Richard Ellis Talks

Romans 8:17 declares that as followers of Christ, we're given the privilege of joining Him in becoming heirs of God! We get to call Him our Daddy. And not only do we inherit a Heavenly Father, but when our time here on earth is finished, we're called home to be with Him for all eternity.

Men don't just need biological fathers -- they need spiritual fathers, too. When Scripture speaks of men imparting wisdom to their sons, it's showing us a model of discipleship that we're meant to emulate as the Church. Spiritually mature men have a responsibility to mentor younger men so they can grow in their relationship with God.

When we choose to follow Jesus, it means we've got to be prepared to stretch beyond our comfort zone, go the distance, and give up everything for His sake. That journey often involves trials that leave us with some marks -- but it's through those marks that He's ultimately glorified.

God's grace covers all of our sin. But it would be a mistake to assume that when we choose to follow Him, we're a) given a license to continue sinning, or b) destined to be happy for the rest of our earthly lives! We're called to trust and obey Him, which means both living to please Him and having faith even when we don't understand the pain we're going through in the midst of trials and suffering.

The law of sin means that we can't escape the inevitable sinful nature of our hearts. But when Jesus died and rose from the grave on our behalf, He made a way of escape that ensured we would not longer have to live under the law of sin. When we choose to live under His banner of freedom instead, He changes the very nature of our hearts and our lives from the inside out.

Scripture tells us the importance of remaining connected to Jesus, the vine, in order that we, the branches, can bear His fruit. But when we disconnect from Him we can only pretend and bear "fake fruit" for so long before what's really inside us comes out. When we allow Him to continually work in us, the fruits of the Spirit -- love, joy, patience, and so much more -- are produced in our lives and other people get a taste and want what we have.

The best way for kids to learn is for us to model the behavior we want from them. When it comes to following Jesus, there are always other people watching how we live, especially children who seek to imitate our actions. If we want our kids to honor God with their lives, we first have to honor Him with our own -- and that includes showing obedience and submitting to His will.

Time and time again throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites watched God come through for them and provide for their needs in miraculous ways. Yet time and time again, they worshipped false idols and were lured in by what the world had to offer, even though God continually proved Himself to them. We're not unlike the Israelites in that we get caught up making idols for ourselves and worshipping the world. But no matter how wild we get or how far off-track we go, the even "wilder" thing is that He continues to accept us and welcome us back home.

Let's face it: how we allow ourselves to hear God's Word is often dependent on our circumstances at the time. But part of spiritual maturity is recognizing that we need to be the kind of soil that receives the seeds of God's Word no matter what's going on in our lives. When we allow Scripture to take root in our hearts, we bear fruit that in turn impacts other people.

It's one thing to worship God when things are going our way. It's another to worship Him in the midst of the storm. But when we face trials in this life, one of our greatest weapons is the ability to praise God regardless of the circumstance. When we understand that He fights on our behalf and that we don't face the enemy alone, we can rest knowing we're safe and secure in Him.