John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is to follow Jesus rather than the crowd.

Exodus 23:2 instructs us with these words, “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”

Peer pressure can lead us into trouble if the crowd is bent on doing what is wrong. William Penn once said, “Right is right even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.” While it can be so easy to follow the crowd, Jesus has another message for us, “Follow me.”

As we do this consistently, day-by-day, step-by-step, His grace and truth will be the influence that guides our pathway forward to a fruitful faith. The disciples are an example of this: They spent time with Jesus. Then, after they were taught and trained, they preached the Gospel and persuaded many in the crowd to put their faith in Jesus.

Following Jesus rather than the crowd is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Ephesians 2:8 and 9.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

Grace reflects the outpouring of a generous God toward us.

God’s grace is the gift that is a life-saver for us. We cannot earn this grace on human merit. We cannot buy this grace with all of our money. But we can receive this grace through faith in the name of Jesus. He came to save us from our sins. That mission was accomplished at the cross and empty grave.

John 1:11 says about Jesus, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to receive God’s grace as the most valuable gift we could ever have in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is to build healthy friendships.

One of the strong friendships that can be found in the Bible is between Jonathan and David.

First Samuel 18:3 says that Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

This language is similar to the second greatest commandment in the Bible taught by Jesus-to love our neighbor as ourselves. This kind of attitude enables us to be a loyal friend. We can put ourselves in someone else’s situation and discern how to offer helpful support for them.

Proverbs 17:17 says that a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Building Healthy Friendships is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Loving our Enemies.

This is what Jesus taught. This is also how He lived.

As the crowd was shouting “Crucify Him!”, Jesus was loving the world, and praying, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

Loving our enemies is a supernatural love that reflects the way of Jesus to an unbelieving world. It’s the kind of love that has the power to turn enemies into friends.

Loving our Enemies is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 13:5 and 6.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

This Psalm was written in a time of deep struggle and questions of faith. The first few verses begin with questions that we might have already asked God in some of our circumstances.

“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?”

Through our honest questions and struggles, we can find hope in the unfailing love of God for us who has provided His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. He has been good to us. That is our hopeful reality in a world broken by sin, sickness, and sorrow.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to trust in God’s unfailing love through the hard questions of life in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Kings 6, verse 16.

Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an opposing army who came to take them captive. The servant went out early in the morning to see the horses and chariots around them. He asked Elisha, “What shall we do?”

The prophet answered, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Elisha’s servant saw their adversaries, but Elisha could see the bigger picture. He saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha and his servant defending them.

With eyes of faith, we see the spiritual reality of God’s grace helping us in our daily battles. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to see the power of God’s grace to help us in our time of need in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is to make things right with someone we have wronged.

Jesus taught in Matthew 5:23, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

God cares about our relationships. He wants them to be full of love, peace, and joy. That is why Jesus is calling us to remove any barriers that keep us from experiencing fulfilling relationships. He calls us to seek reconciliation. This is possible when we go to the person we have wronged, confess what we have done, and seek forgiveness. These steps open the door for strained relationships to be restored.

Making things right with someone we have wronged is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

When affirming someone, we are observing a positive trait in someone that we believe to be true, and motivating them to keep going and keep growing in that trait.

We find affirmations in various Bible passages.

One of them is Hebrews 6:10, which says, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

And Third John, verse 5 says, “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.”

Affirmation is an effective way to bring out the best qualities in the people we love.

Affirmation is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Mark 9:23.

Jesus said to a desperate father, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Every loving parent wants to see their sons and daughters living in blessing and freedom. This father, who came to Jesus, was desperate for his son who was possessed by a destructive spirit.

The father said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus then uttered these words, “If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.”

The father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus then commanded the spirit to come out of the boy.

The more our faith in God grows, the more we realize that nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish. He is the Creator of this world, the Savior of our souls, and the healer of troubled hearts.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to believe in God’s power to break the strongholds of darkness in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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