JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Second Samuel 7:22.
“How great are you, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.”
This was a prayer from the heart of David, acknowledging that God has no rival to His throne. No one else is worthy to share His glory. He cannot be outwitted or overpowered. Who can fathom His greatness? Who can comprehend His graciousness? Who can understand the magnitude of His love? His redemption plan covers His people with grace forever.
David marveled at the great and awesome wonders that God performed for his people. Just as God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt in the days of Moses, so He is able to deliver us from slavery to sin today. Just as God guided the Israelites to the Promised Land, so He is able to lead us to heaven where we can enjoy His presence forever.
The greatness of God reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to rely on God’s love.
First John 4:16 says, “we know and rely on the love God has for us.”
To rely on God’s love is to lean on Him with all our weight. We trust His grace to be sufficient for us and to save us from our sins.
What are some reasons that we have to rely on God’s love? Here are a few ways that His love is described in the Bible. In First John chapter 3, God’s love is described as great.Jesus implied His love was the greatest, and that it would find ultimate expression at the cross when He laid down His life for us. Psalm 136 describes God’s love as enduring forever. It never ends. And Psalm 86 describes God’s love as abounding. It overflows from His heart into the world.
Look into the ways that God’s love is described in the Bible and find encouragement by the nature of His love.
Take the daily challenge to fully rely on God’s love on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “How did Jesus define greatness?”
An argument developed among Jesus’ disciples on the question, “Who was the greatest?”
Whenever people start asking this kind of question, either privately or out in the open, you can anticipate arguing and dissension to follow.
Jesus used this argument as a teachable moment. He said to them in Mark 9:35, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all.”
Jesus defined greatness in terms of serving others. He encourages us to think in terms of giving, generosity, sacrifice, and love. Jesus is the greatest of all, and He set an example of service and sacrifice for us to follow. He said in Matthew 9:26, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
According to Jesus, service is the pathway to greatness in the Year of Exploration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the greatness of God.
These are the words of Psalm 145, starting at verse 3.
“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
Here is one way we can apply this portion of Scripture into our lives today. Think of some great deed that God has done such as the creation of the world or His redemptive work of sending Jesus into the world. Then, tell someone about it, and what it means to us.
The Greatness of God is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
