Richard Ellis Talks

Wisdom is more than just knowing the truth -- it requires applying that truth in a way that brings life transformation. Having knowledge about the truth of Scripture doesn't mean anything unless we're also applying it to our lives. When God makes Himself known to us through His Word and we choose to act on what He says, a discernible transformation occurs that's visible to others and that reveals His glory to them.

In the beginning, God invited Adam and Eve to take and eat all the fruit they could ever want from every tree in the Garden -- all except for one. When they made the choice to disobey God, sin entered our world, and with it, the consequence of spiritual death. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, God now invites us to take and eat from the Tree of Life -- but we have to receive and accept His offer in order to experience the fullness of eternal life with Him.

For each and every one of us, life as a follower of Jesus is always a work in progress. The struggle against sin and temptation isn't a single event, but a constant journey. We'll never "complete" it or arrive at our destination until the day we see Jesus, but until then we can continue growing and maturing in our pursuit of Him.

Jesus warns us in Matthew 16:25, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." When we give God our whole lives and not just one part, He plants us like a seed in the ground, and the end product is a new creation that grows and multiplies His Kingdom for His glory.

Scripture tells us -- in no uncertain terms -- that when we've been wronged, our response should be to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, turn the other cheek, and the list goes on! Who is that person in your life that you consider an "enemy", who God is calling you to respond to in kindness? As Christians, it's our job to see others the way God sees them, and to love them in such a way that they can't help but wonder why!

Jesus had so many followers during His time on earth that He would have put Instagram to shame! But just like with social media, most of those "followers" ditched Him when the journey got less comfortable and more difficult. We like to think we're better committed to our faith than the people back then, but really chasing after Jesus requires an all-in commitment. Are we willing to give up our own lives to pick up and follow Him?

God designed His Church to have shepherds lead the flock and protect them from the "wolves" of the world whose only intention is to devour the sheep. Plugging into a local church also means submitting to its godly authority and trusting that its leadership will protect us through the spiritual battles we face.

If we're not prepared to fight the smaller battles of life, how will we be prepared for the bigger ones that come our way? We only have to look to the example of David in Scripture as someone who faithfully served God throughout his life, perfecting his skills and protecting his sheep from bears and lions and other outside threats. When it came time to face Goliath, David was prepared to slay the giant, because God had equipped him all along with the tools he needed to win the battle.

It's impossible to sin in a vacuum -- our actions, good or bad, always have a ripple effect on those around us. God offers us second chances (and third, and fourth, and on and on!) to turn from our sin and make right choices. When we choose to obey Him instead of rebelling against what He asks us to do, it can have eternal impact not only on our lives, but on the lives of other people, too.

Jesus invites us to ask for ANYTHING -- but that doesn't always mean the answer to our prayers will be what we'd like to hear. Instead of asking for our own selfish desires, what if we asked God for whatever it is that HE wants to give us? When we yield to His answers and offer our lives completely to Him, He uses us in ways we never could have expected.