JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the contagious effect of the Good News.

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 news. 

Isaiah 52:7 says “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Good news brings hope, encouragement, and refreshment to our soul. Followers of Jesus have the best news to share of all. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Focusing on the good news of Jesus to save us and transform us gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Luke 2, verses 10 and 11.

The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

What an extraordinary moment for the shepherds. At first they were terrified when the angel appeared to them. But notice the first words spoken by the angel. “Do not be afraid.” Whenever the angels appear to someone in the events surrounding the birth of Christ, they are quick to mention that the person has no reason to fear. This was not a dreadful occasion. This was a moment for joy and celebration. The arrival of Jesus to the world was good news for the world, and when we receive His gift of grace, Jesus becomes good news for our soul.

Through Jesus, we are set free from fear to experience the great joy of embracing God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Romans 5, verses 1 and 2a.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

In the presence of violence and conflict, many of us crave peace. We want wars to end. We want crime to stop. We want the arguments and disagreements to disappear from our relationships. There are some types of conflict that we cannot control, but there is a pathway provided by Jesus that leads us to peace with God. That way is the good news of His grace, which we can receive as the ultimate gift.

He will be faithful to bring us into a peaceful relationship with God and to separate us from the guilt of our sins. There is no more war with God when our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus.

Through Jesus, we are set free to have peace with God forever.  

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Persons of Integrity from the Bible are four men with leprosy.

In Second Kings 7, four men who had leprosy decided to surrender to the Arameans, who were laying siege to their city. They reasoned that it was better to surrender than to stay in the city and die.

But when they reached the camp of the Arameans, no one was there. The four men entered their tents, eating and drinking, and taking silver, gold, and clothing. Then they said to each other, “What we are doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.” That is what they did.

If these four men were compelled to go back to the city to report the good news that they were free from tyranny, how much more significant for us to tell the good news of what Jesus did to free us from the tyranny of sin?

The faithfulness of four men with leprosy to share the good news of freedom with their city inspires us to share the Gospel with the world and live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His good news.

According to Acts 13:32 and 33, God’s good news is linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.”

Without the empty grave, the Christian faith would collapse. But since Jesus did rise from the dead, we have a living hope by believing in the name of Jesus Christ. We have the gift of His grace, the forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and an inheritance in God’s kingdom that can never perish, spoil, or fade.

The good news of Jesus is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

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 direct approach.

We see that in a number of places in the book of Acts. On the day of Pentecost, Peter gave a sermon where he talked about Jesus, and what He had accomplished when He was on the earth-how He died on a cross, rose from the dead, and was exalted at the right hand of God.

The people asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 3,000 people were added to the church that day.

On another occasion, a desperate jailer asked Paul and Silas, “what must I do to be saved?” Paul’s response was direct: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.” That man came to believe in God and was filled with joy.

When someone asks how they can be saved, that is a good time to explain that Jesus is the answer.

Taking the direct 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 – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on news that is too good to contain.

In the book of Second Kings, four men in Samaria had leprosy. A great famine had overtaken their city due to a long siege by a strong army. Instead of staying at the city gate to die, the men decided to go over to the enemy camp to surrender, in the hope that they would live. But when they got there, no one was at the camp. The army had fled their tents, but left behind food, clothing, and money.

The men with leprosy ate and drank and carried off the silver, gold, and clothing and buried them as hidden treasure. Then they came back for more. Eventually, they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.” They decided to report their findings to the royal palace.

There is a spiritual thirst and hunger in the land today. The Good News of Jesus is what this world needs. Would it be right for beggars who have been blessed by this abundant treasure to keep it for themselves? Telling others this good news is much like a beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. There is no shortage of supply, because God’s love is abundant and eternal.

The Good News of Jesus Christ is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on what happens in the Year of the Lord’s favor

Isaiah 61 contains words that would eventually be fulfilled by Jesus. The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.

When Jesus came to earth, He fulfilled these words. This is where Jesus stopped when He read the scroll from Isaiah. During His earthly ministry, we learn that Jesus healed the sick, encouraged the brokenhearted, and preached the Gospel. He drew crowds with His miracles, and gained enemies by claiming to be God’s Anointed One. In the favor of the LORD, we find the light of hope, the source of healing, and the freedom of forgiveness.

The favor of the LORD is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on power of the Gospel to change us.

In reality, the good news of Jesus Christ changes lives in many ways. Four changes are found in Romans 1:16 and 17. The Apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last; just as it is written, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’

One of the ways the gospel changes us is by saving our soul. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A second way that the gospel changes us is by making us right with God. Christians are not perfect, but we are forgiven and restored.

A third way the gospel changes us is by giving us a valuable advocate. Jesus has proven through the cross and empty grave that He is our worthy Savior, mighty God, and a faithful friend to the end.

A fourth way that the gospel changes us is by giving us enthusiasm to live the Christian life and publicly proclaim Jesus as Lord.

The power of the Gospel to change us is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com