JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 5:35.

Jesus said that John the Baptist was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

Each believer has a lamp to shine through the witness of our lives. John’s light drew people to repentance from their sins and prepared the way for the Lord.

When John saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

John knew his mission. When it was time for the ministry of Jesus to shine, John was glad to see that day arrive. As more and more people were going to Jesus, John said, “That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to take joy in leading people to Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters in the Bible is found in Matthew 11:18 and 19.

Jesus made a comparison between Himself and John the Baptist in this way: “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

You are probably familiar with caricatures. They are pictures of people that exaggerate distinct features of someone’s face. In a spiritual sense, critics exaggerated the positive qualities of Jesus and John to try to make them look extreme and ridiculous. But as Jesus pointed out, “Wisdom is proved right by her actions.” 

Jesus and John did not carry out their ministries in the same way, but they were definitely on the same team. John came to prepare the way for Jesus, and Jesus is the way for us to have eternal life with Him.

The words of Jesus inspire us to embrace the wisdom of God’s plan to save us from sin in the Year of Redemption.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com