JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is John 3:17.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

This is an important reason highlighting why Jesus was born into the world. He came so that we might have life that is set free from guilt and shame.

Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. That includes all of us. Our sin causes us to want to run and hide from God, much like Adam and Eve did after they ate the forbidden fruit. The good news is that God does not give up on us, but has pursued us by sending Jesus into the world. His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead paved the way for our salvation. His grace is able to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. His grace has the power to save us from our sins.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and walk by faith in Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as the answer to our prayer for salvation.

According to Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

One of the common catch phrases of Christianity is “Jesus saves.” It is more than just a slogan or a bumper sticker message. It is the message of the Gospel. What does Jesus save us from? He saves us from our sins, and more specifically, the wages of our sin, which is death. He also rescues us from an eternity in hell, which is a place that would leave us separated from God forever, if not for the intervention of God’s grace. Who does Jesus save? Everyone who calls on His name for salvation.

Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Knowing Jesus as our Savior is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com