JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Second Corinthians 5:21.

Speaking of Jesus, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

It is important to point out that in God’s righteous requirements, there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.  That is what makes the death of Jesus on the cross so incredibly humbling and amazing for us. Jesus died on our behalf so that we might be reconciled to God. He paid the price for our sins.  That is the irony of the Gospel. The sinless Son of God died so that sinners like us could be declared “Not guilty” in the eyes of righteous God. Through Jesus, the way has been cleared for us to enjoy God forever.

This miracle of love will be celebrated throughout eternity among the redeemed.  The voices of heaven declare, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to remember the price that Jesus paid for our redemption in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is seeking the redemption of others, not their condemnation.

In John chapter 8, when the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they told Him that Moses commanded them to stone such women. What did Jesus say? Jesus told the crowd, “Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” After disarming the Pharisees, He then turned to the woman and said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus was the only perfect person in the crowd that day, but chose not to thrown any stones. He sought this woman’s redemption, not her condemnation, and that is how we can be an instrument of God’s grace today.

Seeking redemption of others rather than condemnation is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Blessed.”

One definition of “Blessed” is a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

To be blessed by God is to receive His favor.  His face is turned toward us in relationship, and we enjoy the benefits of His grace.

While God will bless us with material things, His spiritual blessings have far greater value that last forever.

Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

What follows is a list of specific blessings: Adoption, Redemption, Forgiveness, Acceptance, and the promised Holy Spirit. These are blessings that reflect God’s unfailing love for us.

Find encouragement in the blessing of being united with Christ in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Calvary where Jesus died on a cross. 

According to the New King James version of the Bible, in Luke 23:32, there were also two other criminals led with Jesus to be put to death. “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.”

Calvary was the place of Christ’s death and the place of our redemption. Calvary reminds us that God has provided the lamb who was a worthy sacrifice for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrated his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Focusing on the price that Jesus paid for our redemption gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

John@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 3, verses 22 to 24.

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

This is the miracle of amazing grace-even though we have missed the target of God’s will, God has provided a way for us to be made right with Him. The guilt of our sin is removed by faith in Jesus to forgive us and save us. His grace is at the foundation for our lives. There is nothing we can do to earn it. He freely gives it to all who will receive Him as Savior and Lord. His blood shed at the cross was the sufficient payment for our sins. Now we can be set free from the control and penalty of our sin and live in the liberty of Christ.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of righteousness and 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 a prophecy about Jesus’ death.

It’s found in Isaiah 53, verses 4 to 6. “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

This prophecy contains the prediction of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Suffering is a harsh reality of life, and sometimes people blame God for it. But one thing that we learn here is that Jesus would be willing to take on the pain of our sin’s penalty to extreme measures. He knows the pain of the cross. 

His pain had a redemptive purpose-to restore us to a right relationship with God.

Focusing on Jesus as the Suffering Savior gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on First Corinthians 1, verses 30 and 31.

“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Anyone with a true understanding of the Gospel knows that we have no reason to brag about how great we are. All the boasting goes to God who has been gracious in providing a Savior for us. 

Our redemption is the result of God’s graciousness toward us. His grace provides us with the opportunity to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, and to be saved from our sinful nature.  Every breath we take is an opportunity to praise Him.

Through Jesus, we are set free to boast in the saving grace provided by a generous God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – 2019 is the Year of Redemption at WJTL. We will examine the wisdom of Jesus’ teachings, which have the power to set us free and the freedom phrases found in the Bible.

Today’s Freedom Phrase is based on John 8:36.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Real and lasting freedom is found in a relationship with Jesus, where we follow Him as our Savior and Lord.  This means, taking His teachings seriously and recognizing their value to guide us to an abundant and eternal life. He gives us direction for life that takes us to places where we would not have traveled on our own, and enables us to accomplish things we could not do by ourselves.   

Through Jesus, we are set free to experience a life-changing relationship with God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His ability to do what is humanly impossible.

Looking at the history of the Bible, we would have to acknowledge that our faith depends on a mighty God who works miracles.

By His command, He was able to create something out of nothing. This was the birth of the world.

God kept His promise to Abraham to provide a son when Sarah was past her childbearing years. This was the birth of the nation of Israel.

The hope of redemption came to the world through a virgin birth. This was the birth of Jesus.

Jesus died on a cross, then rose from the dead three days later. He is uniquely qualified to save us from our sins, restore us to God, and give us eternal life with Him. This is spiritual birth: to accept this gracious gift. Luke 1:37 says, “Nothing is impossible with God.”

God’s ability to do what is humanly impossible is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Promise of Hope is based on Ephesians 1:7.

Speaking of Jesus, “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

These are some of the spiritual blessings that we experience in Christ-Redemption, Forgiveness, and abundant Grace.

To be redeemed is to be set free from the power of sin. Chains are broken when we follow Jesus out of the darkness into His wonderful light. To have the forgiveness of sins is to be cleared of guilt. According to Psalm 32:2, “Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” These are some of the blessings of God’s grace that we enjoy when we are   in Christ.

Spiritual blessings are promises of hope for those who follow Jesus in the Year of Trust.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What does the Bible say about going into debt?”

Romans 13:8 gives us this instruction: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

While God’s Word does not forbid going into debt, it stresses the responsibility to pay back what we owe. So, we should not go into debt without a plan to get out of debt.

One debt that will always remain outstanding is the debt to love one another because there is always more to give.

Another debt that is impossible for us to pay back in full is the sinful actions that we have committed, whether in word, thought, or deed. But where we have fallen short, God has provided a payment plan for us through the blood of Jesus, which was shed on the cross. I Peter 1:18 tells us that we are redeemed, not by the payment of silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.

Through faith in Jesus, we are set free from the debt of sin and receive the credit of righteousness in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com