JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is choosing places of humility.
In Luke 14:8, Jesus taught a parable to show the value of seeking humility rather than honor for ourselves.
Jesus said that when someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited…..When you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Philippians 2:3 instructs us with these words, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
Choosing places of humility is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is John 3:30.
John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah with his preaching of repentance and Baptizing ministry.
The day came when Jesus was drawing followers. John heard what people were saying, “that man you testified about-look, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.”
This was welcome news. John’s faith spoke in his humility. This was his reply: “He must become greater; I must become less.”
That’s a great statement of faith for anyone who is wanting to see Jesus magnified. Draw attention to His worthiness rather than our own. That is what John did when he said about Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to magnify Jesus with a humble heart in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Gentleness.
This quality is kind and patient toward people who have room for growth. Love is the motivational factor that inspires us to be gentle.
This quality is also found in the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23, and is often associated in the Bible with humility.
Jesus described Himself as gentle and humble as He was inviting us to come into relationship with Him. He is approachable.
A gentle person finds a way to stay calm in the midst of tension. They treat others with the respect and dignity of being made in the image of God.
In Titus 3:2, we are reminded to “slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
Gentleness is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Chronicles 7:14.
The LORD says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
This verse was specifically focusing on the nation of Israel. God would respond to the earnest prayers of His people to bring an end to droughts and plagues in their land. This verse also has relevance for believers today.
Just as humility, prayer, and repentance were the pathways to healing for the Israelites, so we can experience God’s forgiveness today by trusting in the One gift that God has provided for our redemption. That gift is Jesus. He came to offer us forgiveness and a place of belonging in His family through faith in His name.
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to humility, prayer, and repentance to follow Jesus in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to clothe ourselves with humility.
In First Peter 5 we see that this call of humility is specific toward how we respect church leaders and how church leaders serve those under their care.
Verse 3 is a message to church leaders: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care-watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
Verse 5 has a message for those under church authority: “You who are younger, submit to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble.”
These are the expressions of humility that build a healthy church.
Take the daily challenge to be clothed with humility 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 love.
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 love was one of those instructions. God’s love is the compelling influence to guide us in the way of love. Through Jesus, God demonstrated the kind of love that He has for us, and wants us to extend to others. It’s the kind of love that is patient and kind, serves others with humility and is willing to make personal sacrifices for others. Let’s look for ways to let God’s love flow through us.
First John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” And First John 4:11 says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
Take the daily challenge to pursue love in our way of life on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to submit to God’s authority.
Before we are willing to do that, it is quite likely that we need to be convinced that God is good and that His love is real.
The truth is that God’s goodness and love were revealed at the cross where Jesus died for our sin. Then, His resurrection power came to life 3 days later. Today, His redemption plan invites us to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. This step requires humility, an awareness that we need God’s forgiveness.
James 4:6 tells us that ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you.’
As we respect God’s authority and rely on His grace, He will be faithful to save us and lift us up at the proper time.
Take the daily challenge to submit to God’s authority and find grace for the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Mark 10:44 and 45.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
James and John were two of Jesus’ disciples who were seeking a place of honor when Jesus’ reigns in His glory. Jesus showed the path to greatness through service and humility.
If we want to know anything about being great in the kingdom of God, we need to look at the example of Jesus. The king of heaven became a servant on earth. He washed His disciples’ feet using a basin and towel. Then, He went to the cross and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. He pursued the needs of others at a high cost. That is the expression of love to a great measure.
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of humble service in the Year of Vision.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the heart of David to get right with God.
This happened in Psalm 51, after he was confronted about unconfessed sin in his life.
David humbled himself before God and confessed his sin to Him. In doing so, David had to face his character flaws and be honest about his sinful nature. It is not an easy thing to go there, but it is the path to a purified heart.
David said in verse 3, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” He sought God’s forgiveness by saying “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”
He sought to change course when he said, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51 is a good prayer for anyone who is seeking to get life back on track with God.
Focusing on God’s mercy to forgive sin gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Matthew 5:3.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus is pronouncing a blessing on those who recognize our need for God’s grace. We have come to a place where we understand that we are spiritually bankrupt because of our sin, and there is no way for us to pay back the debt on our own. We need the payment that Christ paid for our salvation when He shed His blood on a cross.
Poverty in spirit is a humble place to be. That is where God meets us in His graciousness. James 4:6 says, “He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, ‘God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to the place of humility that is blessed by God in the Year of Vision.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the freedom of serving in a spirit of love.
Along with freedoms come responsibility for the actions that we take. The opportunity to use our freedom for good or evil is found in Galatians 5:13 to 15-“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
This is a good word for us today. We can use our freedoms and opportunities for selfish gain or we can use our freedoms and opportunities to represent Jesus. Selfish ambition leads to prideful actions that tear people apart. Love leads to humble service that inspires faith, hope, and love in the lives of others.
Focusing on the freedom of serving others gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
