John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to embrace the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

One definition of freedom is “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.”

Jesus said that “everyone who sins is a slave to sin, so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus brings true and lasting freedom by His grace and truth. There is freedom from the guilt of the past, freedom from the control of sin in the present, and freedom from condemnation in the future.  We are set free by Jesus to live, thrive, and love others as He loves us.

Embracing the teachings of Jesus 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 1:18.

The LORD says this to a nation whose sin was great. “Come now, let us settle the matter, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be whiter than snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

God was telling the nation of Israel that even though they had been rebellious, it was not too late for them to change course. They could be made clean. They could experience God’s forgiveness. He said to them in verses 16 and 17-“wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right. Seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

While we have breath, there is hope for forgiveness and reform by the blood of Jesus.  He went to the cross to purify us from sin and bring us into a right relationship with God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to find freedom from our past in the forgiveness of God 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 Godly Training in God’s Word.

One of the resources that God has provided for our spiritual growth is the Bible.

Second Timothy 3:16 says that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Filling up on God’s Word prepares us to do God’s will, not just because of what we learn in the Bible, but also, how the content changes us by the transforming love of Jesus. We learn to love Jesus and grow in His grace. God’s will becomes the desire of our heart.

Godly Training in God’s Word 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 5:14.

“Wake up sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

This is an invitation for us to come out of the darkness of sin and shame into the light of God’s favor.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” Before coming to faith in Christ, we are living in spiritual darkness. We have physical life, but have not yet been born spiritually.

Awakening to God’s grace means that we recognize our need for a Savior. We become responsive to His voice and receptive to His love for us. We are convicted to renounce the fruitless deeds of darkness. In Jesus, we learn to appreciate the value of God’s grace exceeding all the treasures of this world.

This Light Reflection inspires us to wake up to the radiance of God’s favor in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6MEh20iwwzGyeUpaYVidCD?si=071309fc4ed44533

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 19:14.

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

This is a prayer for our spoken words and focused thoughts to be pleasing in God’s sight. David, who wrote this Psalm, understood that words and thoughts matter in our faith.

We can build up someone with our words or tear them down.

We can worship God or cling to idols.

We can plan to do what is right in God’s eyes, or plot a sinful course.

Those solitary moments with God are crucial for living out faith with godly integrity. He will show us the right way and give us the courage to follow after His own heart.

This Light Reflection inspires us to please the Lord with our words and thoughts 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 Seek Good and Not Evil.

Amos 5:14 says, “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.”

If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, He will give us the vision for making decisions that are consistent with God’s goodness.

We are in a spiritual battle. There is evil in the world. There is a real devil who seeks to separate us from God and to destroy our lives. But if we run to Jesus, He will be a strong tower to provide refuge for our souls. He will give us pure desires that reflect His righteousness. Jesus will lead us in the way of life, love, and liberty.

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Seeking Good and Not Evil 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 13:5.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test?”

We do check-ups and inspections in various areas. Many of us go to the doctor for a physical evaluation. We take our cars to the mechanic for an annual inspection. There is also value in examining our spiritual condition. How is my relationship with God? Do I love Him above all else? Am I demonstrating my love for Him with an obedient heart? Am I loving my neighbor as myself? Is there any sin in my life hindering my walk with God?

These are some honest questions to evaluate our spiritual well-being. What matters most is how God sees us. David’s prayer in Psalm 139 is quite relevant to this examination. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to examine our spiritual condition with honesty and prayer 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 rejoicing in the Lord.

The Apostle Paul gave this instruction in Philippians 4:4, and then emphasized it by repeating it.

In the Old Testament, Nehemiah talked about the joy of the Lord being our strength.

Joy is the experience of knowing God’s love. Having the joy of the Lord moves us to celebrate God’s amazing grace and to enjoy our relationship with Him.  We will be moved to places of praising God with our lips and worshipping Him with our hearts. There will be a song in our heart, and Jesus will be the theme of our music. His salvation will be our great delight. Our service for Him will be an honor and privilege.

Psalm 40:16 says, “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!”

Rejoicing 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 – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to praise God for His awesome wonders.

In the days of Moses, the Israelites saw miracles from God’s hand. Yet, they struggled with idolatry, immorality, and lack of faith.

God remained faithful to His Word on their journey. Just before they entered the Promised Land, Moses urged the Israelites to get ready for the land and get right with God.

In Deuteronomy 10:21, Moses told the people, “He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.”

This is a good reminder for our faith also. Remember God’s great and awesome wonders-the cross, the empty grave, and the evidence of God’s love in the nail-scars of Jesus. This is one of God’s purposes for our lives-to declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Praising God for His awesome wonders is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com