JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to proclaim the Gospel boldly.

We have a life-giving message to share with the world.

The disciples declared this message about Jesus 2,000 years ago. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

How could these men be so bold about their faith? We gain insight from Acts 4:13, where the rulers and elders of the people saw the courage of Peter and John and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Spend time alone with Jesus is the key to learning from Him and gaining confidence to share the reason for our hope. In Ephesians 6, The Apostle Paul asked the church to pray that he would declare the Gospel fearlessly, as he should.

Take the Daily Challenge to proclaim the Gospel boldly on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

Most of us have a favorite fruit that is pleasing to our tastebuds, whether they are oranges, apples, or strawberries.

There are different kinds of character qualities that make our faith more fruitful, such as love, joy, and peace. These qualities are found in the fruit of the Spirit.

When we live by God’s Spirit, He builds godly character qualities on our foundation of faith. This is what enables us to be an effective witness to the world of God’s saving grace. Jesus said in John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Through the faithful witness of believers, the words of Colossians 1:6 are still true today. “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the world.”

Find encouragement in the fruitfulness of walking in step with God’s Spirit in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to be ready to share the Good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go.

Wherever Christ’s followers are serving as His ambassadors, Jesus is represented in that place.

Ephesians 6:14 motivates us to stand firm in the faith with ready feet. The New Living Translation says, “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.”

The good news that we have to share with others is the forgiveness and eternal life that is given us through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s love moves us to share the testimony of Jesus so that others may turn to Christ and be saved from their sins.

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.”

Take the daily challenge to stand firm with ready feet to share God’s good news on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to pursue righteousness.

This is what the Apostle Paul instructed a. young pastor to do in Second Timothy 2:22. Paul was instructing Timothy how to be an effective witness for the Gospel.

Pursuing righteousness was one of those instructions. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us to seek first His kingdom and his righteousness. The pursuit of God’s righteousness is to be top priority for our lives. Jesus also said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.

In our pursuit for righteousness, Jesus is the answer.

Romans 3:22 tells us “this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”  We can trust Jesus to set us free from the guilt of our sin. He will make us right with God, and give us the desire to do what is right in the eyes of God.

Take the daily challenge to pursue righteousness on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s word of Encouragement is “Gospel.”

This word is associated with the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.

When we receive the grace of God as a gift, we are embracing good news for our soul.

The Apostle Paul was moved by the Gospel to preach it. He said in Romans 1:16 and 17, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.”

That is good news that brings us hope, and will affect how we see the world today.

Find encouragement in the Gospel to live it out and share it with others in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to spread good news rather than keep it to ourselves.

In the Old Testament, there is a story of 4 lepers who came to a camp deserted by Israel’s enemies. They said to each other in Second Kings 7:9, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.”  They decided to report what they found at the royal palace.

The Gospel is a message of God’s grace. This good news is bearing fruit around the world wherever people put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.  This is what motivated Paul the Apostle to get out of bed in the morning.

In Acts 20:24, he talked about his goal to finish his race and complete the task the Lord Jesus had given him-the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.  Who do you know that might benefit from hearing about God’s grace today?

Take the daily challenge to spread good news on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 24:14.

Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

This was the mission that Jesus left with His followers before ascending to heaven: He told them to preach the good news to all creation and to make disciples of all nations. Jesus says the Gospel will have an impact on every nation. In heaven, there will be representatives from every nation joining in the celebration.

Through the efforts of missionaries to share the Gospel and efforts to translate the Bible into more languages, the good news of Jesus continues to spread around the world. Opportunities for evangelism continue to abound, thanks to the increase of technology, air travel, the internet, and the commitment of Jesus’ followers to share the good news.

The words of Jesus inspire us to go on mission with God and tell others about His saving grace in the Year of Redemption.

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 Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the relevance of the Gospel for every generation.

There is no generation in history, present, or future that can say they do not need the Lord. Jesus is the worthy Savior who came for all people in all generations of history. This is why we have the calling to pass along the Gospel to the next generation-to make His salvation known to future generations. His righteousness is what we all need, and His righteousness is applied to those who trust Jesus for salvation.

Psalm 22, verse 30b and 31 says, “Future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!”

Methods of presenting the Gospel may change over time, but the actual message remains the same, and is changing lives daily from the inside out.

The relevance of the Gospel for every generation 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 how the Gospel changes lives.

If you have been touched by the grace of God, it is quite likely that you can recall specific ways you changed after coming to faith in Jesus-attitudes, behavior, or priorities.

The disciples became followers of Jesus and would later be appointed as leaders of the early church.

After an encounter with Jesus, the heart of Zacchaeus changed from being greedy to being generous.

A jailer put his faith in Jesus and was changed from being suicidal to being filled with joy.

God’s grace changes people’s lives in various ways, but one common thread is that in whatever way the person changes, it results in bringing glory to God.

One example of that is how Christians responded to reports of the Apostle Paul’s conversion. Galatians 1:23 says, “They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me.”

“Changed lives” reveal the power of the Gospel and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from James 5:19 and 20.

“My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

The Gospel is a message of restoration. We have kept God at an arm’s length by our sinfulness, but God pursues us to save us from our sins and restore us to Him. God’s grace is the remedy for this separation.

Whenever we see someone wander from God, that is our opportunity to reach out to them with God’s love. Sometimes, a person who wanders away feels judged by the church. They might feel the sting of gossip or the weight of condemnation. What they need is grace that extends patience and kindness. Henry Ward Beecher said that “compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.”

Is there a person you can identify who needs the pursuit of grace?

Pursuing the spiritual drifter with God’s grace is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com