JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 6:4.

Speaking of Jesus, “we were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

The light of the Gospel reveals the new life that we can have in Christ. We become new creations. The old has gone. A new way of life has begun, built on faith in Christ, and expressing itself in love.  We become united with Christ in His death and resurrection.

We die to sin and come alive to Jesus. Instead of living for selfish desires, we live to glorify God. This new life gives us a new focus, new priorities, and new identity as a child of God. We are refreshed in the cleansing power of God’s forgiveness and His unfailing love.

Romans 6:8 tells us that if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

This Light Reflection inspires us to embrace the new life of being united with 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 Confession.

This is an acknowledgement to God that we have sinned against Him and need His forgiveness. God does not despise a truly contrite heart.  God sees all and knows everything about us, our good deeds and bad deeds, our pure motives and impure motives. He is not eager to condemn us, but patiently waits for us to turn to His grace.

First John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

After David confessed sin to God in Psalm 51, he said, “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.” Confession brings our sin into the light of God’s grace and breaks the power of darkness over us. Then we will be in a better place to help others.

Confession is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Matthew 6:12.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

There is healing in confession, but confession requires humility. There is also healing in extending forgiveness to others. That too, requires humility. Forgiveness is a gift to receive, and an expression of grace toward others.

Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to seek God’s forgiveness when we have wronged Him and to forgive others when they have wronged us in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Acts 13:38.

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

No matter how many sins we may have committed, we are not without hope. Jesus came precisely for that reason-to be the remedy for our sin. His grace is the perfect cure.

In Luke chapter 7, there was a woman who was forgiven of her many sins, and this abundant grace was evident in the love that she displayed for Jesus.

The Gospel offers abundant grace to forgive all our sins and change the direction of our lives to love God with full devotion. There is hope available, and his name is Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to reach out to Jesus for the forgiveness that we need in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:28.

Referring to Moses, “By faith, he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.”

In the book of Exodus, it was the blood of the Passover lamb applied to the doorframes that protected the firstborn of Israel from death.  This is a foreshadow to the spiritual reality of Christ. First Corinthians 5:7 says that “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.”

Our redemption depends on what Jesus did for us at the cross. Without the shedding of His blood, there would be no forgiveness. By faith, we are protected by the application of Christ’s blood to cover our sins. Forgiveness is found in God’s grace demonstrated through the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to trust Jesus to save us from our sins in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Chronicles 7:14.

The LORD says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

This verse was specifically focusing on the nation of Israel. God would respond to the earnest prayers of His people to bring an end to droughts and plagues in their land. This verse also has relevance for believers today.

Just as humility, prayer, and repentance were the pathways to healing for the Israelites, so we can experience God’s forgiveness today by trusting in the One gift that God has provided for our redemption. That gift is Jesus. He came to offer us forgiveness and a place of belonging in His family through faith in His name.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to humility, prayer, and repentance to follow Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is forgiveness.

First Corinthians 13:5 says that love keeps no record of wrongs. When we love someone, we are not interested in keeping a scorecard of all the wrong things they have done against us.

Constantly digging for dirt on someone’s record can bring back feelings of hurt and anger until it leads to bitterness and thoughts of revenge.

But there is another way forward that can lead to healing and sometimes, reconciliation. That way is forgiveness, which releases us from counting someone’s sins against them, and enables us to overcome evil with good.

By God’s grace, we can love those people in our lives who are less than perfect, without excusing or enabling their wrong behavior.

Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Forgiveness is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Blessed.”

One definition of “Blessed” is a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

To be blessed by God is to receive His favor.  His face is turned toward us in relationship, and we enjoy the benefits of His grace.

While God will bless us with material things, His spiritual blessings have far greater value that last forever.

Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

What follows is a list of specific blessings: Adoption, Redemption, Forgiveness, Acceptance, and the promised Holy Spirit. These are blessings that reflect God’s unfailing love for us.

Find encouragement in the blessing of being united with Christ in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

In the Gospel, blood is the cleansing agent for our heart.  Hebrews 9:22 says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

This is why Jesus went to the cross, so that he might pay the price as a ransom to set us free from the death penalty. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. That includes each one of us.

But here is the good news for us to embrace, and this is why the message of the cross is the power of God for those who are saved in His grace.

First John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” All of our sin is erased. All of our guilt is removed when we come into the light of His grace and truth.

Find encouragement in the blood of Jesus to make us clean before God in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to persevere in love.

God’s will for our lives is to express our faith in love. He wants us to have thriving relationships.

In First Thessalonians 4:10, the Apostle Paul commended that church for loving God’s family throughout Macedonia, and then said, “Yet, we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.”

When it comes to sharing God’s love with others, there is always room for us to grow.

First Corinthians 13:6 tells us that love always perseveres.

It shows in the form of showing compassion to one another, forgiving one another, being kind to one another, offering encouragement to one another, and serving one another. There are many opportunities to demonstrate God’s love every day.

Take the daily challenge to persevere in love on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to learn forgiveness from the example of Joseph.

In the book of Genesis, Joseph was badly mistreated by his brothers, having been sold to slavery in Egypt. But God was with Joseph and over time, raised him to a place of being second in command over Egypt, where he provided food for many during a drought.

His brothers traveled to Egypt to seek food from Joseph. At this point, he could have sought the pathway of revenge and cursing, but he chose the path of forgiveness and blessing instead.

Joseph said to them in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” He reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph understood that God is able to overcome evil with good, and pursued the same objective with a forgiving heart to his brothers.

Take the daily challenge to learn forgiveness from the example of Joseph on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com