JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to share God’s love with others.

When we share something with someone, it means that we are taking something that we possess and giving it to someone else so that they can enjoy it too.

God has not given us His love so that we keep it to ourselves. He wants us to share it with others with acts of service, kindness, humility, and words that tell His good news.

First John 4, verses 10 and 11 says, “This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Receiving God’s love is the first step that enables us to give it away.

Take the Daily Challenge to share God’s love with a friend, family member, or neighbor in need on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -Today’s Word of Encouragement is Excellence.

One definition of Excellence is the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.

The Bible tells us to focus our thoughts on that which is excellent.

God will take our work that is carried out in excellence to significant places. Proverbs 22:29 asks the question, “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.” God can give us a voice of influence through acts of service committed in excellence.

When we talk about excellence, we also have to bring love into the conversation. This is the most excellent way described in First Corinthians 12:31. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs….Love is the most excellent way.” Love adds excellence to our skills and service opportunities.

Find encouragement in the excellence of serving God with love from the heart in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to step toward consideration in the way we treat other people.

First Corinthians 13:5 tells us that love does not dishonor others.

Real love considers how our actions and attitudes may affect someone else. It is not rude.

For example, it would not be considerate to make a lot of noise in our neighborhoods at 2 in the morning when most residents are trying to sleep.

But on the positive side, it would be considerate to shovel snow for a neighbor who has physical challenges.

To be considerate of others is to think about the needs of others and respect their time and space.  Titus 3:2 encourages us to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. Jesus taught us to do to others what we would have them do to us.

Take the daily challenge to walk with consideration in how we treat one another on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on First John 3:16.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

The most compelling evidence revealing God’s love for us is the cross. Whenever we wonder if God’s love is real, we can turn to the cross as the reference point of history to remind us that God’s love is a present reality. First John 4:8 tells us that God is love. That’s present tense, and it is true of Him today.

In light of the fact that God loves us, how ought we to live? Let God’s love overflow into our relationships, especially with those who belong to the family of God. Love with kindness. Love with patience. Love with the heart of a servant. Be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of someone else’s blessing. These are the kinds of ways that Jesus loves us, and these are some of the ways that we can treat someone as valuable to God.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of genuine love for our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 15:13.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Less than 24 hours later, Jesus went to the cross to lay down His life for us. How do we comprehend this kind of supreme love? What is our response to His sacrifice on our behalf?

The nails did not hold Jesus to the cross. His love did. Jesus said He could have called for 12 legions of angels to come to His rescue, but how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? Jesus went to His death willingly, because He loved us, and wanted us to become part of His forgiven family.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to profound gratitude for His supreme love 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 contagious effect of Love.

While the Coronavirus is having a contagious effect on the world in an unhealthy way, there are contagious influences that have a positive effect on our lives.

One of those influences is love.

God loves us, and inspires us to love. Our capacity to love others is influenced by the fact that God loved us first. Whenever God’s people are motivated by the love of Jesus, we are sending a powerful statement to the world. 

Jesus said in John 13:34, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The love of Jesus was a sincere expression of God’s grace extended at the cross. That is the kind of love that is able to turn sinners to saints.

Focusing on the life-changing impact of God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on First Peter 4:8.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Love is life-changing. The Gospel is rooted in the love of God for us, and when we receive God’s love and pass it along in our relationships, we have the opportunity to represent Jesus in this world.

Notice, the passage does not call us to love superficially. God calls us to love each other from the heart, not just with our words or going through the motions. This will lead us to generous giving with a grateful heart, rather than fulfilling our duty with a complaining spirit. Then, when love is tested, we will keep reaching out with love and seek God’s best for those people that God has placed in our lives.

Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of loving people from the heart 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 depth of God’s love.

In Ephesians 3:18, The Apostle Paul prayed that we might have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how deep is the love of Christ.

One of the ways we can tell that someone loves us sincerely is by their willingness to make sacrifices on our behalf. Jesus passes this sincerity test with flying colors.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” That is exactly what Jesus would do less that 24 hours after making this statement.  Because of His sacrifice, we can call on God to save us from our sins, and He will be faithful to hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Focusing on the depth of God’s love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on First John 4:16.

“And so, we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them.”

The reason why we have the capacity to love God and other people is because God loved us first. If we want to know what the true nature of love is, we can look to Jesus who demonstrated God’s love for us in this way: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The worthy Savior gave His life for unworthy sinners. He loved us in our worst moments, not just our best.

His example can help us to love our children in the midst of their temper tantrums, to offer hospitality to someone who cannot return the favor, and to overcome hatred with love.

Through Jesus, we are set free to love people as God loves us.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Romans 12:9.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

This was the way of Jesus when He walked on the earth, and He shows us by example how to love people without compromising righteous standards.

He was a friend to sinners without sinning. He proclaimed good news, set captives free, and confronted evil. He taught us the way of love in various ways.

Do to others what you would have them to do you.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Love one another as Jesus loves us.

Walking in sincere love is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 138, verse 2.

“I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”

As we see this passage in light of the Gospel, Jesus is the name above all names. His name is worthy of our praise. His faithfulness can be seen in the nail scars of His hands where He was pierced for our transgressions. If we search the entire universe, we will not find a more faithful friend or worthy Savior than Jesus. His name and word have the power to break the chains of sin in our lives and lift us to a place of fellowship with Him. As we bow to Jesus, we agree with Him that His name and His word are exalted above all else.

Walking in humble worship is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com