JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the wisdom of God’s ways.

Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

We can learn a lesson from the train, which operates most freely and effectively when it stays on track under the supervision of a conductor. Similarly, we are freest and most effective in our faith when we remain on track with God and stay aligned with His will. The way of wisdom is to guard our heart and watch our ways, so that we can openly walk in the goodness of God.

Focusing on the wisdom of God’s ways gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Jesus as the Savior of the world.

First John 4:14 says, “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us.”

God’s love is very big-big enough to reach the whole world. God’s love is also very strong-strong enough for us to lean on with all of our weight. We can bring our burdens to Him in prayer. We can bring the weight of our guilt before Him in confession. He is faithful and able to cleanse us from all of our sin, so that we are declared “not guilty” in His eyes. The invitation is open for anyone to come. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Experiencing this reality will turn us into witnesses of this good news for our generation.

Focusing on Jesus as the Savior of the world gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – If you missed the Friday Time Capsule this week, or wanted to hear the songs again, now you can hear the top 12 songs from late June 2004 on Spotify. Here is the list:

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Matthew 5:9.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Conflict and division threaten to tear apart meaningful relationships. The influence of Jesus invites peace into our relationships. His Gospel is the way of love, which moves us to bless those people in our sphere of influence. 

Jesus calls His followers to be peacemakers in the world while we have opportunity. Peacemaking leads to reconciliation where there was once division and conflict. There is no greater peacemaking mission than to be an influence for the Gospel. The Apostle Paul said in Second Corinthians 5:20, “We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of reconciliation and peacemaking in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Acts 3:19.

“Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

In the New International Version of the Bible, the word “Repent” appears 78 times.  It is an important word in the Gospel, which means to change one’s mind. We were going in the wrong direction, but we changed our mind about God and changed course.

God’s grace allows U-turns. And what a refreshing relief to walk in peace with God-to know that our sins are not leading us to captivity, but that His grace is leading us to freedom in Christ. Our sin is not leading us to isolation from God, but His grace is leading us to a meaningful relationship with Christ. Our sin is not leading us to condemnation, but His grace is leading us to salvation.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of pure refreshment in His saving grace in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 5, verses 6 to 8.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is hard to fathom a love that is willing to go the extra mile like this. Jesus did not die for those who were righteous, because there were none righteous except for Him. Jesus died for us in our sinful condition. His motive for going to the cross was love, which moves us to receive His gift of forgiveness.

Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of redemption in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on God’s accomplishments through us.

If there is one thing about the Christian life that is both humbling and exciting, it is found in being chosen as instruments of God to accomplish great things while we live on the earth.

Whether we are building up the church or speaking out against injustice; whether we are singing a new song to the LORD or volunteering for a local ministry, God’s grace enables us. That means that He deserves the credit for whatever good we accomplish.

Isaiah 26:12 says, “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”  And Psalm 115, verse 1 says, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Focusing on God’s accomplishments through us gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Daniel 6, verses 26 and 27.

After Daniel was delivered from the den of lions, King Darius wrote this message to all the nations of the earth, regarding Daniel’s God.

“He is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

One of the metaphors for Satan is a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to devour, but we don’t have to live in fear of his power if we are close to God. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

The deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den is an inspiring story, and it is also our spiritual reality when we are faithful to God.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of deliverance from the spiritual forces of evil in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the wisdom of God’s counsel.

In Isaiah 48:17, This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

God has a plan for our lives. His instruction is for our benefit. He made us, so He knows how we are wired, and what is ultimately for our good. Trusting in God’s guidance is foundational for being teachable. Why would we follow someone if we thought they were leading us to a dead-end? God’s plan is NOT a dead end. He is leading us somewhere good. God supplies us with His sufficient grace for our journey of faith. He leads us by His Word, in His will, and for His glory.

If we don’t know where God is leading us in the present time, we can start with a prayer like this recorded in Psalm 143, verse 10: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.”

Focusing on the wisdom of God’s counsel gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the love of God to break down racial barriers.

In the early church, there were racial divisions. But God worked through the apostles to show how His love broke down those barriers.  Peter was especially influential. At a church conference, in Acts 15, there were divisions between Jews and Gentiles. 

Peter spoke up to recall an experience he witnessed, saying, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.”

Revelation 5:9 tells us that it was the blood of Jesus that purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Focusing on the love of God for people of all racial backgrounds gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com