JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Steps to a Radiant Faith are gentleness and kindness.
Just as God’s grace is the compelling force to draw us to Jesus, grace is needed in our conversations with unbelievers. Heated exchanges are rarely going produce a fruitful outcome, and may cause more harm than good.
Second Timothy 2:23 is advice from one church leader to another: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
Gentleness and kindness are vital steps 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 sharing the reason for our hope.
As we set apart Christ as Lord of our lives, our belief turns to conviction. God becomes our source of confidence. We hold dearly to the promises of blessing that He has declared for those who love Him.
The quality of our relationship with God overflows into the way we relate with other people. Because we have tasted that the Lord is good, we want others to experience the goodness of God in their lives too.
And so, in our conversations with people, we can look for timely moments to share the reason for our hope, friend to friend.
Here is how we can represent the Lord in meaningful conversations. First Peter 3:15 says, “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Sharing the Reason for our Hope is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Gentleness.
This quality is kind and patient toward people who have room for growth. Love is the motivational factor that inspires us to be gentle.
This quality is also found in the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23, and is often associated in the Bible with humility.
Jesus described Himself as gentle and humble as He was inviting us to come into relationship with Him. He is approachable.
A gentle person finds a way to stay calm in the midst of tension. They treat others with the respect and dignity of being made in the image of God.
In Titus 3:2, we are reminded to “slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
Gentleness is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of kindness.
While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.
One of those influences is kindness.
Kindness uses a gentle tone rather than a Megaphone to draw attention to God’s love for the world. Kindness is how God moves us to places of repentance. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. When we think of the price He paid for our sins, we are humbled.
The Apostle Paul noted the contagious effect of God’s kindness on his life. He wrote in Titus 3:3, “At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Focusing on the kindness of Jesus gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Peter 3:15.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
This verse reveals an important sequence of events for being an effective witness for Jesus.
First, establish clearly that Jesus is Lord of our lives. Let Him take His rightful place on the throne of our hearts.
Second, be prepared to be a voice of hope. This happens with knowledge of God’s Word and experience in living out the Christian life.
Third, share the reason for hope with respectful conversation, not heated arguments. Anger builds up barriers, while respect builds bridges for the Gospel to have a life-changing impact.
Walking as a witness for Jesus is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Galatians 6, verses 1 and 2.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
A person who has sinned against God does not need words of condemnation from those who follow Christ. What that person needs is restoration. As we pursue those who have wandered from the truth, we reflect the love of the Savior who left the ninety-nine sheep to bring us into His flock.
This is a sacred pursuit. It’s delicate. Gentleness is required. Handle the situation with care and concern. Wounded souls are valuable and fragile. We are wise to protect our own hearts from compromising situations as we seek to restore the hearts of others back to God.
Walking in the gentleness of Christ is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “How do I get ready each day to honor God with my life?”
We would not think of going to work without putting on clothing that meets the dress code at work. Nor would we think about going out the door without combing our hair, brushing our teeth, and in some cases, putting on makeup or shaving the face. These are some routines in the morning that make our appearance presentable in public.
The Bible talks about a dress code for Christians that can help us get spiritually ready for each new day to bring honor to God.
Colossians 3:12 says, “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
By spending quality time with God in His Word and in prayer, we will be reminded that we are made holy by His grace and dearly loved. Then, we will be prepared to clothe ourselves with the qualities of Christ in the Year of Exploration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Galatians 6:1 and 2.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Expressing love to sinners can get messy. The ultimate example of this is Jesus Christ, who went to the cross for our sins. As we walk in the light of God’s love, we will recognize two important realities. The first reality is that there are people all around us who need Jesus. And the second reality is that even though we might have a relationship with Jesus, we are still capable of giving in to temptation. So, we are wise to guard our own heart, so that the Spirit living in us influences the person caught in sin, rather than sin in the other person having an influence on us.
In reaching out to people who have been caught in a sin, we have the opportunity to restore them to fellowship with God. The Bible says that we are to do this gently. This means, showing mercy and patience so that they can perceive God’s love expressed through us. It means sharing the good news that Jesus can change us from the inside out as we look to Him as Savior and Lord.
Carrying the burdens of another is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
