JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 34:5.

“Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

The light of the Gospel reveals the radiant life that we can have in Christ. How do we become radiant? By looking to Jesus, and keeping the focus of our faith on Him.

Ephesians 5:27 tells us that Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

The grace of God moves us to become light in the world as witnesses for the Gospel. We become exporters of good news, hope, faith, and love in our words and actions. We become ambassadors for Christ that encourage people to be at peace with God through faith in Jesus.

This Light Reflection inspires us to embrace the radiant life that Jesus offers us in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 15:11.

Jesus said to His disciples, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Having God’s love in our hearts leads us to a place of complete joy. To understand the pathway to joy, we need to recall His previous statement in verses 9 and 10. He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept the Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

Joy is a light that shines brightly as a result of walking in an intimate relationship with God. Isaiah 60, verse 5 says, “Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to live with the joy that comes from the Lord in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Looking to the Lord.

It is when we look to God for strength and courage that our fears are relieved. This is the pattern that we find in the Psalms.

One vivid example is found in Psalm 34, verses 4 and 5. David wrote, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”  Looking to the Lord is the way to overcome fear and shame. That is where we find a love that never fails.

Looking to the Lord is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is the Church.

Some people think of church as a building, but in reality, the church is the people of God. Jesus is the Head of the church and the builder of the church. He has designed the church to take the gospel to the world, and today, that assignment is still in motion.

It is also significant to note that Jesus loves the church. He died for the church and is in the process of purifying the church until He returns for His followers.

Ephesians 5:25 compares the relationship between Christ and His church to the intimacy of a marriage relationship. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Find encouragement in God’s love and purpose for the church in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com