JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Exodus 4:29 to 31.

“Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”

For many years, the Israelites worked under the bondage of slavery in Egypt. But when Moses encountered God at the burning bush, he learned that God had a plan in place to deliver the Israelites, and to work through Moses and Aaron to accomplish that plan.

We might wonder where God is in our suffering and pain. But as He expressed His concern for the Israelites in Egypt, so He sees our pain and cares for us. As we are mindful of His concern for us, we are motivated to worship Him and to find hope in His grace. He will be our source of strength in times of weakness.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to be encouraged by God’s concern for us in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Hebrews 11:24 to 26.

“By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharoah’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

The Bible acknowledges the pleasure of sin for a season, but it is only temporary. The treasures of God’s grace have much more value than the treasures of this world. Gold may shine, but the brilliance of God’s glory shines brighter. Fame may cause our star to shine for a season, but Jesus shines as the Bright Morning Star forever.

Moses understood the value of being identified with Christ.

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to know the greater value of following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 11:23.

By faith, the parents of Moses hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

There was a law in Egypt forbidding Hebrew baby boys to live at the time when Moses was born. But the parents of Moses were guided by their faith to protect his life. In the book of Acts, Stephen recalled that for three months, Moses was cared for by his own family.

Faith seeks to preserve life in the midst of a culture that promotes death. Faith also sees God’s extraordinary plan in the life of each precious child. That is what the parents of Moses did in preserving the life of their son. Their faith overcame any fear of the king’s unjust law so that Moses could live to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to uphold the precious value of human life in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Exodus 3:14.

God said to Moses at the burning bush, “I am who I am.” That is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.”

Basically, Moses was being called to go back to Egypt and deliver the Israelites out of slavery. Moses questioned whether anyone would trust him or if he was up to the task. Have you ever felt inadequate for something you believe God is calling you to do?  Moses was returning to the Israelites under God’s authority, and when questioned, he was to say that his mission was God-directed.

God was revealing His name to Moses. One of the implications of God’s name is that He is self-sufficient. He needs no help from us, but we are utterly dependent on Him. So, in and of ourselves, we are not adequate for our assignments, but with God’s help, we have what we need to do God’s will. He will supply sufficient grace.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of significance in His plan of redemption 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 giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.

In Exodus 31:18, the LORD gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant law. They were tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Mount Sinai represents the law of God for His people.

On these tablets were written the Ten Commandments. God’s laws were revealing God’s moral standards. None of us have lived up to all the commands all the time. That is why we need grace.  The law reminds us that we have fallen short of God’s glory and need a Savior. We don’t earn God’s love by obeying His laws, but are motivated to obey them because we know that He loves us. At the foundation of following God’s laws is love-love for God and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Following God’s laws is not meant to be a reason for pride in ourselves. It is an opportunity to express our love for God. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Focusing on the law of love gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on what happened at the Mountain of Transfiguration.

In Luke chapter 9, Jesus took a few of His disciples with him to a mountain where he would pray. As Jesus prayed, the appearance of His face changed, His clothing became as bright as a flash of lightning. Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor and talked with Jesus. Then, came a voice from a cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Peter was a witness. This is what he said about Jesus in Second Peter 1:17, “He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” This testimony affirms the Father’s approval of Jesus and the worthiness of Jesus to receive our attention and devotion.

Focusing on the Heavenly Father’s approval of Jesus gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Psalm 90, verse 2.

Before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

How do you comprehend an infinite God with a finite mind? We cannot fully grasp His eternal nature, or understand all His ways. He sees reality from a higher perspective, and He also sees reality from an eternal perspective. His view of time is different than ours. Moses wrote that a thousand years in God’s sight are like a day that has just gone by.

Even though we cannot fully comprehend God, He fully understands us. He made us. He has provided a way for us to know Him better and to live in a peaceful relationship with Him forever. Jesus is our way to the Father. 

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of awe-inspiring worship in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the witness of Moses.

Jesus said to His skeptics in John 5:46, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.”

Where did Moses write about Jesus? The place is Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses said, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.” This was not something that Moses came up with by himself. God revealed it to him. In verse 18, Moses said that the LORD told him, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.”

By the words of Moses, we see that the words of Jesus have divine origin. The words of Jesus are worth our full attention and acceptance.

The witness of Moses concerning Jesus is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – At the burning bush, God was calling Moses to lead His people out of Egypt toward the Promised Land.

Moses needed some encouragement. He had reasons to excuse himself from this assignment.

“Who am I to go to Pharoah to make such a request?”

“What if I go back to the Israelites and they don’t believe that You sent me?”

“I am not eloquent. I am slow of speech.”

“Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

For every excuse that Moses made, God responded with assurances that He would make provisions to help Moses accomplish the task.

Where God calls us into service, He provides us with His presence and resources to help us fulfill His calling on our lives. Moses ran out of excuses, and did go back to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

The calling of Moses is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com