Richard Ellis Talks

Our society continues to face challenges surrounding racial issues. But that opens the door for us as believers to bridge gaps and put into action the love that Christ has called us to demonstrate to all people -- without exclusion. It's one thing to know what the Bible says about loving our neighbors; it's another to do what it says. Only when that command is put into action by you and me on a daily, personal level can true change begin to take place in the world around us.

In our culture, people are quick to judge others, provoke argument, and "cancel" people from their lives if they don't see eye-to-eye. We forget that without Jesus, none of us have a hope of upholding God's standard of perfection. He demonstrates for us what it means to show mercy to ourselves and other people when they -- or we -- miss the mark.

Many people love to give -- but if you asked them to do it without any expectation of credit or recognition, they might think twice. God calls us to be cheerful givers, and that means our only motive should be bringing God glory, not ourselves. Generosity reflects more about the condition of our hearts than it does about the recipient's needs, because when we give to others what God first gave us, we demonstrate our trust in Him to provide.

Maybe you've heard the saying, "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." But did you know that truth comes directly out of Scripture? God knows the world is filled with indecisive people, and our lives are often a mess because of it. That's why He wants us to surrender our doubts and fears, trust in His promises, and follow Him whole-heartedly -- because He promises to take care of our every need when we commit ourselves to Him.

Jesus turned the world upside down because He was willing to give His own life for us, that we might be saved from an eternity separated from God. And when we accept Him as the Lord and Savior of our life, we should be willing to give, do, and sacrifice anything that He says. The only way God can use us to turn the world upside down is if we give our everything to Him, and hold nothing back.

When we can't see the poor and the needy all around us, chances are, it's not because they're not there -- it's because we're too distracted to even notice. Our busy schedules, pursuit of earthly success, and love for material possessions can all hinder us from seeing those who God's called us to help, or wanting to share the abundance He's given us. But Scripture teaches us that the Lord will always provide for our every need, and when we give to the poor, it's as if we're giving to God Himself.

1 John 4:12 tells us, "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." We live in a world that's been broken by sin, and the only way to repair it is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When He lives in us, His love for others flows through us, and we're used by Him to change the world around us.

Jesus stepped in to advocate for us before the Father. He took our sin upon Himself, and He continues to intercede on our behalf. In the same way that Jesus modeled this act of love for us, we're to do the same for other people who need someone to stand up and speak for them in the midst of their struggles.

When you're part of a family, you hold two key things; the first is a role, and the second is responsibility. One of our responsibilities as members of God's family is to help each other remain spiritually right with the Lord. When we see a brother or sister struggling, we're not only to call them out on it -- we're to help them through it.

God called us out of the darkness when He redeemed us from our sin. Now He calls us to call out others so that they, too, might be saved. Our job is to be a light in the world and expose sin -- but we can never forget how important it is to speak truth not only in boldness, but also in love.