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

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the depth of God’s love.

In Ephesians 3:18, The Apostle Paul prayed that we might have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how deep is the love of Christ.

One of the ways we can tell that someone loves us sincerely is by their willingness to make sacrifices on our behalf. Jesus passes this sincerity test with flying colors.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” That is exactly what Jesus would do less that 24 hours after making this statement.  Because of His sacrifice, we can call on God to save us from our sins, and He will be faithful to hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Focusing on the depth of God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Galatians 3:13.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

That is what Jesus did for us when He died on a cross. He took the curse of our sin upon Himself so that we might be blessed with His righteousness. 

We can respond to this historical moment with gratitude. This was a sacrifice that Jesus endured voluntarily, because He loves us. We can say thank-you by trusting Him to forgive us and to lead us every day for the rest of our lives. It will not be the most popular path nor the easiest path. But His way will prove to be the only path forward in His grace and mercy.

Through Jesus, we are set free from the curse of the law to experience the blessing of His grace.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 14:27.

Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The peace of God is a wonderful treasure and is available for those who trust in Jesus completely. Just before Jesus died, He was talking about peace that was better than anything this world could give.

With faith in Jesus, we are able to rest in God’s grace. We don’t have  to prove our worth to Him. He has proved His love for us.

With faith in Jesus, we have a secure relationship that is built on sure promises of blessing.

With faith in Jesus, we have a Savior, who does not count our sins against us. We are forgiven and reconciled to God through Jesus.

The words of Jesus inspire us to embrace the peace that Jesus offers us in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 32:1.

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” This blessing is made possible through Jesus Christ who came to reconcile us with God.

Deceit is the opposite of integrity, misleading someone through dishonest means. There is a way for a dishonest person to become honest, and for hidden sins to be forgiven.

That path comes through confession and changing direction. This is what we find in First John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This is how we can get back on track with God if we have lost our way.

Walking in honest confession is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Joseph.

In his teen years, Joseph’s brothers mistreated him badly. They sold him off to a foreign land.

Many years later, these same brothers came to Joseph to seek his help during a famine. What they did not know at the time was that they were seeking help from the brother they had disowned so many years ago.

Joseph had regard for God throughout his life. When given the opportunity to get revenge, he instead opened the door for reconciliation. In Genesis 50:20, he revealed his identity to them and said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 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.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

The faithfulness of Joseph to seek reconciliation with his brothers inspires us to overcome evil with good and to live a life of integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His love to repair broken relationships.

God’s love brings together what sin has broken. His grace is stronger than our sin.

We see this in the Old Testament, when Joseph was reconciled to his brothers in Genesis 50. His brothers had sold him into slavery to Egypt. Through the course of time, Joseph rose to a prominent position of influence and his brothers were in need of food. They came to him for help. The love of God was so strong in Joseph that when he could have sought revenge, he instead offered forgiveness.

We also see the power of God’s love in the New Testament through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our sin separates us from God, but His love is able to restore what we have broken. First Peter 3:18 says, “Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” This happens when we accept His forgiveness, and say “yes” to His invitation to follow Him by faith.

God’s ability to repair broken relationships is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on 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 with all wisdom and understanding.”

These are some of the spiritual blessings that we experience in Christ-Redemption, Forgiveness, and abundant Grace.

To be redeemed is to be set free from the power of sin. Chains are broken when we follow Jesus out of the darkness into His wonderful light. To have the forgiveness of sins is to be cleared of guilt. According to Psalm 32:2, “Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” These are some of the blessings of God’s grace that we enjoy when we are   in Christ.

Spiritual blessings are promises of hope for those who follow Jesus in the Year of Trust.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His good news.

According to Acts 13:32 and 33, God’s good news is linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.”

Without the empty grave, the Christian faith would collapse. But since Jesus did rise from the dead, we have a living hope by believing in the name of Jesus Christ. We have the gift of His grace, the forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and an inheritance in God’s kingdom that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

The good news of Jesus is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His power to forgive.

First John 1:8 and 9 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.”

Confession is simply agreeing with God that we are sinners in need of His grace. There are no secrets that we can keep from God. He knows everything about us already, so nothing we tell Him about ourselves will surprise Him. Jesus is ready to offer us mercy when we approach Him with humility and honesty. Confession is how we bring the darkness into the light, and remove the barriers that keep us from experiencing the joy of God’s spiritual blessings.

First John 2:1 says, “If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

A daily connection with Christ gives us a place to turn for complete forgiveness and purification.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines the parable of a Pharisee and tax collector.

In Luke 18, Jesus told this story to some people who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like the other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast, and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus said that this man rather than the Pharisee, went home justified before God.

A daily connection with Christ takes us to a humble place of recognizing our need for God’s mercy every single day.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com