John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Second Corinthians 5:19b and 20.

“He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

God’s love is the persuasive factor that moves us to follow Jesus. This is one of the common traits of those who follow Jesus by faith. We rely on His love. God’s love demonstrated at the cross made the way for us to be reconciled to Him.

The Gospel is a light that gives us a message of peace to share with the world. As ambassadors for Christ, we are like foreign diplomats, representing our leader, bringing offers of peace wherever we serve. The message we are entrusted to share with the world is this: Be reconciled to God.

This Light Reflection inspires us to represent Jesus faithfully in our service for the Kingdom in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 16:9 to 11.

David wrote, “My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

David saw hope beyond the grave because of this prophetic truth. God’s faithful one would not see decay. This prophecy came to light when Jesus rose from the dead.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter referred to this Psalm to apply it to Jesus. Acts 2:31 says, “Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”  Our hope for life beyond the grave flows from the reality that Jesus rose from the dead.

This Light Reflection inspires us to rejoice in Jesus as our living hope 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 walking in victory.

Following Jesus is the pathway to victory. His way leads to the triumph of mercy over judgement. His way leads to the triumph of love over hatred. His way leads to the triumph of life over death.  When we follow Jesus with a faithful heart, we live with His resurrection power.

Yes, there will be times of trouble, but we can be encouraged by the light of the Gospel to overcome the darkness. The grave of Jesus is empty, so that our lives can be filled with His Presence.

In light of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and the resurrection of the saints, First Corinthians 15:54 exclaims, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” And verse 57 says, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Walking in Victory 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 pursue peace.

Whenever we use our words for deceitful speech, revenge, or slander, we are not representing the Lord. This has a way of sending our relationships into a downward spiral of hostility and conflict. In addition, our witness is stained if we claim to know God.

However, when we look to Jesus and are inspired by His example, we learn the way of love. We learn to speak the truth with love. We learn to express our faith in love. We learn to build up the lives of others with words of hope and encouragement.

First Peter 3:10 offers this piece of wisdom, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil, and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”

Pursuing Peace 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 Isaiah 53:4 and 5.

This is a prophecy about Jesus, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him and by his wounds we are healed.”

This prophecy came to light at the cross, where Jesus died for our sins. At the time this prophecy was written, crucifixion had not been invented. Yet, the prophet wrote about the way Jesus would be pierced for our transgressions.

The cross was the place of the great exchange, where the Savior suffered for our sins so that we could be forgiven by God and restored to a peaceful relationship with God. Our ultimate healing flows from the blood of Jesus shed at the cross.

This Light Reflection inspires us to remember the price that was paid for our redemption in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to walk by faith, not in fear.

Being a witness for Jesus involves taking a public stand for the Gospel. The Apostle Paul was an excellent example of a bold believer.

He said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” He consistently stood for Jesus in crowds that were receptive to his message and crowds that were hostile to his message.

Peter struggled with that kind of boldness at times. After Jesus was arrested, he denied knowing Jesus three times. But later, he would learn from the error of his ways and turn back to Christ.

He encouraged a church under persecution with these words in First Peter 3:14, “Even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.”

Walking by faith, not in fear 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 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