JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 2:11.

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The glory of God is a light that draws people to faith and worship. One of the ways Jesus revealed His glory was through signs and miracles.

A miracle is an extraordinary event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. Jesus healed people instantly from sickness. He raised the dead. He walked on water. He fed 5,000 people from five loaves and two fish. In Cana of Galilee, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding banquet. This miracle led His disciples to put their faith in Jesus.

The miracles of Jesus were written for our benefit too.  John 20:30 and 31 says, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to believe in the miracles of Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Revelation 21:23 and 24.

The Apostle John was describing the new Jerusalem which will shine with the glory of God.

“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.”

Many people wonder what heaven is like. The book of Revelation describes heaven as a beautiful place. Nighttime does not exist in the New Jerusalem. Jesus is the source of light for this coming Kingdom. The great street of the city is of gold as pure as transparent glass. The city sparkles with brilliance like a precious jewel. And those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be there.

This Light Reflection inspires us to live with the hope of heaven through faith in Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 19:1 and 2.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

Astronomers estimate that there are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way Galaxy alone. Each one was created by God and has been named by God. The stars speak of God’s attention to His creation.  The sun that shines brightly in the daytime was also created by God, and speaks of God’s faithfulness. Just as the sun rises every day, so His compassion for us is new every morning.

This Light Reflection inspires us to look up into the sky and marvel at God’s creation 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 Living for the glory of God.

If this is the focus as we wake up in the morning, we will be ready in our heart and mind to honor God in the activities of our day, whether they include work, recreation, or meeting someone at a local restaurant.

Every activity blessed by God is an opportunity for us to bless His name.  The Christian faith is not meant to be confined to a worship service on a Sunday morning. It involves our total being 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Today, we can look for ways to lift up the name of Jesus through the witness of our lives.

First Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Living for the glory of God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to do everything for the glory of God.

John Piper has said that “God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes Him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that He really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God.”

Whenever God’s love moves our faith into action, we have opportunity to draw attention to God’s greatness.  It could be singing a love song to Him, or serving in the children’s ministry at church, or visiting the elderly at a retirement community. It might mean saying an encouraging word to a co-worker having a rough day, or inviting a neighbor to our place for a meal.

First Corinthians 10:31 says, “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This is God’s purpose for our lives.

Take the Daily Challenge to do everything for the glory of God on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Second Corinthians 1:20.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

There are some precious promises found in God’s Word for followers of Jesus such as forgiveness of sins, adoption into God’s family, the gift of the Holy Spirt, and eternal life.

Jesus was the fulfillment of a promise made by God in the Old Testament. His appearance in the world 2,000 years ago is evidence that we can trust God to be true to His Word.

Through Jesus, we are set free from the guilt of our past to live with purpose for today and hope for the future.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on First Corinthians 10:31.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

This freedom phrase describes a lifestyle of worship that seeks to bring honor to the name of Jesus through our various activities. If we are wondering if it is proper for us to be doing this or that, we can ask ourselves the question, “Is this activity something that God can potentially use to glorify His name?” When we commit our activities to God, faith is moving us to a place of worship.

John Piper has said that “God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him.” Delighting in the LORD is the foundation that springs us into action to live for the glory of God.

Through Jesus, we are set free to glorify God in whatever we do.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Acts 17:28a.

The Apostle Paul said, “For in him we live and move and have our being.”

The good news of Jesus gives us a new purpose in life. Our focus when waking up in the morning is to know God better and be an instrument that makes Him known in the world. First Corinthians 10:31, says, “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

As we walk with God, our mind becomes trained to commit all our activity to the glory of God, even in the ordinary activities of eating and drinking. This is the main purpose of our lives-to glorify God. That is also the motivation of our heart that enables our faith to be a thriving witness for Jesus.

Through Jesus, we are set free with a new purpose to glorify God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Corinthians 10:31.

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

This statement gives us clarity on the purpose of our lives-to glorify God.

This purpose will give us wisdom for the activities we choose to do. Can I glorify God with this activity? If so, how can this be used for God’s glory?

We can use ordinary things, like food, for God’s glory. We can receive it with thanks. God uses it to nourish our bodies so that we will have strength to do His will. We can also use food to build friendships with neighbors moving next door or a family experiencing a crisis.

The glory of God gives our activity meaningful purpose.

Walking with purpose to glorify God is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the stars in the universe.

David wrote in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they display knowledge.”

The stars in the universe tell us that God is the creator of the universe. Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”

The stars also speak of His vastness. In the Milky Way, the galaxy that contains our solar system, astronomers believe there are at least 100 billions stars. That is just our galaxy. Astronomers believe there are more than 100 billion galaxies in the universe.

The stars also speak of God’s unlimited understanding. Psalm 147:4 says, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”

Philippians 2:14-16 shows us how we can shine like the stars in the universe for the glory of God- by holding out the word of life and doing everything without complaining and arguing.

The stars in the universe are reasons to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com