JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Psalm 23:6.
With the LORD as my Shepherd, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
As we follow Jesus as our Good Shepherd, His goodness and love follow us every single day, step-by-step, moment-by-moment. That’s because we have the presence and peace of God surrounding us. His grace blesses us today and saves us for eternity. We were made to worship God, and His dwelling place will be filled with the redeemed who love Him and have been saved by His grace.
In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to experience the joy of following and worshipping Jesus in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Psalm 23:5.
With the LORD as my Shepherd, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
David, who wrote Psalm 23, certainly knew what it was like to have enemies. He also knew the experience of God’s provision and protection. There was a calling on his life to be king of Israel. We have a purpose too. It might not be a royal destiny here on earth, but it is a noble plan, because it is orchestrated by God.
In God’s plan, there is spiritual blessing in the form of forgiveness, acceptance into God’s family, joy, peace, hope and love. Jesus talked about this kind of abundant life when He described Himself as the Good Shepherd.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to enjoy the overflowing blessings of following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – 2022 is the Year of Relationship at WJTL. We will examine what the Bible has to say about key elements that lead to thriving relationships, including our relationship with God.
Today’s Faith-Building Verses are John 10, verses 14 and 15.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Jesus has an ongoing relationship with His followers. His love is so strong that He was willing to lay down His life for us at the cross. Then, He rose from the dead to give us a living hope for today and forever. The Shepherd-Sheep relationship reveals God’s tender love for His people. Isaiah 40:11 says, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.”
These faith-building verses inspire us to know Jesus as our Good Shepherd in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
That was His claim in John 10:11 and John 10:14.
In verse 11, He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
And in verse 14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
Sheep have a tendency to wander and are left vulnerable when they stray from the flock. But as the Good Shepherd, Jesus cares for each of His sheep. In Luke 15, He talks about a shepherd being willing to leave the 99 sheep who were found to search for the sheep that strayed from the flock. That is the heart of Jesus-to pursue us, to rescue us, and to restore us back to the fold of where we belong.
Jesus loves us. He was willing to die for us to bring us into His family of believers.
Focusing on Jesus as the Good Shepherd 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 Psalm 23:3b.
With the LORD as my Shepherd, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
In John chapter 10, when Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd, He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
Jesus knows how to guide His people in the right direction. His grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. Jesus will not tempt us to do what is wrong, but He will move us to do what is right for the glory of God.
Through Jesus, we are set free to walk on the righteous pathways where God leads us.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 10:11.
Jesus
made the claim, “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the
shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he
abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters
it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the
sheep.”
One of
the functions of a shepherd is to protect their sheep from predatory animals.
In the spiritual realm, that predatory animal is the devil, who prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. But Jesus cares personally
for His followers and is able to protect us from the attempts of the devil to
deceive and destroy us. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was necessary for
us to find protection in His grace.
The words of Jesus inspire us to trust Him as our Good Shepherd in the Year of Redemption.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
