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Posts Tagged ‘Forgiveness’

Faith Building Verse-Hebrews 11:28

July 25th, 2022 No comments

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

Faith Building Verse-2 Chronicles 7:14

May 9th, 2022 No comments

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

Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Forgiveness

February 18th, 2022 No comments

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

Word of Encouragement-Blessed

November 10th, 2021 No comments

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

Word of Encouragement-Blood

September 24th, 2021 No comments

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

Daily Challenge-Persevere In Love

June 1st, 2021 No comments

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

Daily Challenge-Forgiveness

May 12th, 2021 No comments

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

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Word of Encouragement-Blessing

February 17th, 2021 No comments

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

One definition of this word is “God’s favor.”

If we look at the life of Abraham, we see that one of the reasons that God blesses us is to make us a blessing. If we are blessed with material wealth, He wants us to be generous. If we are blessed with a job, He wants us to bless others with faithful service.

In Genesis 12:2, the LORD said to Abraham, “I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

The ultimate blessing that comes from God is His forgiveness. Without forgiveness of sins, there would be no hope for us to be restored to God. Forgiveness is a gift of God’s grace that becomes our reality when we put our faith in Jesus Christ to forgive us.

Romans 4:7 says, “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

Find encouragement in the blessings that come from God in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Word of Encouragement-Forgiveness

February 10th, 2021 No comments

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

The Bible tells us that we all fall short of the glory of God. We miss the mark of God’s perfect standard whenever we disobey Him.

But through Jesus Christ, God provided a way for our sins to be forgiven. Acts 10:43 says about Jesus, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Jesus came to take the punishment of our sins upon Himself. That was the purpose of the cross. When we cling to the message of the cross as our only hope, God no longer holds our sins against us.

The Gospel is calling us to agree with God that we need a Savior, and Jesus is His name. First John 1:9 says that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Find encouragement in God’s forgiveness in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Good News Focus-The Righteousness of God

October 24th, 2020 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 1:17.

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.”

The book of Romans makes it very clear that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That puts us in debt to God. We owe Him more than we can offer Him.  Our good deeds are not enough to earn credit. Our tithes and offerings are not enough to buy credit. But God’s grace has been revealed through Jesus and is a gift by which we can receive the credit of righteousness, which clears our debt of sin.

Romans 3:22 says that this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. That is how we can truly live in the light of God’s love.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of forgiveness, faithfulness, and righteousness in the Year of Vision.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

20/20 Insight-Snow

February 12th, 2020 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on a spiritual metaphor of snow.

It’s found in Isaiah 1:18, where the LORD says, 

“Come now, let us settle the matter. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

Just as a blanket of snow covers the ground, so the blood of Jesus has the power to cover our sins. His grace is able to make our hearts pure again. 

Repentance is the pathway to forgiveness. That is the picture of turning around from going in the wrong direction to get back on track with God. To a nation whose hands were full of blood, God said, “Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice.” 

In the New Testament, Jesus said, “Repent and believe the good news!”

Focusing on the grace of God to cleanse us from sin gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com