Richard Ellis Talks

In a world full of messaging that "I'm number one" and "it's all about me", we have to listen through the noise to hear God saying the opposite. He's chosen us and called us according to His purpose, not because of anything we've done, but because He's gracious and merciful. Our job is to live out of humility, not ego, sharing the unconditional love that He first showed to us with everyone around us.

One of the first things investigators do when an aircraft crashes is search for the "black box", because it records and reveals every piece of data that might explain why the plane went down. We all sin, and sometimes we try to cover it up, but there's a "black box" in our lives recording everything we do, and eventually it will be made known. God calls us not to hide from Him, but to come clean before Him in repentance and allow Him to change us from the inside out.

In God's family, there are no strangers. There are no rejects. There are no outcasts. There are only beloved children of God. When we stand up and proclaim His name, we might be rejected by the world, but we can take confidence in knowing that we're not only accepted by the Lord of the universe -- we're chosen by Him, too.

One of the most dangerous things any Christian can do is isolate themselves from other believers. The Bible describes us as sheep and the Lord as our Shepherd, who cares for us and provides for all of our needs. But just like in a real flock, there are always wolves on the prowl, seeking to come into the fold with the intent to steal, kill, and destroy. That's why we've got to be ever watchful and remain on guard against the enemy's attacks.

We like to kid ourselves with the idea that we're somehow in control -- of ourselves, of our decisions, and even of the world in which we live. The bad news: we're not in control. The good news: God is! We serve a living God who's always in charge. He hears us, He sees us, and His plan will prevail, no matter the circumstances we face.

You know you've started taking something for granted when you stop being thankful for it. God's blessed us abundantly with more things than we can count, including our salvation and the gift of eternal life. The best way to avoid losing our appreciation for what He's given us is to continually respond to Him with gratitude and in thanksgiving for all that He's done.

It's hard to imagine, especially here in the United States in the 21st century, but you and I and every other person were born as slaves -- slaves to sin. The good news is this: we've been offered freedom from our bondage thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. When we accept the forgiveness He offers us, we submit ourselves to His care and become His slave instead, knowing He'll provide for our every need.

"When I grow up"..."I'm almost an adult"..."You can't make me"...do any of these phrases sound like something you or your kids might have said growing up?! In the same way, we often act like rebellious teenagers and lack spiritual maturity in our relationship with God. But we can't live the Christian life alone. That's why God designed His Church -- to be a community of believers that will help each other grow and mature.

There's a saying that, "We are made for God, and nothing less will ever satisfy us." We all have a longing deep within our souls, and we try to fill that void with anything and everything this world has to offer. But we'll never be truly satisfied except through Jesus -- and when we drink from Him, He promises that we'll never thirst again.

 

Shame is just one of the many consequences of sin, but often it serves as the catalyst for us to repent from our wrongdoing. The one thing we should never be ashamed of is the goodness of God. May we have the courage to proclaim His love and mercy to a hurting world, and to speak of His forgiveness to all who we meet!