JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to delight in God’s Word.
Psalm 119 is considered the longest chapter of the Bible. It is filled with references to God’s Word in almost every one of the 176 verses.
In verses 127 and 128, the writer says, “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”
Our attitude toward God’s Word has a strong impact on the direction of our lives. If God’s Word is a treasure to our heart that outweighs the value of gold, then we are going to heed God’s Word carefully to live it out. God’s Word has value for guiding us in the pathway that leads to a thriving faith and true freedom.
Jesus said that if we hold to the teachings of Jesus, we are really His disciples. Then we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.
Delighting in God’s Word is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the value of God’s love.
In Ephesians 3:19, the Apostle Paul prayed that we might have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp the value of Christ’s love to our lives.
This love surpasses knowledge. A good education can prepare us for a productive career, but the love of God prepares us for a thriving faith and an eternal inheritance in His Kingdom. Jesus has made it possible to know what God’s love is because He demonstrated it when He walked on the earth.
First John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
Focusing on the value of God’s love 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 Matthew 19:23 and 24.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
The lure of wealth can be lethal to our souls. Having wealth is not the problem. Loving our wealth becomes the problem. The rich young ruler turned away from Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, because his wealth had become an idol. First Timothy 6:17 offers wise counsel for the wealthy of this world. Here’s a paraphrase: Don’t be arrogant or put hope in wealth. Put your hope in God. Do good. Be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share. Then you will have treasure for a firm foundation in the future.
The words of Jesus inspire us to love God more than our wealth in the Year of Redemption.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
