JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 9:26.

Speaking of Jesus, “He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Jesus appeared to take away our sin. John the Baptist told us to look to the Lamb of God who takes away our sin. But as we look at our lives, we know in our heart of hearts that we still fall short of God’s glory by disobedient thoughts, words, and actions.

The good news is that our story is not over. By looking to Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith, He breaks the power of sin over us and releases us from the punishment of sin.

The reason that the angel told Joseph to name Mary’s firstborn son “Jesus” was because He will save His people from their sins. Jesus lives up to the meaning of His name.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to celebrate God’s promise of salvation to those who believe in Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Acts 4:12.

Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

He did not make this statement in a church or at a Bible study among believers. He said this in front of very influential men who were not believers in Jesus. Just a few weeks earlier, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. But this time, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and with courage.

This kind of courage flows out of spending time with Jesus in His Word and in prayer. The teachers of the law observed the courage of two disciples that day-Peter and John. They noted that these unschooled, ordinary men had been with Jesus.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to turn to Jesus to save us from our sins in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 18:1 and 2.

“I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

This is a window into the heart of David who loved God in a real and personal way. We might often think of prayer as a time to ask God for help. That is certainly a noble prayer. But there is more to prayer than making petitions. Prayer is also an opportunity to tell God that we love Him and to tell Him what He means to us.

David was a man after God’s own heart, who sought Him in times of need, trusted God in times of uncertainty, and praised Him in times of victory.

These faith-building verses inspire us to tell God how much we love Him and what He means to us in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to proclaim the Gospel boldly.

We have a life-giving message to share with the world.

The disciples declared this message about Jesus 2,000 years ago. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

How could these men be so bold about their faith? We gain insight from Acts 4:13, where the rulers and elders of the people saw the courage of Peter and John and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Spend time alone with Jesus is the key to learning from Him and gaining confidence to share the reason for our hope. In Ephesians 6, The Apostle Paul asked the church to pray that he would declare the Gospel fearlessly, as he should.

Take the Daily Challenge to proclaim the Gospel boldly on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Tower.

A tower is a tall structure that symbolizes strength, security, and greatness.

There was a time in history when the world came together to build the Tower of Babel. The people of that time wanted to make a great name for themselves.

But God frustrated their plans by confusing their language. Humans are not able to accomplish what only God can do for the world. We cannot save ourselves, but God can save us through faith in Jesus Christ. He is our source of salvation, strength, and security. And His name is very great-the name above all names.

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.”

Find encouragement in the security of God’s strong tower in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Second Timothy 3, verses 14 and 15.

“As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Bible study is an important part of growing in our understanding of who God is. Much like giving of our tithes, it is not meant to be a begrudging duty, but a joyful delight. It can be one of the highlights of our day, to open God’s word and read about His salvation plan through Jesus Christ. This is where we learn of God’s love to the world in need of a Savior. And through Jesus, He provided the solution for the sinful human condition.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of trusting His grace to save us from our sins in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Titus 2, verses 11 and 12.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

Here we see the power of God’s grace to save us and transform us through Jesus Christ. He gave Himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of freedom and pure devotion in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

John Shirk-Today’s Good News Focus is on Ephesians 6:17.

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

God’s salvation is reliable to protect us from the threats of our enemies in the spiritual realm. Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. There is another place in the New Testament that refers to the helmet of salvation. First Thessalonians 5:8 urges us to put on the hope of salvation as a helmet. When we live with the awareness that God protects our soul, we live with a sense of security that our lives are in God’s hands, and that our future is with Him forever.

The sword of the Spirit is the word of God, serving as a reliable offensive weapon against the forces of darkness in the heavenly realms. Darkness retreats in the presence of light. Satan retreats when we break out God’s Word and live by it.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to places of light, hope, and salvation in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, we are examining more of God’s purposes for our lives with our 20/20 Insights this week.

Today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on God’s purpose for our lives to be saved from our sins.

That is why Jesus came to the world. John 3:17 tells us that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Jesus is God’s plan of redemption. There is no plan B.  Our sin put us in a desperate place. It was like we were rafting downstream and crossed the point of no return. We were on a collision course with a waterfall. The only thing that can save us is a sturdy branch that is extending from the bank. It is within our grasp. In the spiritual realm, Jesus is the Branch of the LORD, and He is strong enough to rescue us, so we can reach for Him today. He is mighty to save. 

Romans 10:13 says that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Focusing on the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the searching. heart of Zacchaeus.

In Luke 19, we find this wealthy tax collector climbing a tree to see Jesus. The Bible says that he wanted to see who Jesus was. 

Jesus noticed him and invited himself to Zacchaeus’s house. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus gladly. 

The encounter changed his life. He said to Jesus, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

In seeing Jesus, Zacchaeus saw the folly of his greed, and saw how his life could be different by being more generous. His words to Jesus reflected his commitment to change course. Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house.”

Focusing on the generosity of God’s grace gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in John 3:16.

Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This is one of the most familiar Bible verses in the Bible. Billy Graham has said that this verse is the Gospel in a nutshell. 

It is a fitting verse for various occasions. At Christmas, this verse shows how Jesus is God’s precious gift to the world.

On Valentine’s Day, this verse can be used to focus on Jesus as the highest expression of God’s love.

And on Good Friday, this verse can be used to emphasize the sacrifice that Jesus made for us when He went to the cross.

This verse can also be used to invite others to receive the gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

The words of Jesus inspire us to trust in His grace for eternal life in the Year of Redemption. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com