JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in John 8, verses 31 and 32.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus linked His teachings to truth, and He linked truth to freedom. This is the pathway, then, to true and lasting liberty-by following Jesus and living according to His teachings.

As we take the words of Jesus to heart, they will transform our heart and lead us in a life-giving direction. They will move us to express faith with love.

Jesus said in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

The truth of God’s Word reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to put on the full armor of God.

The Christian life is a spiritual battlefield, not with the weapons of the world, and not against flesh and blood.  Our battle is against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. The weapons available to us consist of truth, faith, prayer, salvation, righteousness, and God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

Satan tries to influence us through temptation, accusation, condemnation, and confusion. But the weapons that God provides for us are strong enough to resist the devil’s influence, so that we can follow Jesus with a fully devoted heart.

Second Peter 1:3 tells us that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” The armor of God equips us to stand firm in the faith.

Putting on the full armor of God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 119:45.

I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

America recently celebrated birthday number 247. We have enjoyed many freedoms in this nation through the years not experienced by other nations.

Those freedoms did not come easily, but came at a huge price for many.

The spiritual freedoms that we enjoy are even more precious, and came to us at the price of blood shed by Jesus at the cross.

God’s Word shows the way to true and lasting freedom, by following Jesus and obeying His commands. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus is able to set our heart free, so that we are not bound by the control of sin, but liberated to serve others by His love.

This Light Reflection inspires us to enjoy the freedom of living out God’s Word in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to embrace the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

One definition of freedom is “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.”

Jesus said that “everyone who sins is a slave to sin, so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus brings true and lasting freedom by His grace and truth. There is freedom from the guilt of the past, freedom from the control of sin in the present, and freedom from condemnation in the future.  We are set free by Jesus to live, thrive, and love others as He loves us.

Embracing the teachings of Jesus is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 1:14.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Bible says that the knowledge of God’s glory was displayed in the face of Christ. He came as the light of the world, so that those who walk in darkness might be set free from sin and be reconciled to God.

The grace and truth of Jesus was clearly evident in His encounter with a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. The religious leaders were ready to stone her to death, but Jesus disarmed them by saying, “Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And as her accusers gradually went away, Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you, go now and leave your life of sin.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to find forgiveness and freedom in God’s grace and truth in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to build our lives on God’s grace and truth.

Jesus came to the earth from the Father full of grace and truth. So, if grace and truth are going to be foundational in our lives, Jesus is going to be the central focus.

In Matthew 7:24, Jesus taught that everyone who hears His words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The truth of Jesus’ teachings gives us a strong foundation for our faith and clear, moral direction for our decisions.

His grace has the power to set us free from the guilt of our sin. Romans 3:23 acknowledges that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The shedding of Christ’s blood at the cross paved the way for us to find forgiveness in His grace.

Building our lives on God’s grace and truth is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Ephesians 5:8 to 10.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

In relationship with God, we come out of the darkness of our own sin and into the light of His grace and truth. In light of our identity as children of God, the writer is urging us to live that truth out in our attitude, speech, and conduct. The words we say and the things we do will please the Lord if they are motivated by our love for the Lord and in line with His goodness, righteousness, and truth.

This Light Reflection inspires us to find out what pleases the Lord and live it out in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Speaking the Truth in Love.

Ephesians 4:15 explains what happens when God’s people follow through on this practice.

“We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Jesus came to us full of grace and truth. Grace gives second chances. Grace forgives sin, restores relationships, and builds faith. Grace extends life and peace to those who will embrace the Gospel.

Truth upholds God’s standards and reveals God’s will for our lives. Jesus equated the truth to His teachings, which has the power to set us free.

When the truth is spoken in love, God’s people are blessed with spiritual growth and greater unity in Christ.

Speaking the Truth in Love is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 17:17.

Jesus prayed for His disciples this way, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Lies deceive us and take us away from the joy of following Jesus. Truth, however, is like a reliable compass, pointing out God’s standards, and giving us direction in the light of God’s will. The words of Jesus accurately reflect the will of God. If we are guided by the words of truth, we will be sanctified. That means we will be set apart by God for a useful purpose that brings glory to His name. We will grow in God’s grace and in godly character, so that our lives yield the fruitful qualities of love, joy, peace, and patience.

Jesus said in John 18:37, “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to be sanctified by the truth of God’s Word in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is John 18:37.

Jesus told Pilate when He was on trial, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

In a world that is concerned about the spread of misinformation and fake news, we can take comfort in the truth of the good news found in Jesus Christ.

The truth that Jesus taught was not a confining message to ruin our fun. It was a liberating message to save us from our sins. Jesus said in John 8:32 that the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to walk in the truth of God’s good news in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Jeremiah.

The LORD called him to be a prophet even before Jeremiah was aware of his calling. The LORD said to him in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Initially, Jeremiah responded like Moses did when God called him at the burning bush. Jeremiah said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”

But the LORD said, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child’. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.”

From that moment on, Jeremiah went forth in the authority of the LORD’s name and declared His word. His message was not popular to a nation attached to their idols. But his words were true, and they call us to “ask where the good way is, and walk in it.” Then, we will find rest for our souls.

The faithfulness of Jeremiah to speak truth to his generation inspires us to follow God’s calling and live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com