Richard Ellis Talks

The Bible reveals God's character to us, and it describes all the things He made as "good". In His mercy, He works in us to manifest goodness and mercy in our lives everywhere we go. If we claim to follow Jesus, we should be allowing Him to break off what's bad -- sin -- and trust that what He has for us is so much better.

Ever felt "different" because you were a Christian? If you answered "yes", that's not actually a bad thing. As a follower of Christ, you've been chosen by God and set apart from this world to live out the calling He's placed on your life. Live in such a way that your life reflects the saving work that Jesus did for you on the cross -- and the work that He continues to do in and through you every single day.

Let's be honest: it feels good to have other people notice what we do. But where man's affirmation is temporary and fleeting, God's validation is eternal and everlasting. Instead of finding our value through the world's eyes, let's rest in the knowledge of the immeasurable value God's given us through His Son.

We realize that Jesus died to save us from an eternity spent in hell -- but we often forget that He also died to save us from an earthly life spent in sin. When we accept God's forgiveness, we're justified by His grace and sanctified through His Son's sacrifice. The Gospel is good news not only for our salvation, but for our daily lives.

Almost all of us have experienced the feeling that comes from believing somebody else's life is better, easier, happier, or more successful than ours. But comparison is the thief of joy, and God is focused on working with us from the inside out. Maybe you're in a season of waiting and wondering when God is going to move; trust Him, don't compromise on your standards, and know that some of HIs best refining work happens when we wait on Him.

Discipline is one way that God shows us the areas of our lives in which we need to be refined. The right response isn't to become hardened and allow roots of bitterness to grow towards the Lord; the right response is to allow Him to dig up the roots of sin that are hindering us so that we can experience peace with Him.

Nothing catches God by surprise. Isn't that a comforting truth? Even when we're caught off guard by our circumstances, God is never startled by what happens. He knew every step of our lives before we were born, and when we spend time with Him, like through prayer, Scripture, and fasting, He promises to cover us.

Jesus was the living, breathing, walking embodiment of servant leadership. All throughout the Gospels, he models for us what it means to humble ourselves in a position of servanthood in order to minister to others. As Christ followers, we shouldn't just be willing to serve those around us; we should strive to serve those around us in hopes that they'll be impacted spiritually themselves and inspired to do the same for others.

Every day of this life involves a spiritual battle for our souls; that's why God gives us weapons to defend against the attacks of the enemy. Prayer is a means to protect ourselves and others from the devil's attempts to destroy God's work in us, and Scripture is a tool to fight back against the devil's lies.

Spiritual growth and maturity are critical components of our walk with God. We can't just learn about what it means to follow Jesus -- we also need to apply it so that we can help others grow in relationship with Him.