JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 6:35.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” statements, which are recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He is able to accomplish on our behalf.

After Jesus miraculously turned a boy’s lunch into a feast for 5,000 people, He made this statement about Himself:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus was pointing to the spiritual reality that His grace is sufficient to satisfy our soul. Blaise Pascal once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to find fulfillment in knowing Jesus 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 the humility of a child.

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus honors the quality of humility, and directs our attention to a child as a visual example. Sometimes, children can learn from adults, and sometimes adults can learn from children.

Humility makes children teachable while they grow. Humility also moves them to a place of trust and dependence on their parent or guardian. Humility builds better relationships. These are some of the ways that child-like humility can help us to grow in our faith.

First Peter 5:5 teaches us to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

Having the Humility of a Child 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 Exodus 4:12.

At the burning bush, The LORD said to Moses, “Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

God was calling Moses to return to his people in Egypt so that the Israelites might be delivered from slavery. Moses tried to make excuses to be excused from this assignment. Yet, God insisted that Moses would have all that he needed for the task. He would have God’s favor.

We will likely not meet God at a burning bush like Moses did. But if we belong to God, there will be a time when the light of His calling will be revealed.  It might not come to us all at once. We don’t have to wait to take the first step until we have the whole plan figured out. The time to start is when God says “Now.” God sees the big picture, and He knows how to fit the pieces of the puzzle together for our mission to succeed.

This Light Reflection inspires us to trust and obey God wherever He leads us 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 to accept children with God’s love.

Jesus called a little child and had him stand among His disciples. Then He taught in Matthew 18:5, “Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”

Jesus loves children. He demonstrated that in His earthly ministry with His prayers and affection. When the disciples wanted to keep the children away from Jesus, He called the children to come closer.

That is what can happen when we welcome a child in Jesus’ name-whether it’s helping with children’s ministry at church, or by becoming a sponsor for a child in another country to help them with daily necessities. Our loving outreach to them will give them a glimpse of how much Jesus loves them.

Accepting Children with God’s love 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 Exodus 3:7 and 10.

God called Moses to a very important assignment:  He said to Moses, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering…..So now, go. I am sending you to Pharoah to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Moses was in exile, separated from his people. He might have thought that his productive days were behind him. But God was just getting started with Moses. At a burning bush, God would call Moses to go back to His people to deliver them from slavery in Egypt. Moses said, “Here I am.” God identified Himself as “I AM WHO I AM.”

God knows how to get our attention. Like Moses, we may feel unworthy or inadequate to do the work that God calls us to do. But God has a plan for our lives and He is our source of strength to fulfill His will. He will be with us every step of the way as we obey His calling.

This Light Reflection inspires us to “say yes” to the call of God on our lives to do His will 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 to fight the good fight of the faith.

This battle does not involve the weapons of the world, but requires the armor of God, which includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, and the shield of faith to extinguish the arrows of the evil one. Our battles are against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

In First Timothy 6:11, the Apostle Paul told Timothy to fight the good fight. Then, he showed him how to fight effectively. Step away from the love of money, temptations, foolish and harmful desires. And step toward godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Walking with Jesus enables us to step into the light of victory in our spiritual battles of life.

Fighting the good fight of the faith 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 Revelation 1, verses 14 through 16.

John had an encounter with Jesus before he wrote the book of Revelation.  This is part of the description of what he saw.

“The hair on his head was white as wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”

John responded by falling at his feet. The hand of Jesus was on him.  The voice of Jesus spoke to him: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One.”

An encounter with Jesus will lead us to faith, reverence, and worship. We will understand that we are in the Presence of someone greater than ourselves, but we will be truly grateful that we are loved by Him. Our faithful service will lead to the glory of His name and will flow out of a relationship with Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to find love and purpose in the Presence of Jesus 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 living with the hope of heaven.

Having the hope of heaven in our heart will remind us that there is more to life than this world. This hope will purify our faith and give us a greater sense of urgency to share the Gospel with unbelievers.

Colossians 3:1 says, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

C.S. Lewis once said, “If you read history, you will find that Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the slave trade, all left their mark on earth precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven.”

Living with the Hope of Heaven 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 Psalm 89, verses 35 to 37.

The LORD says, “Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness-and I will not lie to David-that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.”

Indeed, there is a spiritual heritage coming through David’s line that shines forever. Jesus came through David’s line. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. He is known by His love and faithfulness. God is true to His promises.

The brilliance of His reign is compared to the likeness of the sun. And the establishment of His kingdom is compared to the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.

Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, so, God’s people are called to reflect the light of God’s One and Only Son-Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to be a faithful witness for Jesus 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 to have a healthy support system.

There is wisdom in choosing our friends carefully. Our peers can build up our faith in the Lord or lead us astray, depending on their character.

Proverbs 13:20 instructs us to “walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Hebrews 10:24 encourages us to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

A healthy support system will bring out the best qualities in our character, help us to grow wise, and draw closer to Jesus.

Having a Healthy Support System is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com