JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is the exercise of spiritual gifts.
When God’s people serve with love and with their spiritual gifts, the church has a significant light to shine in the local community.
The Bible teaches us that different members of the church have different gifts. Romans 12:6 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
This is a picture of the body of Christ serving freely by the grace of God for the glory of God.
Exercising our Spiritual Gifts is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Mercy.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”
Mercy can be shown in different forms. Both expressions are life-giving in our relationships. One way to express mercy is to reach out with a helping hand to someone in distress. The Good Samaritan extended this kind of mercy to a man that was badly beaten by robbers. He attended to his needs and helped him get back on his feet.
Another way to express mercy is to forgive someone who has wronged us. Jesus equated mercy with forgiveness in one of His parables. Ephesians 4:32 encourages us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
The demonstration of mercy is a powerful way to represent Christ and to refresh others with hope and encouragement.
Mercy is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Titus 3:3 to 5.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
It is an amazing miracle to ponder the mercy of God triumphant over judgment. His grace covers our sins at the moment of our conversion to Christ. From there, we experience a change of heart. Our motives change. Our words change. Our attitudes change. Some of these areas of change may not happen overnight, but over time, God works in the hearts of His believers to transform us into the likeness of Christ. Real-life transformation will lead us into a life of love and holiness because of what Jesus did on the cross and how He is working in our hearts.
These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to celebrate the mercy of God that changes our lives in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Letting go of past hurts.
Painful memories can be hard to overcome. But the mercy of God toward us enables us to pass along mercy to others.
In Genesis 45:5, Joseph took this step to reconcile with his estranged brothers, who did great harm to him years earlier.
His brothers unknowingly came to him for food relief during a famine. When Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, they were terrified. But Joseph said to them, “Come close to me. I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”
Joseph’s relationship with God kept his heart tender to his brothers, enabling him to overcome evil with good.
Letting go of past hurts is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is First Peter 2:9.
But you are a chosen people-a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
When God transforms our heart to trust in Jesus, we live with the assurance that we belong to Him. He has given us a testimony of praise that reveals God’s mercy that was shown to us.
The goodness of His grace is the reason for our testimony. That is why He deserves the credit for the good ways that we are changed by the Gospel. The writer of Psalm 66:16 says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to declare praise for God for His mercy and acceptance in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Wisdom.
The way of wisdom leads to character qualities that build better relationships.
Wisdom can be defined as “the ability to discern what is true, right, or lasting.”
James 3:13 asks the question, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
Verse 17 in that same chapter says, “Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
Wisdom is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Ephesians 2, verses 4 and 5.
“Because of his great love, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”
The mercy of God is rich, abundant, and life-changing. For that, we can be thankful. Where would we be without mercy? Ephesians 2:3 says we were by nature deserving of wrath as a result of our disobedience to God. But in His great love for us, God awakens us from our spiritual slumber to see our need for His forgiveness.
We can be glad that God’s mercy spares us from getting what we deserve. According to the Bible, the wages of sin is death. But Romans 6:23 also says, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s the difference between God’s wrath and mercy in the picture of eternity, and that is a reason to praise Him for His plan of salvation.
These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to receive God’s mercy and come alive to Christ in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Mercy.
There are two common meanings of mercy found in the Bible. One way to define mercy is the withholding of punishment for the sins we have committed. Another meaning of mercy refers to compassion.
Both meanings describe God’s heart for those who follow Jesus. He withholds punishment and is deeply compassionate.
God’s mercy is life-changing, taking hatred and bitterness from our heart and replacing those attitudes with love and forgiveness.
Consider the difference that God’s mercy made in the life of Paul the Apostle. He said in Titus 3:3, “At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Find encouragement in the mercy of God to rearrange our lives 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 into the light of transformation.
This process starts with a proper view of God’s mercy. His mercy spares us from the punishment that we deserve because of our sin. John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace, observed near the end of his life, “I remember two things clearly, ‘I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.’”
Romans 12:1 says, “In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Transformation happens when we respond to God’s mercy with a heart of gratitude and worship, and renew our mind to follow Gods’ will.
Take the daily challenge to walk in the transformation that embraces God’s purposes on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Titus 3:4 and 5.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
We can thank God for His mercy. It was God’s mercy that stopped the stoning of a woman who had been caught in adultery. It was God’s mercy that turned a persecutor of the church named Saul into an apostle of the church named Paul. And God’s mercy changes our lives when we see the kindness of God expressed in Christ.
Jesus did not come to a world that had its act together. Rather, He came to a world in a sinful condition. He came because we needed His mercy. That is what He provided for us when He shed His blood at the cross.
Jesus is our source of Good News, leading us to a place of new life in His kindness and mercy 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 power of God’s mercy to transform our lives.
In Romans 12, verses 1 and 2, we see God’s mercy as the starting place for transformation from the inside out.
“In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Of all the voices that seek our attention, the most important voice is God. He has spoken at the cross. He has spoken at the empty grave, and He has spoken in the Bible. His message speaks to us of mercy as Jesus took the penalty for our sins on the cross. Keeping God’s mercy in view, we are moved to gratitude and worship. We are also better equipped to discern the will of God for our lives.
Focusing on God’s mercy gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
