JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is willingness to forgive others.
The way of following Jesus is the way of forgiveness. We learn this in Colossians 3:13-Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
One story of forgiveness that has had a huge impact on people’s lives is when a mother named Renee chose to forgive Eric, a drunk driver who took the life of her 20 year-old daughter. Renee was then given a platform to speak to groups about the dangers of drunk driving and the power of forgiveness.
Matthew West heard this story, and it caused him to take a look at his own life and ask himself if he could do what was humanly impossible-to choose forgiveness. He wrote a song about it. The lyrics to “Forgiveness” reveal that while forgiveness is not easy, it is possible with God’s help.
Being willing to forgive others is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to turn to Jesus as our Advocate.
Grace is a wonderful gift from God, but it is not cheap. It came at the price of the blood of Jesus at the cross. Therefore, grace is not something to take for granted, but is to be received with gratitude.
When we sin against God, there is a place to turn for the help and hope that we need.
First John 2:1 says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Jesus is able to forgive our sins, renew our joy, and restore our relationship with God to a healthy place.
Turning to Jesus as our Advocate 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 Isaiah 1:18.
The LORD says this to a nation whose sin was great. “Come now, let us settle the matter, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be whiter than snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
God was telling the nation of Israel that even though they had been rebellious, it was not too late for them to change course. They could be made clean. They could experience God’s forgiveness. He said to them in verses 16 and 17-“wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right. Seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
While we have breath, there is hope for forgiveness and reform by the blood of Jesus. He went to the cross to purify us from sin and bring us into a right relationship with God.
This Light Reflection inspires us to find freedom from our past in the forgiveness of God 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 build our lives on God’s grace and truth.
Jesus came to the earth from the Father full of grace and truth. So, if grace and truth are going to be foundational in our lives, Jesus is going to be the central focus.
In Matthew 7:24, Jesus taught that everyone who hears His words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The truth of Jesus’ teachings gives us a strong foundation for our faith and clear, moral direction for our decisions.
His grace has the power to set us free from the guilt of our sin. Romans 3:23 acknowledges that we 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. The shedding of Christ’s blood at the cross paved the way for us to find forgiveness in His grace.
Building our lives on God’s grace and truth is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Steps to a Radiant Faith are repentance and baptism.
This was the message that Peter shared with the crowd on Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.
He centered his message on Jesus, explained His death and resurrection, and spoke of His identity as Lord and Messiah.
This generated the question from the crowd, “What shall we do?”
That is when Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
This is the message for anyone who is longing for a fresh start in God’s grace. Freedom and forgiveness are offered for anyone who changes the course of their lives to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.
About 3,000 people embraced that message during Pentecost and were added to the church.
Repentance and Baptism are Vital Steps to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Colossians 1:13 and 14.
God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The Apostle Paul was writing this message to the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in the Colossian church. The difference between knowing Jesus and not knowing Jesus is like the difference between night and day. We see reality so much more clearly when we fix our eyes on Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith.
One of the blessings that we experience is the light of His redemption. The penalty of our sins was paid in full at the cross. Jesus paid for our redemption with the shedding of His blood. He has made a way for us to be forgiven by God. And now, through Jesus, we can go forward into His Kingdom and experience His love forever.
This Light Reflection inspires us to celebrate our inheritance in God’s Kingdom in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 1:7.
Speaking of Jesus, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”
This is one of the huge blessings of the Gospel. Guilt gives way to freedom at the cross. That is where Jesus shed His blood to take away our sins.
God’s forgiveness is a light that shines hope into our lives. As we turn from sin to Jesus, we go forward in God’s plan to live in freedom, with all the blessings that flow from grace into an abundant and eternal life. Acts 13:38 says, “my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him, everyone who believes is set free from every sin.”
This Light Reflection inspires us to find freedom in the forgiveness of God’s love in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
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
