Richard Ellis Talks

When we try our hardest to act godly, the work of trying will eventually wear us down -- and our flesh will reveal itself in the ugliness of sin. But when we surrender ourselves to Jesus, His work in us manifests itself in the fruit of the Spirit that others notice in our lives. To allow ourselves to be controlled by the Spirit is anything but weak -- it takes immense strength.

In Matthew 6, Jesus warns us of the inevitable destruction of our earthly treasures, and points us towards storing up that which will last for eternity. But the only way to invest in something eternal is to invest in other people -- and when we do that, it has to potential to bring both us and them heavenly rewards.

People are attracted to joy, not happiness. The latter is based on our circumstances; the former is based on our faith and trust in the Lord. Those around us take notice when they witness us praise God in all circumstances, not just the easy ones, so let's thank Him for the work that He's done and continues to do in our lives, even in the midst of hard times.

If you've ever played Monopoly, you know about the coveted "get out of jail free" card. But too often, we coast through this life as Christians, knowing we've got our "bonus card" of salvation tucked in our back pocket. That's why Scripture encourages us to wake up and take our obedience to Christ seriously; there will come a day when our time here ends, so it's up to us to make the most of every moment pointing others to Jesus.

One of the telltale signs that we're on the path to wandering away from God is when we lose our connection to the local Church. Like sheep in a herd, the more closely we walk with others, the less likely we are to run astray. God's design is for us to be in community not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the other "sheep" in the fold.

The Bible talks enough about fools that we should pay attention - lest we become one ourselves. It instructs us not to live in foolishness, but in wisdom. If we know what Scripture says but don't actually live it out, it has no genuine worth or meaning in our lives.

We've all experienced the disappointment that comes with being let down by another person. But what do you do when you feel like you've been let down by...God? In those moments, it's important to remember the evidence of His character that we see through His Word and through the ultimate sacrifice of His Son on our behalf. He promises to provide all we need for the work He's called us to do, until the day He calls us home to Him.

God calls us to live on the edge -- in the place where we're forced to depend on Him instead of watching and waiting to see how He's going to show up for us. He often brings us to the place where our faith is stretched, but when we seek Him first above all things, He provides for all our needs.

Humanity's struggle with sin is the very reason why Jesus had to come and die on our behalf -- and in doing so, He gave us the power through His Spirit to overcome the sin in our lives. Because God is love and overflows with love for us, He works through us to love people in supernatural ways, showing kindness and compassion to others in ways that make no earthly sense.

God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises has shown true, time and again throughout history. We can trust Him to be faithful in everything He's promised us; the question is, can He trust us to be faithful to Him?

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.