JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is “Saying No” to the unholy and unhealthy.
We see the wisdom of this in the Ten Commandments. For example, “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. And you shall not steal.”
Saying “No” to temptation allows us to say “Yes” to the ways of God. The New Testament teaches the positive view of obeying God’s commandments. Romans 13:9 and 10 says that these commands are “summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”
The grace of God is a bright influence to give us wise discernment for life’s decisions. Titus 2:11 and 12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Saying “No” to the unholy and unhealthy 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 godly contentment.
A reporter once asked the richest man on earth, “how much is enough?” His reply was “just a little more.”
Godly contentment can prevent us from always craving more than what we have or coveting what other people have.
Godly contentment is a state of the mind and heart that is at peace with God and finds sufficiency in His grace.
First Timothy 6:6 says, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” In Philippians 4:13, Paul the Apostle shared his secret to contentment. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Godly contentment is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on First Timothy 6, verses 10 and 11.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words to a young church leader named Timothy: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
Money has the potential to lead us astray if the treasures of this world become the pursuit of our heart. If Paul was warning a church leader about the dangers of loving money too much, then his words are worth heeding for us. Godliness has greater value than money. That is why Paul urges Timothy to run from the pursuit of material wealth and pursue the richness of knowing Christ. Flowing out of that relationship will be the building of character qualities with great value.
Walking in pursuit of godliness 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 provision of God to live a godly life.
Second Peter 1:3 says that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him, who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Life is a spiritual battlefield. There are sinister forces that work against our soul, seeking to destroy us and separate us from God’s love. But God has resources too, to help us overcome those forces that wage war against our soul. Three of those resources are the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and the Church.
The Holy Spirit fills us with love and hope. He reminds us of Jesus’ words, and guides us in the truth.
The Bible is the word of God, encouraging us with the message of grace and making known His will for our lives.
The church gives us a support structure in the Christian life and a place of belonging in His family of believers.
God’s provision for us to live a godly life is a reason to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the making of a disciple.
This process begins at the point of conversion to Christ, where faith begins to take root in the believer’s life. From that foundation, the new believer walks with Christ and learns to follow Him as Lord and Savior. As this happens, the believer in Christ grows in godly character and becomes a witness for Christ, testifying of His saving grace.
One of the compelling characteristics of the disciple’s progress is their spiritual growth, whereby they become more and more like Jesus in character. There is a reason for that.
In Luke 6:40, Jesus said, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”
The making of a disciple into the likeness of Christ is the result of adequate training from a qualified Teacher and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
