JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to eagerly desire spiritual gifts.
This word of instruction is found in First Corinthians 14:1. That is the same place where we are taught to follow the way of love.
Love brings light to our service in God’s Kingdom. People receive care and support, needs are met, and spiritual growth happens when we carry out service opportunities with a heart of love.
First Corinthians 14:12 says, “Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.”
God has equipped each of us with a personality and with skills to become a light for the Gospel. As we serve God, there will be opportunities to develop those gifts in ways that build up the body of Christ and glorify God.
Eagerly Desiring Spiritual Gifts is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is the exercise of spiritual gifts.
When God’s people serve with love and with their spiritual gifts, the church has a significant light to shine in the local community.
The Bible teaches us that different members of the church have different gifts. Romans 12:6 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
This is a picture of the body of Christ serving freely by the grace of God for the glory of God.
Exercising our Spiritual Gifts is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to run the race of faith with excellence.
To be excellent in our area of giftedness does not mean perfection. It means giving our best with what we have been given.
Athletes at the Olympics have been gifted in certain events. We will not see someone who trained in a swimming event competing in gymnastics. Each athlete will compete in the event where they excel.
First Corinthians 14:12 encourages us to excel in those spiritual gifts that build up the church. How do we find our place of service in the church? Find out how God has gifted us to serve where we can excel.
First Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Take the daily challenge to run the race with excellence on the journey of faith.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason To Believe is spiritual gifts.
Believers in Christ receive spiritual gifts from God. These are opportunities of service to glorify God. He is working through spiritual gifts among His followers to build the church and spread the Gospel throughout the world.
God gives us spiritual gifts to exercise them, not to stuff them into a dark corner where no one can see them.
First Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
The exercise of our spiritual gifts glorifies God and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from First Corinthians 12:21-23.
The church is compared to a body, with various functions of the body working together for a common purpose. Trouble begins when we start making comparisons with other parts of the body. If we respond with superior thoughts that we are more important than other parts, the unity breaks down. The Apostle Paul wanted to stop that from happening. This is what he said:
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.”
When you think of the people in the body of Christ that you serve beside, who comes to mind? They have an important part of helping you to serve effectively. One way we can build that part of the body of Christ is by recognizing their contribution and showing our appreciation for what they do.
Recognizing the contributions of others 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 First Corinthians 12:14-16.
The church is compared to a body, with Christ at the Head, and the other members of the body serving in different capacities.
“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.”
The Bible emphasizes the importance of every part of the body to contribute to the work of the church. Maybe we are not gifted to offer hospitality by cooking a meal, but we might have a friendly personality who can greet someone at the door of the church. We might not be able to preach like the pastor, but we might have opportunities to share God’s love with a friend next door. This passage cautions us from making comparisons with others that leave us feeling inferior. Our role may be different, but it is also an important contribution to the body of Christ. The important thing is that we are thankful for how God has gifted us and use that gift for the glory of His name.
Recognizing the significance of our spiritual gift is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the joy of working together for a sacred purpose.
The church is compared to a body, which consists of many connected members who have different functions. Yet as their different functions work compatibly with each other, the body works according to its design.
Each part is significant enough to be a vital part of the team. No part is so important that it does not need the contribution of the other parts. God calls us to appreciate the contributions of others and to do our part in building the strength of the church for God’s glory.
Romans 12:6 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
The joy of working together for a sacred purpose is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the graciousness of God.
Grace is that quality of God’s character that ultimately saves us from our sins and gives us eternal life. It is not an item we can purchase or a wage that we can earn. Ephesians 2:8 describes God’s grace as a gift to be received. In His grace, God shines His favor on His people.
The graciousness of God can be seen in the blessings that He pours out on the inhabitants of the earth. He sends rain from heaven to provide us with food from the crops.
His graciousness is often connected with His patience and kindness.
Instead of wiping out the civilization of Nineveh, as He had threatened through Jonah the prophet, the LORD saw how they had turned from their evil ways and had compassion on them. Likewise, God’s graciousness relents from the judgment that we deserve when we repent from our sins and trust in Jesus for forgiveness
God’s graciousness also equips the believer with spiritual gifts. He blesses us to be a blessing to others through acts of service. First Peter 4:10 tells us to use whatever gift we have received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
The graciousness of God is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
