JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 66, verses 16 and 17.
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
A testimony of faith is a light that shows others how God can change a heart. Our spiritual breakthrough moments can be used of God to stir others to praise God with a fully devoted faith.
This was the case with the Apostle Paul, who persecuted Christians before coming to faith. He said in Galatians 1:22, “I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me.”
That’s how God can use a testimony to move people deeply.
This Light Reflection inspires us to share our testimony of faith with others who are willing to hear in the Year to Shine.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is a Testimony of faith.
Everyone has a story. When we come to faith in Christ, that story becomes a redemption story.
Out of the overflow of our heart, the mouth speaks words of praise and gratitude because of what God has done in our lives. By sharing our story with others, we invite others to see the goodness of God.
Not everyone might want to hear our story. There is wisdom in being sensitive to that. But where people are interested in hearing how God has worked in our lives, our story can build the faith of others and open doors of transparency with them.
Psalm 66:16 says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”
Sharing our testimony with others is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is First Peter 2:9.
But you are a chosen people-a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
When God transforms our heart to trust in Jesus, we live with the assurance that we belong to Him. He has given us a testimony of praise that reveals God’s mercy that was shown to us.
The goodness of His grace is the reason for our testimony. That is why He deserves the credit for the good ways that we are changed by the Gospel. The writer of Psalm 66:16 says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”
This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to declare praise for God for His mercy and acceptance in the Year of Relationship.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Luke 8:39.
Jesus said to a man who was delivered from demon possession, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” The man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
The Redeemed life is not a perfect life, but it is a transformed life by the power of Jesus Christ. This man was changed by God’s grace. He was bound by evil, but Jesus freed him to have a testimony of God’s power working in his life. Our story may have a similar pattern, stained by a sinful, self-destructive past, but cleansed and set free to live for God today. That’s amazing grace, and it is a story worth telling.
Through Jesus, we are set free to share our testimony of God’s amazing grace.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Psalm 107, verses 1 and 2.
“Give
thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed
of the LORD tell their story-those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.”
Those who
are redeemed of the LORD have a story to tell of God’s power to free us from
the chains of darkness and bring us into His wonderful light.
God
continues to work through testimonies today that tell of His amazing grace to
set the captives free.
Through Jesus, we are set free to share our story of God’s transforming love.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – In our Relationship-Building Principles, we are examining some of the ways Jesus’ followers can be effective witnesses for the Gospel.
One way is the Testimonial approach.
This is when we tell other people how God has specifically changed our lives with the touch of His grace. This might happen in a setting where we are sharing one-on-one with a friend. Or we might share our testimony in a church meeting.
In John 9, a man who was blind from birth was given sight. When the Pharisees asked him about this, he said about Jesus, “He put mud on my eyes and I washed, and now I see.”
Our testimony is where our story and God’s grace meet. When people hear and see the difference that Jesus makes in our lives, they have opportunity to see how Jesus can also change their lives in a profound way.
Psalm 66:16 says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”
Taking the testimonial approach of sharing the Gospel is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
