JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Romans 8:28 and 29a.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…

God works through the circumstances of our lives for His glory and our good. The good that He seeks to accomplish in our lives is to conform us to the image of Jesus. So, as we go through various experiences-(challenges, opportunities, victories, and disappointments), God is able to weave all those circumstances together to build our character to reflect the likeness of Jesus.

The trials and the painful situations that we face are opportunities to grow more mature in the faith.

This Light Reflection inspires us to grow with God through the circumstances of our lives in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on God’s purpose for our lives to grow in godly character.

God works through times of adversity and discipline to accomplish character in our lives. He will let us struggle with questions or struggle in our pain, but He does not leave us or forsake us. He is right there with us, providing His grace in our time of need.

James 1:3 explains that the trials that we face are tests to our faith. These tests are meant to produce perseverance. When perseverance finishes its work, we have the opportunity to become mature and complete, not lacking anything.   God works through the character qualities of our lives to enable our faith to thrive for Him.

Focusing on the fruit of godly character gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What is the role of spiritual leadership in the church?”

Ephesians 4:11 tells us that it was Jesus who gave gifts for “some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service.”

The purpose of teachers and preachers is to proclaim God’s word in a way that accurately represents God’s character and mobilizes God’s people to live out the Christian faith in acts of service.

As God’s word is faithfully proclaimed, the church body will grow in a number of ways:

According to Ephesians 4:12, the body of Christ will be built up. This implies that the faith of the church will grow stronger.

According to verse 13, the church will be unified in the faith.

And according to the same verse, the church will become mature in the faith so that we can reflect Jesus in our witness.

Leadership sets the tone for the church to grow together in faith and to express our faith through love in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com