John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Corinthians 5:21.

Speaking of Jesus, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

It is important to point out that in God’s righteous requirements, there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.  That is what makes the death of Jesus on the cross so incredibly humbling and amazing for us. Jesus died on our behalf so that we might be reconciled to God. He paid the price for our sins.  That is the irony of the Gospel. The sinless Son of God died so that sinners like us could be declared “Not guilty” in the eyes of righteous God. Through Jesus, the way has been cleared for us to enjoy God forever.

This miracle of love will be celebrated throughout eternity among the redeemed.  The voices of heaven declare, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to remember the price that Jesus paid for our redemption in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Sharing our love of music with others.

We can do this in a number of ways. We can talk about favorite songs that we hear on the radio or share songs with others that we find on social media. We can sing songs together in church, or hear songs together in a concert venue.

Music has a way of bringing people together. In Matthew 26:30, Jesus sung a hymn with His disciples before going out to the Mount of Olives.

Ephesians 5:19 instructs us to speak “to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”

Sharing our Love of Music with others is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Titus 3:3 to 5.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

It is an amazing miracle to ponder the mercy of God triumphant over judgment. His grace covers our sins at the moment of our conversion to Christ. From there, we experience a change of heart. Our motives change. Our words change. Our attitudes change. Some of these areas of change may not happen overnight, but over time, God works in the hearts of His believers to transform us into the likeness of Christ. Real-life transformation will lead us into a life of love and holiness because of what Jesus did on the cross and how He is working in our hearts.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to celebrate the mercy of God that changes our lives in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6HiFwBUsj0WZadfjvadsaL?si=9e92257dd7964166

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is holding to the words of life.

By clinging to the words of life, we will be in a better place to promote a culture of life.

Philippians 2:14 to 16 says, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”

One thing we learn here is that a grumbling or argumentative spirit is not consistent with holding on to the word of life. These attitudes drain people around us. But the Gospel is life-giving.

This good news moves us to speak words of hope, encouragement, and truth. There is a word of life that shines brightly in times of darkness, and His name is Jesus.

Holding firmly to the word of life is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Micah 6:8.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

These are God’s requirements for our lives that reflect His goodness.

To Act Justly is to stand up for what is right in God’s eyes. His call of justice includes defending the oppressed, taking up the cause of the fatherless and pleading the case of the widow.

To love Mercy means that we show mercy in the form of compassion and forgiveness.

To walk humbly with God is reliance on His grace to save us from our sins. We live with profound gratitude for His unfailing love and abundant goodness demonstrated through Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 25:8 and 9.

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

God leads us in the way of His goodness by the counsel of His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is where we learn how sinners can be turned into saints. That is where we learn about the riches of God’s grace.  The Bible also tells us about God’s character, God’s Kingdom, God’s will, and God’s blessings. The Bible gives us good direction for living life God’s way rather than our own.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to be teachable to the counsel of God’s Word in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Worshipping together.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

His presence is a powerful force to unify believers in the midst of our worship. This kind of worship is sometimes called corporate worship, where the saints of God assemble together for the purpose of glorifying God.

These settings provide opportunity for believers to encourage each other in the faith, and motivate each other toward love and good deeds.  It is also an opportunity for praise-filled music.

Psalm 149:1 says, “Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.”

Worshipping together is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Timothy 1:7.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

This is how God’s Spirit works in our lives to make us bold witnesses for Jesus.

God’s Spirit gives us the power to testify of God’s saving grace in a life-changing way.

God’s Spirit gives us the power of love to share with the world.

God’s Spirit gives us the power to exercise self-discipline that says “yes” to God and “no” to temptation.

God’s Spirit helps us to live out the Christian life as a testimony of grace. In light of the Spirit that God gave us, Paul said to Timothy, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to live with confidence under the influence of God’s Spirit in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Serving the Lord side by side.

A deeper connection with other people sometimes happens when we work together. A youth group may draw closer together after serving together on a mission trip. Or a family might grow closer by volunteering together at a homeless shelter or nursing home. These kinds of services train us to look beyond ourselves to the needs of others. We can see God working through our acts of service and share the joy with those who serve with us.

There is a prophecy in Zephaniah 3:9, revealing that the LORD will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.

And Ephesians 4:16 talks about the body of Christ growing and building itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Serving the Lord side by side is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com