JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to step into the light of transformation.
This process starts with a proper view of God’s mercy. His mercy spares us from the punishment that we deserve because of our sin. John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace, observed near the end of his life, “I remember two things clearly, ‘I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.’”
Romans 12:1 says, “In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Transformation happens when we respond to God’s mercy with a heart of gratitude and worship, and renew our mind to follow Gods’ will.
Take the daily challenge to walk in the transformation that embraces God’s purposes on the journey of faith.
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 – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the power of God’s mercy to transform our lives.
In Romans 12, verses 1 and 2, we see God’s mercy as the starting place for transformation from the inside out.
“In view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Of all the voices that seek our attention, the most important voice is God. He has spoken at the cross. He has spoken at the empty grave, and He has spoken in the Bible. His message speaks to us of mercy as Jesus took the penalty for our sins on the cross. Keeping God’s mercy in view, we are moved to gratitude and worship. We are also better equipped to discern the will of God for our lives.
Focusing on God’s mercy 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 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 Titus 3, verses 3 through 5a.
The
Apostle Paul said, “At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and
enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being
hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior
appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because
of his mercy.”
When we
hear testimonies from believers, we hear of the various ways that God can
change a heart. In the case of Paul the Apostle, his transformation was
dynamic. The kindness and love of God changed him from the inside out. Instead
of being foolish without Christ, he became wise in Christ. Instead of being
disobedient to the Gospel, he became obedient to the Gospel. The hatred and
hardness that he once harbored in his heart were replaced by love and
tenderness toward God and His church. Today, followers of Jesus also have a
story to share of transformation.
Through Jesus, we are set free from the strongholds of our past to enjoy God’s love in the present.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – We are coming toward the end of 2012, the Year of Transformation at WJTL, with an emphasis on life change from the inside out. I sincerely hope that the devotionals and the stories of changed lives that we have been sharing have left an impression on your life in terms of how Jesus is able to transform you to be more like Christ and to prepare you for doing God’s will with a sincere heart of devotion.
When we talk of transformation, I often think of Second Corinthians 3:18 which says, “we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
So, for the disciple of Jesus, God’s Spirit is working in our lives constantly. It’s a process of transformation, where we are learning who Jesus is more thoroughly, seeing Him for clearly, and reflecting Him more accurately. So, there is in the Christian life two types of transformation taking place. One type of transformation is when we first acknowledge our need for Jesus to be our Savior and Lord and are converted to becoming a Christ follower. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. And then the second type of transformation is a process called sanctification, where Jesus is shaping us on a daily basis to grow in godly character and maturity. So, even though we are moving into a new focus next year, let’s never forget that Jesus touches lives in ways that transform our hearts. Up and coming in 2013 will be the Year to Remember. We will remember highlights in church history, and lessons of faith from the Bible, because faith remembers God in the midst of daily life and learns from past experiences.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
WJTL and Sharp Innovations in Lancaster are proud announce the winner of the “Transform Your Website” contest: Child Evangelism Fellowship of Lancaster! Click here to see their current website, which will receive a complete transformation by Sharp Innovations–for FREE! Congratulations, CEF! We can’t wait to see the transformed site!
Find out more about Sharp Innovations here!
Categories: News, Promo Tags: cef, Child Evangelism Fellowship, chris wenden, contest, joe sharp, lancaster county, makeover, Sharp Innovations, transformation, website
WJTL and Sharp Innovations in Lancaster are proud to present the “Transform Your Website” contest! This contest will award one local non-profit Christian organization with a complete website transformation by Sharp Innovations–for FREE! Think about your current website–is it ugly, outdated, limited or just not working for you and your organization’s needs? This prize would help transform that site into something that represents you well and operates beautifully! The deadline to enter is coming up on October 26th, so click here for the contest rules and entry form!
Find out more about Sharp Innovations here!
Click here for WJTL’s General Contest Rules.
*Please note: comments left on this blog do not count as entries in this contest.
Categories: News, Promo Tags: Christian organization, contest, lancaster, marketing, non-profit, Sharp Innovations, transformation, website, website makeover, website transformation
