JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Amazed.

The definition of this word is “greatly surprised; astonished.”

We have a reason to be amazed at the birth of Christ. His arrival marked a major step forward in God’s redemption plan for us. God came to earth and was made in human likeness. He humbled Himself and would go to the cross to save us from our sins. Christmas reminds us of when God came near to us.

The shepherds were eyewitnesses to the manger scene, and heard the angelic announcement concerning Jesus birth.

Luke 2:17 says, “When they had seen him they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Find encouragement in the amazing grace of God in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is a centurion with faith.

He encountered Jesus in Luke chapter 7. His highly valued servant was sick and dying, and so he sent messengers to Jesus to ask Him to come and heal his servant.

His message to Jesus was so filled with faith that the Bible says that Jesus was amazed at him. What did he say that was so astonishing?

He said, “Say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go’ and he goes.”

This man understood that just as his soldiers moved at his word, so sickness had to move at the command of Jesus. So, if Jesus would just say the word, then the centurion was confident that his servant would be healed. Jesus said about this man, “I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” The servant was then healed of his sickness.

The faithfulness of the Centurion to trust in the words of Jesus inspires us to believe the word of God and to live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com