John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Isaiah 56:7b.

My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

This yearning came to light in the actions of Jesus when He cleansed the temple by overturning the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He expressed these words from Isaiah and then added, “But you are making it a den of robbers.”

Jesus had zeal for the temple to be a place of worship. That is why He cleared the corruption that was evident there. That is not the only temple that He seeks to purify. The Bible tells us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. In love, He seeks to purify our faith, so that our body is a place of sincere worship.

Jesus is willing to overturn the idols of our heart and the circumstances of our lives, not for the purpose of destroying us, but to cleanse us and set us free to worship God in spirit and in truth.

This Light Reflection inspires us to offer our bodies to God as houses of worship in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Zechariah 9:9.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This prophecy came to light on Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on those animals. If Jesus entered on a horse, He would have come as a military leader. But He came with humility and in peace. There was much rejoicing on that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The crowds shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven.”

Palm Sunday is a celebration to remind us how Jesus comes to us in humility with His offer of grace and peace.

This Light Reflection inspires us to welcome Jesus as our Righteous King and worthy Savior 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 the reason for our hope.

As we set apart Christ as Lord of our lives, our belief turns to conviction. God becomes our source of confidence. We hold dearly to the promises of blessing that He has declared for those who love Him.

The quality of our relationship with God overflows into the way we relate with other people. Because we have tasted that the Lord is good, we want others to experience the goodness of God in their lives too.

And so, in our conversations with people, we can look for timely moments to share the reason for our hope, friend to friend.

Here is how we can represent the Lord in meaningful conversations. First Peter 3:15 says, “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Sharing the Reason for our Hope 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 set apart Christ as Lord.

This is the step of faith that puts Jesus at the throne of our heart. He becomes the king of our ambitions. We turn to Him to be the guiding influence of our lives. What matters to God is a priority for us. We seek to love what He loves and hate what He hates. We want to be in alignment with the purposes of His heart.

First Peter 3:15 says “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord.”

Knowing Jesus this way will better equip us to share the reason for our hope in the Lord with others.

Setting apart Christ as 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 Revelation 19:10b.

“Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

The book of Revelation is a prophetic book. Contained in its writings is a promise of blessing for the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, who hear it, and take to heart what is written in it.

Here we see one of the blessings of taking the prophecy of Revelation to heart. It leads us to worship God. Jesus is revealed as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. His victory is revealed over the forces of evil. His worthiness is celebrated at heaven’s throne among the angels and God’s people.

The prophecies of the Bible are not mere speculation. They are true and trustworthy. Second Peter 1:19 talks about the prophetic message as something completely reliable. We will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts.

This Light Reflection inspires us to heed the prophecies about Jesus in the Bible in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Second Corinthians 5:15.

Speaking of Jesus, “He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

The light of the Gospel gives us purpose to live for God’s glory.

The death and resurrection of Jesus motivates us to love and serve God with every ounce of strength that we have. Jesus gave His all for us. Now, in gratitude, we have the opportunity to live for Him. We live with the confidence that we do not serve a dead Savior, but a Living Savior. Therefore, our purpose is a victorious cause.

In light of the resurrection, First Corinthians 15:58 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to delight in God’s purpose for our lives to glorify Him in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from First John 4:9.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

The light of the Gospel gives us power to live out the Christian life.

His love shines brightly to inspire us to walk in His love and express His love wherever we go.

We cannot do this alone. We need God’s help. Looking to Jesus on a daily basis is the focus point we need for shining His light to people who need His grace. With His help, we can live productive lives that yield much fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to delight in God’s power to live out the Christian life 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 produce a harvest of righteousness.

In Luke 8, Jesus told the parable of four different kinds of soils, which represent different ways that people respond to the seed of God’s Word.

One soil was resistant. Another soil was not well-rooted. Another soil was cluttered with thorns. None of those soils were able to grow a productive crop. But there was a good soil that did produce a crop.

Jesus said in Luke 8:15, “The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

Let that be true of us to be receptive to God’s Word, nourished, and growing in faith. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Producing a Harvest of righteousness is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from First Thessalonians 5:10.

Speaking of Jesus, “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”

The light of the Gospel gives us the promise of God’s presence.

His presence is our source of help today and our bright hope for the future.

His presence comforts us in our broken world and is the guiding influence of our lives. David wrote in Psalm 139, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

In the new heaven and new earth, Revelation 21:3 tells us that “God’s dwelling place is among the people and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to delight in God’s presence in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com