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

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The light of Christmas leads us to a place of worshipping Jesus. As the Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for Jesus, they also brought with them their hearts of worship. Their example reveals that Jesus is worthy of our very best that we have to offer Him. After all, God gave His best for us.

Their journey reflects the truth of Jeremiah 29:13, where the LORD says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to seek Jesus earnestly for the honor of His name 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 to delight in God’s Word.

Psalm 119 is considered the longest chapter of the Bible. It is filled with references to God’s Word in almost every one of the 176 verses.

In verses 127 and 128, the writer says, “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”

Our attitude toward God’s Word has a strong impact on the direction of our lives. If God’s Word is a treasure to our heart that outweighs the value of gold, then we are going to heed God’s Word carefully to live it out. God’s Word has value for guiding us in the pathway that leads to a thriving faith and true freedom.

Jesus said that if we hold to the teachings of Jesus, we are really His disciples. Then we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.

Delighting in God’s Word is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Job 23:10.

In the midst of grief, pain, and affliction, Job said, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Job’s faith spoke through his perseverance. He endured suffering and saw the value of what suffering would produce in building his character. Not everyone responds to suffering in the same way. Suffering has the potential to make us bitter, but suffering also has the potential to refine our faith and build maturity into our character.

First Peter 1:6 and 7 says,, “For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  This genuine faith is more valuable than gold.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us endure times of testing with God in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are First Peter 1, verses 6 and 7.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith (of greater worth than gold)…..may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

The Bible talks about certain treasures in our relationship with God that are worth more than gold. One of those treasures is genuine faith.

When trials come into our lives, those are opportunities for our faith to be refined. God works through the circumstances of our lives to speak to us about our need for His grace. He may also speak to us of getting rid of certain practices or attitudes that are unholy.

A genuine faith will shine with godly integrity and reflect God’s glory.

These faith-building verses highlight the precious value of genuine faith to be worth more than gold in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

This precious metal is used to make coins and jewelry and is highly valued. Olympians strive to win the gold medal which represents first place in a particular event.

First Peter 1:7 talks about our genuine faith as having greater worth than gold.

A genuine faith often is refined through all kinds of trials, and will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed

Job was a man of God who suffered greatly. In the midst of his harsh trials, he acknowledged that when the Lord tested him he would come forth as gold.

God can use trials to refine our faith so that we become a shining reflection of His image.

Find encouragement in the value of faith to have greater worth than gold in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

John@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to look for the evidence of God in the value of His Word.

The Bible is a unique book, inspired by God, and written by different authors in different time periods. His wisdom in those words offers greater value than the riches of the world.

David wrote in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Verse 10 adds, “They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.”

If we take the message of the Bible to heart, it will be good news for our soul that leads us to follow Jesus. He will be our source of joy.

Take the daily challenge to look for the evidence of God in the wisdom of His Word on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

John@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today, WJTL remembers the perseverance of Job.

James 5:11 says, “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

The story of Job is one of human tragedy and godly triumph. Here was a man who lost practically everything. Yet, he did not give up on God even though he suffered much pain without knowing why he was going down this road of human suffering.

One of his statements gives us insight into what God can do through our moments of hardship.  Job said, “He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Just as God took Job’s faith through the refinement process in the midst of his troubles, He can also use trials to purify us. First Peter 1:6 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

The perseverance of Job is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

This week’s Feedback Giveback prize is a Britt Nicole “Gold” prize pack!  It includes her new song on CD, a button and wristband plus a cinch bag and autographed framed card with song lyrics!  Just comment on our blogs this week and you’ll automatically be entered to win!

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