John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Exodus 13:21 and 22.

This is how the LORD helped the Israelites as they departed Egypt for the Promised Land.

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

The Israelites needed directions for going forward, and God gave them what they needed-His Presence. The pillar of cloud and pillar of fire were signs of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites. Where God guides us, He provides what we need to accomplish His purposes on the journey of faith until we reach our glorious destiny.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to be encouraged by God’s provision and follow where He leads us in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Mark 14:24.

Jesus said to His disciples, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

There is power in the blood of Jesus to forgive our sin and cleanse us from guilt. His blood shed on the cross was the price that was paid for our redemption. Without His sacrifice, we would still be in our sins. But because of His sacrifice, there is a way for us to be set free from condemnation. Jesus died so that we might live for Him and with Him forever.

First John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to acknowledge the blood of Jesus as full payment for our sin in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Clay in the Hands of the Potter.

We find this element in Isaiah 64:8. “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay; you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Construction sites can be messy. Things are torn apart and broken down for a season. But there is a designer at work with a plan to put it back together again new and improved.

That is how God works in our lives, as He develops godly character in our lives. Things can get messy in the process, but there is a Designer at work, building a masterpiece, so that we can be useful instruments in His Kingdom.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Clay in the Hands of the Potter 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 growth into spiritual maturity.

God’s will for our lives is to grow in His grace and become mature in our character. That does not mean having a holier-than-thou attitude. It means living out the words of Galatians 5:6, which says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

When we turn to Second Peter 1:5, we see the writer urging us to grow in several character qualities including Goodness, Knowledge, Self-Control, and Godliness. That list starts with faith and ends with love. Faith is at the foundation of our relationship with Jesus. Love is the expression flowing out of our relationship with Jesus.

Verse 8 says, “If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Growth into spiritual maturity is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Joshua 21:45.

“Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

The LORD is a promise keeper. It may take time for His words to be fulfilled, but He can be trusted to deliver on them at the right time. We can look at the nation of Israel as an example of God’s faithfulness.

Throughout the Old Testament, there were prophecies about a Messianic figure who would emerge onto the world stage. God delivered on that promise through the appearance of Jesus.

Romans 5:6 says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”

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

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Qgso77quFx4mfLktT3sW8?si=488aaa7033f34d71

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

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said to His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Salt is a preservative and adds flavor to food. Spiritually speaking, we serve as the salt of the earth when we are an influence for the Gospel. God works through us to preserve society from moral decay and enables us to flavor this world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

One of the ways that we can represent Jesus in this way is through gracious words. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Being the Salt of the earth is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Peter 3:18.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Our conversion to Christ marks the beginning of our faith journey where we follow Jesus step by step with a heart that trusts in Him.

God’s will for our lives is to grow in our relationship with Jesus and know Him on a deeper level. This happens when we spend time with Him in prayer and take His words to heart from the Bible.

A closer walk with Jesus will more clearly define our mission. We will be in tune with His voice and moved by His love for us.

Colossians 2:6 says, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is measuring our worth by how God sees us.

In Second Corinthians 10:12, the Apostle Paul wrote, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

The unwise thing about making comparisons is that they tempt us toward feelings of inferiority or superiority. King Saul became jealous of David when the crowd compared David’s victories with Saul’s victories. Their relationship broke down.

A better way to measure our worth is by understanding how God sees us. Jesus said in Luke 12:7, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” This sense of value frees us to share God’s love with others and treat them with respect and dignity.

Measuring our worth by how God sees us is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Acts 13:38.

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

No matter how many sins we may have committed, we are not without hope. Jesus came precisely for that reason-to be the remedy for our sin. His grace is the perfect cure.

In Luke chapter 7, there was a woman who was forgiven of her many sins, and this abundant grace was evident in the love that she displayed for Jesus.

The Gospel offers abundant grace to forgive all our sins and change the direction of our lives to love God with full devotion. There is hope available, and his name is Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to reach out to Jesus for the forgiveness that we need in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com