JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 16:9 to 11.

David wrote, “My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

David saw hope beyond the grave because of this prophetic truth. God’s faithful one would not see decay. This prophecy came to light when Jesus rose from the dead.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter referred to this Psalm to apply it to Jesus. Acts 2:31 says, “Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.”  Our hope for life beyond the grave flows from the reality that Jesus rose from the dead.

This Light Reflection inspires us to rejoice in Jesus as our living hope in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Matthew 20:17-19.

Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life.”

When Jesus talked like this, the disciples were clearly taken out of their comfort zones. His words caused them to be confused, to grieve, or even to rebuke Jesus for talking like that. But Jesus knew what He was talking about, and His predictions happened exactly according to plan.

Although the cross is a painful part of Jesus’ journey, it was necessary for God’s plan to save us from our sins. His resurrection was also necessary for our ultimate victory over death.

These faith-building verses inspire us to trust in God’s salvation plan in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com