JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to pursue faith.
This is what the Apostle Paul instructed a young pastor to do in Second Timothy 2:22. Paul was instructing Timothy how to be an effective witness for the Gospel.
Pursuing faith is one of those instructions. This is how we can shine for Jesus today-with a testimony of faith that reflects His goodness and grace.
At the foundation of faith, we are trusting Jesus alone to save us from our sins and lead us in the way of righteousness until we reach our heavenly home. Our faith depends on what Jesus has done for us.
First Corinthians 15:3 says, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” This is the Gospel by which we take our stand and are saved.
Take the daily challenge to follow Jesus and trust Him completely on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to pursue godly character.
In Second Timothy 2:22, the Apostle Paul gave this instruction to a young church leader.
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Whatever we pursue normally flows out of our priorities. That is why it is important to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. That priority will direct us to pursue the qualities of God’s Kingdom.
It is not enough just to avoid doing bad things. Saying no to sin is certainly noble, but there is so much more to the Christian life than saying no to sin. There is also the focus of saying yes to God, and His plan for our lives. That plan will include the pursuit of righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Take the daily challenge to pursue godly character on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Grace.
To be in God’s grace is to have God’s favor. For those who have sinned against God, we don’t deserve God’s grace, but out of God’s abundant goodness and love for us, He gives His grace to bless us.
Grace is a gift to be received, not a paycheck to be earned. The life-saving impact of grace is highlighted for us in Ephesians 2:8. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
And Romans 3:22 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith.”
That is what the death and resurrection of Jesus was all about-to offer the gift of grace to sinners like us, so that we might be redeemed, restored, and reconciled to Him.
Find encouragement in receiving the gift of God’s grace in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Shield.
This is an instrument of protection for the spiritual battles of our lives. In Ephesians 6:16, the shield of faith is mentioned as a defensive weapon in the armor of God. As we take up the shield of faith, we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Faith serves as a shield in the sense that it helps us to overcome fear, doubt, and temptation. The shield helps us to take our position on the spiritual battlefield and to stand firm when the forces of spiritual darkness attack us.
Ultimately, the LORD is our shield and protector. David wrote in Psalm 3, “Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”
Find encouragement in knowing God as our shield who protects us from the evil one in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “right.”
One of the definitions of “right” is “that which is morally correct, just, or honorable.”
The Bible tells us to focus our thoughts on that which is right.
When we think about Jesus, we are focusing on the Only person who always did what was right and never sinned. He is the Righteous One. We need His righteousness to be accepted by God, and thankfully, His righteousness is available to us when we trust in Him to forgive our sins.
Romans 3:22 tells us that this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Jesus is the right solution for anyone who has done what is wrong before a holy God. His grace motivates us to change course and do what is right in the eyes of God.
Find encouragement in the righteousness of Jesus Christ in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Second Timothy 3, verses 14 and 15.
“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Bible study is an important part of growing in our understanding of who God is. Much like giving of our tithes, it is not meant to be a begrudging duty, but a joyful delight. It can be one of the highlights of our day, to open God’s word and read about His salvation plan through Jesus Christ. This is where we learn of God’s love to the world in need of a Savior. And through Jesus, He provided the solution for the sinful human condition.
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of trusting His grace to save us from our sins 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 extraordinary faith of ordinary men.
Peter and John were two of Jesus’ disciples.
In Acts 4:12, Peter made this public declaration about Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Here is how the religious leaders responded to this statement: When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
One of the demonstrations of extraordinary faith is courage, and the pathway to extraordinary courage is time well spent with Jesus.
Focusing on being with Jesus daily gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 3, verses 22 to 24.
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
This is the miracle of amazing grace-even though we have missed the target of God’s will, God has provided a way for us to be made right with Him. The guilt of our sin is removed by faith in Jesus to forgive us and save us. His grace is at the foundation for our lives. There is nothing we can do to earn it. He freely gives it to all who will receive Him as Savior and Lord. His blood shed at the cross was the sufficient payment for our sins. Now we can be set free from the control and penalty of our sin and live in the liberty of Christ.
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of righteousness and redemption in the Year of Vision.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Galatians 3:26.
“So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”
Each member of God’s family has many spiritual blessings to celebrate. We are connected to the people of God. He places us in a spiritual family with His believers. That spiritual family is called the church. There are times of rich fellowship together as we share what God is doing in our lives.
The most precious blessing is that we belong to God as one of His children. He is our Father. Jesus is our Savior. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor. We live with an awareness that the One who made us is the One who loves us with an everlasting love.
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of belonging to God and His spiritual family 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 work of the Holy Spirit to tell us of things yet to come.
Second Peter 1:21 says, “Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The prophecies in the Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit. When we take the words of the prophets to heart, they have an impact on our lives in a number of ways. Here are two of them.
The words of the prophets build faith. Jesus Himself said, “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” When we see a connection between a prophecy and its fulfillment, we are moved to a greater confidence that God’s word is trustworthy and true, and that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Another impact of prophecy is that we are moved to worship. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, which directs us to view Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Focusing on the prophecies of the Bible 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 Father’s will.
Jesus said in John 6:40, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
The Bible tells us that salvation is found in no one else. Jesus is the name given to mankind by which we must be saved. He is God’s precious gift from heaven. As we look to Jesus with a believing heart, He will be our source of righteousness and salvation. He will be our source of peace in times of conflict; He will be our source of confidence in times of crisis.
Focusing on Jesus as the reason for our hope gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
