John Shirk

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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

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is walking in victory.

Following Jesus is the pathway to victory. His way leads to the triumph of mercy over judgement. His way leads to the triumph of love over hatred. His way leads to the triumph of life over death.  When we follow Jesus with a faithful heart, we live with His resurrection power.

Yes, there will be times of trouble, but we can be encouraged by the light of the Gospel to overcome the darkness. The grave of Jesus is empty, so that our lives can be filled with His Presence.

In light of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and the resurrection of the saints, First Corinthians 15:54 exclaims, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” And verse 57 says, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Walking in Victory 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 pursue peace.

Whenever we use our words for deceitful speech, revenge, or slander, we are not representing the Lord. This has a way of sending our relationships into a downward spiral of hostility and conflict. In addition, our witness is stained if we claim to know God.

However, when we look to Jesus and are inspired by His example, we learn the way of love. We learn to speak the truth with love. We learn to express our faith in love. We learn to build up the lives of others with words of hope and encouragement.

First Peter 3:10 offers this piece of wisdom, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil, and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”

Pursuing Peace 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 53:4 and 5.

This is a prophecy about Jesus, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed.”

This prophecy came to light at the cross, where Jesus died for our sins. At the time this prophecy was written, crucifixion had not been invented. Yet, the prophet wrote about the way Jesus would be pierced for our transgressions.

The cross was the place of the great exchange, where the Savior suffered for our sins so that we could be forgiven by God and restored to a peaceful relationship with God. Our ultimate healing flows from the blood of Jesus shed at the cross.

This Light Reflection inspires us to remember the price that was paid for our redemption in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1sbV63ti6zeEcLIoFtBZd7?si=b4568bd5fd88493e

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to walk by faith, not in fear.

Being a witness for Jesus involves taking a public stand for the Gospel. The Apostle Paul was an excellent example of a bold believer.

He said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” He consistently stood for Jesus in crowds that were receptive to his message and crowds that were hostile to his message.

Peter struggled with that kind of boldness at times. After Jesus was arrested, he denied knowing Jesus three times. But later, he would learn from the error of his ways and turn back to Christ.

He encouraged a church under persecution with these words in First Peter 3:14, “Even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.”

Walking by faith, not in fear is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com