JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 2, verses 6 and 7.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

God’s grace is an amazing expression of His love for us where we receive what we do NOT deserve. God’s grace is a gift that saves us from our sins.  That gift was made available through the price that Jesus paid with the shedding of His blood.

God’s grace not only saves us from sin, but also raises us to a new position in Christ. We are declared “Not guilty”.  When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, giving us access to the Presence and holiness of God by faith.

God’s grace also gives us access to the treasures of heaven. We have a living hope that the future looks bright in the picture of eternity.

This Light Reflection inspires us to marvel at the brilliance of God’s grace in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 1:14.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Bible says that the knowledge of God’s glory was displayed in the face of Christ. He came as the light of the world, so that those who walk in darkness might be set free from sin and be reconciled to God.

The grace and truth of Jesus was clearly evident in His encounter with a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders were ready to stone her to death, but Jesus disarmed them by saying, “Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And as her accusers gradually went away, Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you, go now and leave your life of sin.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to find forgiveness and freedom in God’s grace and truth in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Steps to a Radiant Faith are gentleness and kindness.

Just as God’s grace is the compelling force to draw us to Jesus, grace is needed in our conversations with unbelievers. Heated exchanges are rarely going produce a fruitful outcome, and may cause more harm than good.

Second Timothy 2:23 is advice from one church leader to another: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Gentleness and kindness are vital steps to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to build our lives on God’s grace and truth.

Jesus came to the earth from the Father full of grace and truth. So, if grace and truth are going to be foundational in our lives, Jesus is going to be the central focus.

In Matthew 7:24, Jesus taught that everyone who hears His words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The truth of Jesus’ teachings gives us a strong foundation for our faith and clear, moral direction for our decisions.

His grace has the power to set us free from the guilt of our sin. Romans 3:23 acknowledges that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The shedding of Christ’s blood at the cross paved the way for us to find forgiveness in His grace.

Building our lives on God’s grace and truth is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from First Timothy 1:13 and 14.

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Do you ever feel insecure about being near a person because you think they are not safe? Christians had a good reason for not feeling safe with Paul before he came to Christ. When his name was Saul, he was a violent man who persecuted Christians for their faith. However, he became a follower of Christ when he saw the light of God’s mercy shining on him.

Paul’s testimony changed people’s perceptions about him. Instead of causing fear, his testimony was stirring praise for God. Through Jesus Christ, change is possible. When we follow Him, change is inevitable.

This Light Reflection inspires us to celebrate changed hearts by the grace of God 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 Speaking the Truth in Love.

Ephesians 4:15 explains what happens when God’s people follow through on this practice.

“We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Jesus came to us full of grace and truth. Grace gives second chances. Grace forgives sin, restores relationships, and builds faith. Grace extends life and peace to those who will embrace the Gospel.

Truth upholds God’s standards and reveals God’s will for our lives. Jesus equated the truth to His teachings, which has the power to set us free.

When the truth is spoken in love, God’s people are blessed with spiritual growth and greater unity in Christ.

Speaking the Truth in Love is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 4:25.

Speaking of Jesus, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

To be justified in God’s sight is to be declared “not guilty.” Yet, the Bible tells us we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. So, how then can those who are guilty be declared innocent in God’s eyes?

The answer is the Gospel, which is the light that reveals our hope by the death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the weight of our sins on Himself and paid the penalty for what we deserved. He went there in our place. Trusting in His provision of grace is what makes us righteous in God’s eyes.

Abraham was a man of faith and was given the credit of righteousness. That is what happens to us who believe in God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

This Light Reflection inspires us to believe in the good news about Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Revelation 22:21.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

These are the final words that we see in the Bible. This is a picture of eternity, when the people of God are united with the Lord forever in a place of peace and rest. Grace is how we are saved, and grace is how we are sustained forever. God will wipe away every tear from the eyes of His people. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Billy Graham has said, “I have read the last page of the Bible. It is going to turn out all right.” This is good to remember in the midst of a difficult day or when it seems that our world is crumbling apart. Our troubles today are not the end of our story if our ultimate hope for salvation is found in Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to live with the hope of heaven in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Peter 3:18.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Our conversion to Christ marks the beginning of our faith journey where we follow Jesus step by step with a heart that trusts in Him.

God’s will for our lives is to grow in our relationship with Jesus and know Him on a deeper level. This happens when we spend time with Him in prayer and take His words to heart from the Bible.

A closer walk with Jesus will more clearly define our mission. We will be in tune with His voice and moved by His love for us.

Colossians 2:6 says, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Ephesians 2:8 and 9.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

Grace reflects the outpouring of a generous God toward us.

God’s grace is the gift that is a life-saver for us. We cannot earn this grace on human merit. We cannot buy this grace with all of our money. But we can receive this grace through faith in the name of Jesus. He came to save us from our sins. That mission was accomplished at the cross and empty grave.

John 1:11 says about Jesus, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to receive God’s grace as the most valuable gift we could ever have in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Romans 6:23.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The journey of faith leads us to eternal life where we will be with the Lord forever in the new heavens and the new earth someday.

One time, C.S. Lewis arrived at a conference where the question was raised, “What makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world?”

He responded without hesitation, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” Eternal life is a gift that we receive, not a paycheck that we earn, nor is it a product that we purchase.  Jesus paid the price for our pardon with His blood at the cross. That is why we all need Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to receive the gift of God’s grace in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com