Richard Ellis Talks

We've probably all experienced non-believers who question or dismiss Scripture when we try to share it with them. But sometimes it's the most religious people, not atheists or skeptics, who challenge God's truth because they're too caught up in their traditions to see His Light. It's important for us to evaluate ourselves and make sure we're not falling into that same trap, because when we do, we become the devil's advocate against whatever God may be trying to reveal to us.

Gratitude is one of life's most important values, and yet it's one we can so easily forget or neglect. "Giving thanks" should happen for more than just a holiday once a year! As we consider our lives, let's make a point to thank the people around us who deserve our gratitude -- and most importantly, let's take the time to thank God for all that He's done for us.

The world will tell us that our sin isn't really sin -- after all, if it makes us feel good, how can it be bad? But Scripture is clear that God's standard is perfect and it never changes, so when we sin, He disciplines us out of love. When we stop rationalizing our sinful behavior and start seeing it how He sees it, we're able to turn and flee from it and start seeing His truth more clearly.

As Christians, we aren't immune to the storms of life. But we are assured that Christ stands with us in the storms, and so we become weathered to face tough times instead of crumbling beneath them. Everyone faces trials in this world, but those whose hope is in the Lord are given the strength to stand firm through them.

Life is full of situations that can grind on us and wear us down. Faith reminds us that even though our circumstances don't always change, God wants to change US in the process. It's good for us to pray with persistence and believe for Him to transform our situation, but we also need to be open to allowing Him to transform us!

God designed an internal warning system for humanity, to alert us when we're about to make sinful choices that will have negative or even dangerous consequences for our lives. It's called "the Holy Spirit", and when we become Christians, He places it inside of us. But a warning system doesn't do us anything good unless we listen to it -- the question is, are we willing to hear and obey when the alarm bells sound?

Scripture's filled with stories of God using sinners like you and me to accomplish amazing things for His glory. But all of those people had one thing in common: regardless of their past, they were prepared to fully surrender their will to His. No matter how many times we've been knocked DOWN in this life, we've got to come to a place of knocking UP on God's door and offering ourselves to Him!

We serve a God Who is's in the business of cleaning and restoration! And one of the most gracious and merciful things He does is restore our messy, dirty and broken lives to make us suitable for His work. When we repent of our own sins and allow Him to wash us clean, He uses us to help others get cleaned up, too.

It's easy for us to avoid issues in a relationship instead of addressing them head-on, but that only makes the relationship worse in the long run. The same can be said of our relationship with God. Instead of wasting time in disobedience, it's important for us to respond to Him with repentance and an open heart.

No matter how "good" we act, all of our good deeds are still filthy rags in the eyes of God because we've been tainted by sin from the start. But when we trade in our "rags" and accept the forgiveness and grace offered to us through Jesus' death on the cross, we become adopted into the family of God. As His children, we not only are made clean in His sight -- we become heirs to His riches, too.