John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:28.

Referring to Moses, “By faith, he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.”

In the book of Exodus, it was the blood of the Passover lamb applied to the doorframes that protected the firstborn of Israel from death.  This is a foreshadow to the spiritual reality of Christ. First Corinthians 5:7 says that “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.”

Our redemption depends on what Jesus did for us at the cross. Without the shedding of His blood, there would be no forgiveness. By faith, we are protected by the application of Christ’s blood to cover our sins. Forgiveness is found in God’s grace demonstrated through the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to trust Jesus to save us from our sins in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is seeking the redemption of others, not their condemnation.

In John chapter 8, when the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they told Him that Moses commanded them to stone such women. What did Jesus say? Jesus told the crowd, “Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” After disarming the Pharisees, He then turned to the woman and said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus was the only perfect person in the crowd that day, but chose not to thrown any stones. He sought this woman’s redemption, not her condemnation, and that is how we can be an instrument of God’s grace today.

Seeking redemption of others rather than condemnation is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Hebrews 11:24 to 26.

“By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharoah’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

The Bible acknowledges the pleasure of sin for a season, but it is only temporary. The treasures of God’s grace have much more value than the treasures of this world. Gold may shine, but the brilliance of God’s glory shines brighter. Fame may cause our star to shine for a season, but Jesus shines as the Bright Morning Star forever.

Moses understood the value of being identified with Christ.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to know the greater value of following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pTQAwvnm6g4HwVVYs9cgv?si=a55e231a2b254a82

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is helping people in need.

Helping people does not always mean a hand-out. Sometimes, it means a hand-up, helping someone to their feet who is in a state of distress.

The Good Samaritan did that for a man who was beaten after a robbery. Victims of crime often need to go through a healing process. The compassionate outreach from a believer shows the love of Jesus for that person.

James 1:27 talks about the importance of looking after orphans and widows in their distress.

This can happen in practical ways for orphans through mentorship, foster parenting or adoption. This can happen for widows through care-giving, visitation, and checking in on them.

Helping people in need is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:23.

By faith, the parents of Moses hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

There was a law in Egypt forbidding Hebrew baby boys to live at the time when Moses was born. But the parents of Moses were guided by their faith to protect his life. In the book of Acts, Stephen recalled that for three months, Moses was cared for by his own family.

Faith seeks to preserve life in the midst of a culture that promotes death. Faith also sees God’s extraordinary plan in the life of each precious child. That is what the parents of Moses did in preserving the life of their son. Their faith overcame any fear of the king’s unjust law so that Moses could live to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to uphold the precious value of human life in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

One definition of sharing is to let someone else have or use part of something that belongs to you.

This happens when we have a giving spirit. Needs are met and people are helped when we share with others.

Ephesians 4:28 talks about doing something useful with our own hands, so that we may have something to share with those in need. That may mean sharing something we made with our hands. In the book of Acts, Tabitha was known for helping the poor with the clothing she made. Or it may mean using money from our income to help someone in need.

Hebrews 13:16 gives us this word of instruction: Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Sharing with others in need is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:22.

By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

He gave these instructions just before dying in Genesis 50. He said to his brother Israelites, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

The reason this was a statement of faith was because Joseph knew the promises of God to provide land for His people. He made known the boundaries of this land for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So, Joseph fully anticipated a day to come when the Israelites would leave Egypt and begin their journey to the Promised Land.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to believe the promises of God in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70OnoTjz1qM7DvR2Wa8nTS?si=b63355ac789f4355

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:13.

Speaking of the patriarchs in the Old Testament, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”

The Old Testament characters in Hebrews 11 all had something in common. They were living by faith when they died. They finished strong in the Lord with a heavenly hope. The Bible tells us that God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared a city for them.

We can take courage in the faith of those who walked before us. They were tried, tested, and truly devoted to God.  Their example motivates us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus through this journey called life.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to run the race with endurance in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com