JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 2:10.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We were made to shine God’s love with good deeds. Whether we are adopting a child who needs a family, sharing a meal with someone recovering from surgery, or visiting the elderly in a retirement home, there are good deeds that we can do to make this world a brighter place for someone else. Let love be the motivation for generous deeds.
Titus 3:14 says, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good in order than they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”
This Light Reflection inspires us to do good works with the opportunities that God gives us 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 a good deed for God.
According to Jesus, this is how we let our light shine. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:14 to 16, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
So, what can we do today to shine our light for Jesus? Look for opportunities, let love be the motivation, and watch how God works through those simple steps of obedience to encourage someone with the reality that they are loved by God.
A good deed for God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is a commitment to doing what is good.
Good deeds will not save us, but those who are saved by God’s grace are instructed to do good deeds.
Titus chapter 3 talks about the value of good deeds in several places.
In verse 8, Paul instructed Titus to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Verse 14 says, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”
As we let our light shine for Jesus with good deeds, many people will be blessed and be moved to glorify our Father in heaven.
A commitment to good deeds is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to take a step toward doing what is good.
The Apostle Paul wrote why this is important in Titus 3:14-Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
God put us here on earth to make a difference. He called us to be a light in the world-to reflect His heart of love for a broken world. One of the ways we shine that light is to do good deeds that glorify God in heaven.
When we see the good deeds of Jesus, we see that He was about proclaiming good news, healing, setting the oppressed free, and demonstrating love through humble service and sacrifice.
Take the daily challenge to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by doing what is good on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of good deeds.
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 good deeds from pure motives.
God’s love is pure motivation for carrying out good deeds. Titus 3:14 says, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.” In the present climate, there will be serving opportunities and sharing opportunities to reflect God’s love with those in urgent need.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Focusing on good deeds that shares God’s love 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 2:12.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
The call to Christian integrity goes beyond mere words to a way of life that reflects the actions, attitudes, and teachings of Jesus Christ. One famous quote commonly associated with St. Francis of Assisi is, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”
Jesus emphasized the importance of letting our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.
Walking in the light of God’s goodness 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 9 and 10.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
As long as we have breath, God has a purpose for us to fulfill. What is that mission? Whatever God calls us to do specifically, it involves doing good for other people. It might be acts of service, or building someone up with our words, or giving someone the gift of our time with someone who needs a listening ear. For the endurance to complete God’s work, we can gain inspiration from Jesus Christ who endured the pain and agony of the cross on our behalf. We can also gain inspiration from God’s promises of blessing to us that will be fulfilled at the proper time. A third incentive is to see the difference in other people’s lives through our expressions of love for them.
Walking in the endurance of doing good deeds for others 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 Matthew 5:16.
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
There is a way that practicing good deeds does NOT honor God. Jesus talked about the Pharisees praying, fasting, and giving their offerings to God in order to be seen by others. But there is a way that practicing good deeds DOES honor God. It happens when our motivation is prompted by God’s love and overflows into our actions.
God uses our good deeds to serve people and meet them at their point of need. As they benefit from our generous gifts or labor of love, they will see the extension of God’s love flowing through us. What opportunities are before you today?
Glorifying God with good deeds 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 Matthew 6:1.
Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Jesus was talking here about motives-why we do what we do. Do we seek attention for ourselves with acts of righteousness or do we seek the glory of God? In the previous chapter of the Bible, (Matthew 5) Jesus was encouraging us to let our light shine so that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.
Drawing people’s attention to the love of Jesus is a pure motive for our good deeds.
Walking with pure motives to carry out good deeds is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In our Relationship-Building Principles, we are examining some of the ways Jesus’ followers can be effective witnesses for the Gospel.
One way is to take the service approach.
In Acts 9, Tabitha is a good example of someone who demonstrated her love for God through acts of service. She was always doing good and helping the poor.
All over the world, Christian organizations reach out to children in poverty. Churches send out people to serve on mission trips. Disaster relief organizations help people in crisis situations to rebuild their lives. These forms of service are giving Christians opportunities to share the love of Jesus, as we represent Him in various forms of service.
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Taking the service approach of sharing the Gospel is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – We find this word of instruction in Hebrews 13:16: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
God’s design for our good deeds is for the righteousness of Christ to be exalted. The follower of Christ is motivated to good deeds because the love of Christ is active within us.
After the recent tornado outbreak in Oklahoma, various Christian relief groups moved in to help those devastated by the tornadoes. News broadcasts were drawing attention to the initiative of faith-based groups to come to the aid of those who were suffering.
The compassion of Christ is at the heart of many of these efforts. Doing good and sharing with others will involve sacrifices of personal time. It will require the heart of a servant. There might be a cost involved with making financial donations or buying items that other people need. The risk is worth the potential outcome. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” When we give sacrificially for Christ, God is pleased, practical needs are met, and the door is open for others to give glory to God as a result of our witness.
The “results of sacrificial giving” is a lesson of faith worth remembering.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
