Richard Ellis Talks

The devil's attempts to scare us are a 24/7 job -- because he knows that when we live in bondage to fear, we can do nothing of use for God. But when the Spirit of God lives inside us, we have nothing to fear. When we truly believe that the Lord is greater than anything that can come at us, we realize that nothing compares to His mighty power!

We're all like sheep -- in need of a Shepherd to lead us and to care for us. And just like sheep, the more closely we walk with the Shepherd, the more clearly we hear His voice. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and even those who live in rebellion away from God still have every opportunity to repent, turn from their wandering, and come to Him.

If you ever start to feel like you've been separated from God's love, ask yourself the question: "Am I living in His Spirit, or am I living out of my own flesh?" When we think God is distant, it's likely because we've strayed away -- but the Bible promises that nothing we do could ever make Him stop loving us.

God doesn't equip each of us with individual gifts so that we can keep them to ourselves. He expects us to use those gifts to impact people who may not otherwise be reached. The way you or I are uniquely wired might allow us to touch a specific person's life in a specific way that finally resonates with them for the sake of the Gospel -- and we have to be ready and willing to respond in obedience when the Lord prompts us to reach out.

We all love to celebrate when we see someone choose to follow Jesus for the very first time. But how often do we commit to walking them down the path of discipleship that comes next? Part of our responsibility as believers is teaching new baby Christians how to stand and take their next steps towards a relationship with God.

Obedience to God often involves giving up what we want in the moment, and trusting that what He has for us instead is worth our fleeting discomfort. Scripture promises that even though we're called to live against the grain of this world, our sacrifice and commitment will be made worth it in Heaven one day.

It's easy to honor a father and mother who act...well...honorably. It's an entirely different story when they've acted in ways that have caused us pain or wreaked havoc on our lives. Parents make mistakes, and often grievous ones, yet the Bible's command in this regard was never tentative or conditional. We're simply called to honor them -- if only for the fact that they gave us life.

It's hard to believe that the devil and Jesus could ever be described similarly, but that's exactly what the Bible does when it refers to both of them as "lion". The devil is always on the prowl, seeking to entice us into sin. But Jesus is the all-powerful King and Lion of Judah, who promises to return for us one day and reign over all. Our job in the midst of temptation and distraction is to keep our eyes fixed on Him, knowing that in the end, He holds the victory.

Sin is seasonal: its pleasure only lasts for a finite amount of time until consequence and suffering kick in. We can choose to party it up in sin and not think about what happens when the clock strikes midnight. Or, we can choose to live in step with the Prince of Peace, who promises to satisfy us completely and give us abundant life in Him.

Sometimes it feels like our sin is too great for God to fully forgive -- but Jesus' blood is powerful enough to make us new. He cleanses us fully and completely from our past, present, and future transgressions. Instead of living as though we can't be made clean, or living in sin and taking advantage of God's grace, let's humbly confess and then allow Him to wash us with His forgiveness.