Richard Ellis Talks

We look in the rearview mirror when we're driving in order to see what's behind us. But when we decide to give our lives to Christ, there's no need for us to look back. Following Jesus requires us to jump all in; even if we stumble along the way, we can still keep moving forward in pursuit of His calling on our lives.  

Once upon a time, there were people who would keep the plastic packaging around a piece of new furniture for as long as possible, in hopes of preserving its newness. The problem was, not only was it uncomfortable to sit on -- its intended design was being wasted. Our walk with God can often be like a new piece of furniture. He has a plan and a purpose for our lives, but we're reluctant to be used by Him. Yet unlike furniture, the more we give of ourselves to God, the more He keeps creating a sense of newness within us.

God is less concerned with whether or not He offends people than He is with whether or not we live a righteous life. That process takes discipline, and sometimes even necessitates pain to bring us back to right living. But in the end, the benefits of following Him far outweigh the difficulties that come with learning to be obedient.

God wants us to chase Him first -- above and before anyone or anything else. When we do that, our relationships, our future, and our life as a whole might not always look the way we envisioned or planned, but they have a beautiful way of working out just the way He designed.

The Bible says that we're called to be salt and light to a tasteless and dark world. But how often do we choose to blend in with the culture around us instead? It's tempting to rely on God's grace and mercy as our "get-out-of-jail-free" card so that we can flirt with temptation, but over time, we begin to hide the light He's placed in us instead of allowing it to brighten the environment around us.

God gives us plenty of warning signs on the road to disobedience. Through Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and fellow believers, He urges us to heed those warnings -- not only to avoid the painful consequences of sin, but to avoid the ultimate consequence of hell itself.

Do you ever find yourself wondering how you're supposed to live your life? Scripture tells us that even though we don't know the exact day it will happen, we do know the last days are coming. The Bible gives us instructions not only about how to be ready for those days, but about how to live all the days from now until then.

Are you tired of searching for that one thing you're sure will satisfy the longing you feel inside? This world offers nothing that can fill the void. Jesus tells us that He's the Bread of Life -- and only in Him will we find eternal satisfaction.

Sharing the Gospel isn't a "catch-and-release" sport. Our job is to commit to following Jesus wholeheartedly, and to teach others to do the same. To follow requires authenticity -- and when we follow Him, He changes everything around us, too.

The devil knows exactly what bait to use to lure us into sin. But within every temptation lies an escape, if only we're prepared to look for it. Only Jesus, full of grace and mercy, can show us how to flee -- as long as we run to Him.

Do you give God your first fruits, or your last leftovers? We all spend money on earthly pleasures, but when it comes to investing in eternal rewards, we have a tendency to hesitate or make excuses. God calls us to give -- and to give generously -- to His Church and to His Kingdom.

Close? Closer? Closest? How far would you say you are from God in your relationship with Him? Just like a fighter pilot has to "debrief" after each flight -- and course correct where needed -- we as Christians can also live out a life of "course corrections" by seeking God's direction, knowing He's faithful to debrief us on how to stay closest to Him.

The world advertises sex before marriage as a foregone conclusion, a natural progression of the dating process. But there are consequences to the world's way of doing things, and often, those consequences are significant. There's great reward in waiting on God to bring someone who's interested in doing things His way -- someone who's looking for supreme courting.

We can look to people who don't know Jesus and envy their seemingly careless, seemingly carefree lifestyle, while we struggle to live God's way and seem to face trial after trial. The "luxuries" of the world are enticing, but when we trust God in all things, He's faithful to answer our cries if we call to Him, and to give us strength to make it through our storm.

Maybe you grew up in a loving family, or maybe being part of one always felt like an impossible dream. Regardless of where we came from, we're offered that very opportunity through God the Father -- but it comes with responsibilities. God commands us as His children to love others as we love ourselves. As part of the family of God, we need our brothers and sisters to love us and be loved by us, too.