. When we are surrounded by truth, we are able to better discern what is God’s best plan for our lives, and follow that plan.

This Light Reflection inspires us to stand firm in the faith with the belt of truth 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 Confession.

This is an acknowledgement to God that we have sinned against Him and need His forgiveness. God does not despise a truly contrite heart.  God sees all and knows everything about us, our good deeds and bad deeds, our pure motives and impure motives. He is not eager to condemn us, but patiently waits for us to turn to His grace.

First John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

After David confessed sin to God in Psalm 51, he said, “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.” Confession brings our sin into the light of God’s grace and breaks the power of darkness over us. Then we will be in a better place to help others.

Confession 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 Thessalonians 5, verses 5 to 8.

“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

Here we see how faith, love, and hope are part of the armor of light. Those qualities of the Christian life help us to be alert to the voice of God and in tune with the heart of God. They protect us from temptations and spiritual attacks from the forces of darkness.

Wearing the armor of light is a good way to move forward in our relationship with God and fight the good fight of faith.

This Light Reflection inspires us to be vigilant in our walk with God in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com