JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Delighting in the LORD.
This is foundational to a sustainable, productive journey of faith.
When we delight in the Lord, we are moved by God’s love to do God’s will, and make a difference for God’s Kingdom.
When we delight in the Lord, we will be motivated to reach out to others with God’s love and share His good news.
After the shepherds visited Jesus at the manger, their hearts were moved to tell others about Jesus, and all who heard their words were amazed.
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
Delighting in the Lord is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Genesis 15:6.
From the New Living Translation: Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Righteousness before God is the result of our faith in the LORD. Romans 4:23 points out something very exciting for us by Abraham’s faith.
“When God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to get right with God by trusting in Jesus to save us from our sins in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to pursue righteousness.
This is what the Apostle Paul instructed a. young pastor to do in Second Timothy 2:22. Paul was instructing Timothy how to be an effective witness for the Gospel.
Pursuing righteousness was one of those instructions. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us to seek first His kingdom and his righteousness. The pursuit of God’s righteousness is to be top priority for our lives. Jesus also said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.
In our pursuit for righteousness, Jesus is the answer.
Romans 3:22 tells us “this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” We can trust Jesus to set us free from the guilt of our sin. He will make us right with God, and give us the desire to do what is right in the eyes of God.
Take the daily challenge to pursue righteousness on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to pursue godly character.
In Second Timothy 2:22, the Apostle Paul gave this instruction to a young church leader.
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Whatever we pursue normally flows out of our priorities. That is why it is important to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. That priority will direct us to pursue the qualities of God’s Kingdom.
It is not enough just to avoid doing bad things. Saying no to sin is certainly noble, but there is so much more to the Christian life than saying no to sin. There is also the focus of saying yes to God, and His plan for our lives. That plan will include the pursuit of righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Take the daily challenge to pursue godly character on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “right.”
One of the definitions of “right” is “that which is morally correct, just, or honorable.”
The Bible tells us to focus our thoughts on that which is right.
When we think about Jesus, we are focusing on the Only person who always did what was right and never sinned. He is the Righteous One. We need His righteousness to be accepted by God, and thankfully, His righteousness is available to us when we trust in Him to forgive our sins.
Romans 3:22 tells us that this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Jesus is the right solution for anyone who has done what is wrong before a holy God. His grace motivates us to change course and do what is right in the eyes of God.
Find encouragement in the righteousness of Jesus Christ in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Healing.
The meaning of healing is to be made whole or well.
One of the reasons that Jesus came to this earth was to provide healing for our souls. Sin is a spiritual sickness that leaves us with a heart condition that needs repair. Jesus has the power to restore our heart because of what He did for us on the cross.
First Peter 2:24 says about Jesus, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Jesus is the cure for the human condition, forgiving our sin, and rearranging our priorities to live for righteousness.
Find encouragement in the power of God’s love to heal our heart from the sickness of sin in the Year of Endurance.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Romans 1:17.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.”
The book of Romans makes it very clear that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That puts us in debt to God. We owe Him more than we can offer Him. Our good deeds are not enough to earn credit. Our tithes and offerings are not enough to buy credit. But God’s grace has been revealed through Jesus and is a gift by which we can receive the credit of righteousness, which clears our debt of sin.
Romans 3:22 says that this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. That is how we can truly live in the light of God’s love.
Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of forgiveness, faithfulness, and righteousness in the Year of Vision.
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 the work of the Holy Spirit to lead us to righteousness.
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised His followers that He would not leave us alone. The Heavenly Father would send the Spirit of truth.
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit did come and does reside in those who follow Jesus. As a result, spiritual fruit flows from our lives. Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”
The Holy Spirit directs us to the holy example of Jesus and inspires us to be more like Him.
Focusing on the righteousness of Jesus Christ 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 Psalm 23:3b.
With the LORD as my Shepherd, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
In John chapter 10, when Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd, He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
Jesus knows how to guide His people in the right direction. His grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. Jesus will not tempt us to do what is wrong, but He will move us to do what is right for the glory of God.
Through Jesus, we are set free to walk on the righteous pathways where God leads us.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Matthew 6:33.
Jesus said, “Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
God’s Kingdom is firmly established. David wrote in Psalm 145:13, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and your dominion endures through all generations.” Earthly kingdoms will rise and fall, but God’s kingdom will never be shaken.
God’s Kingdom also has great value. In one of Jesus’ shorter parables, He said that the kingdom of heaven was like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
God’s Kingdom is also filled with good fruit. Romans 14:17 says that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Making God’s Kingdom and righteousness top priority is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
