JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Second Corinthians 5:19b and 20.
“He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
God’s love is the persuasive factor that moves us to follow Jesus. This is one of the common traits of those who follow Jesus by faith. We rely on His love. God’s love demonstrated at the cross made the way for us to be reconciled to Him.
The Gospel is a light that gives us a message of peace to share with the world. As ambassadors for Christ, we are like foreign diplomats, representing our leader, bringing offers of peace wherever we serve. The message we are entrusted to share with the world is this: Be reconciled to God.
This Light Reflection inspires us to represent Jesus faithfully in our service for the Kingdom in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is the voice of Reconciliation.
This is the voice that encourages peace between parties that live in hostility to each other.
The ultimate peacemaking mission is to promote peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Peace with God is the way forward for us to experience peace with others and peace within. God’s love for us is a sure foundation that calms our fears and gives us hope. His love compels us to share the Gospel in a spirit of love.
In Second Corinthians 5:20, the Apostle Paul said, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
Being a voice of Reconciliation is a Key Element for Thriving Relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Ambassador.”
This is a diplomat in a foreign land, representing their leader on a mission of peace.
Isn’t that a true description of the Christian in a spiritual sense? This world is not our home. We are serving the King of Kings in a foreign land, representing Jesus on a peacemaking mission. That is a high calling, and a privilege to serve in such a way.
The Apostle Paul said in Second Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
To be a faithful ambassador, we need to make sure that we are at peace with God. Stay connected to Him. Walk in His love and truth. Establish relationships with neighbors, co-workers, and peers at school. Reach out to them with God’s love and be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them.
Find encouragement in the opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Matthew 5:9.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Conflict and division threaten to tear apart meaningful relationships. The influence of Jesus invites peace into our relationships. His Gospel is the way of love, which moves us to bless those people in our sphere of influence.
Jesus calls His followers to be peacemakers in the world while we have opportunity. Peacemaking leads to reconciliation where there was once division and conflict. There is no greater peacemaking mission than to be an influence for the Gospel. The Apostle Paul said in Second Corinthians 5:20, “We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of reconciliation and peacemaking in the Year of Vision.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Second Corinthians 5:19 and 20.
“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
God is calling His followers to be agents for peace. The ultimate peacemaking mission is to share the good news of hope and salvation through faith in Jesus. We can be credible messengers of this Gospel by being active in sharing our faith, and representing Jesus in our character and conduct.
His peace in our lives can be an influence for peace in the world for the glory of God.
Walking as an ambassador for Christ is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 5:9.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
One of the purposes of those who follow Jesus is to be agents of reconciliation. Second Corinthians 5:19 tells us that God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We have good news to share with the world that God’s forgiveness is available through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no greater way to be a peacemaker than to be an influence for the Gospel, where people come into relationship with God and experience His peace.
Another way to be a peacemaker is to have a mediating role between two conflicting parties. This takes wisdom and patience to rebuild relationships that have been strained by conflict.
God’s peacemakers in the world will be called God’s children in His kingdom.
Walking as a peacemaker is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Psalm 32:1.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” This blessing is made possible through Jesus Christ who came to reconcile us with God.
Deceit is the opposite of integrity, misleading someone through dishonest means. There is a way for a dishonest person to become honest, and for hidden sins to be forgiven.
That path comes through confession and changing direction. This is what we find in First John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This is how we can get back on track with God if we have lost our way.
Walking in honest confession is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK-Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Joseph.
In his teen years, Joseph’s brothers mistreated him badly. They sold him off to a foreign land.
Many years later, these same brothers came to Joseph to seek his help during a famine. What they did not know at the time was that they were seeking help from the brother they had disowned so many years ago.
Joseph had regard for God throughout his life. When given the opportunity to get revenge, he instead opened the door for reconciliation. In Genesis 50:20, he revealed his identity to them and said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid, I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”
The faithfulness of Joseph to seek reconciliation with his brothers inspires us to overcome evil with good and to live a life of integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is the Prodigal Son.
This person is mentioned in a story taught by Jesus in Luke 15.
The word “prodigal” describes someone who spends money recklessly. In this story, the Prodigal Son left home and squandered his father’s wealth on wild living. There is nothing noble about that. But that is not where his story ends. People with godly integrity are not perfect, but they are purified.
Jesus said, “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” That is exactly what he did, and his father welcomed him with open arms. He was filled with love and compassion for his son as he returned home.
The faithfulness of the Prodigal Son to make things right with his father inspires us to be reconciled with our Heavenly Father through Jesus and to live a life of integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Philippians 4:2 and 3.
The writer was the Apostle Paul, and here he addresses a serious conflict between two women who love the Lord. He urges them to agree with each other.
Then he says, “I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
The identity of the loyal yokefellow is not immediately clear. However, it appears that this conflict is serious enough to require mediation. Paul is not taking sides on this conflict, but he is intensely interested in seeing them come to agreement. There are several things we can learn from this passage of Scripture.
1) It is entirely possible for sincere Christians to have disagreements.
2) Mediation may be necessary when the unity of believers is threatened.
3) It is important to make efforts to work through conflicts in a spirit of grace and truth.
4) Reconciliation is possible through the influence of Christ on conflicting parties.
Working through conflicts is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Genesis 50:20.
Joseph was a godly man with great influence in the land of Egypt. His brothers had rejected him when he was a teenage boy. They were jealous of him and would not speak kindly to him. Many years later, they needed his help. When his brothers came to Egypt seeking relief from the famine, they made their appeal to Joseph, who had a choice to make. He could let the past embitter him against his brothers, or he could forgive them and offer them aid.
Joseph returned their hostility with kindness. This is a pattern similar to how God treats a world that has treated Him with hostility because of our sin. He has responded by offering us grace. He sent Jesus to the world, whose sacrifice on the cross overcame evil with good.
Near the end of his life, Joseph could look back and see the wisdom of God’s plan through the good, bad, and the ugly. He said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” That is an expression of undeserved grace, the kind of grace that can restore broken relationships.
Overcoming evil with good is a relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
