Richard Ellis Talks

In a world that celebrates fast food, fast money, fast cars, fast service, fast Internet, and more...is it any wonder why we tend to have fast relationships? In order to be used effectively by God, we've first got to slow down and spend time with Him. Not only that, but we've got to prioritize relationships with people, too -- because when we show people that they matter to us, we're reflecting that they matter to God, too.

The Bible tells us to be in the world, but not of the world. It doesn't say to be running away and isolating ourselves from the trials and temptations of the world! It's possible to engage with those around us and not be affected by the "second hand smoke" of sin, but we have to be filled with God first before we can set a good example and tell others about Him.

The Bible tells us to be in the world, but not of the world. It doesn't say to be running away and isolating ourselves from the trials and temptations of the world! It's possible to engage with those around us and not be affected by the "second hand smoke" of sin, but we have to be filled with God first before we can set a good example and tell others about Him.

God never intended for us to think too highly of ourselves. But He never intended for us to think too little of ourselves, either. When we accept God's love for us, then we start to see ourselves in the right perspective: valuable to Him and for Him. And when we allow God to love us and respond by loving Him back, we can better love ourselves and the people around us.

God never intended for us to think too highly of ourselves. But He never intended for us to think too little of ourselves, either. When we accept God's love for us, then we start to see ourselves in the right perspective: valuable to Him and for Him. And when we allow God to love us and respond by loving Him back, we can better love ourselves and the people around us.

The story of Daniel in the lion's den is just one example of a man obeying God -- even when doing so could have cost him his life. The moral of Daniel's story is this: it's more important to obey God than to save our own lives, because our focus needs to be on eternal life, not on this temporary one. God might not always rescue us like He did Daniel, but our obedience to Him will be rewarded in eternity!

The story of Daniel in the lion's den is just one example of a man obeying God -- even when doing so could have cost him his life. The moral of Daniel's story is this: it's more important to obey God than to save our own lives, because our focus needs to be on eternal life, not on this temporary one. God might not always rescue us like He did Daniel, but our obedience to Him will be rewarded in eternity!

Scripture tells us that when we surrender our life to Christ, we become a new creation in Him. He doesn't just refurbish our existing self. He makes us completely new! But as new Christians, it takes time for us to grow and mature -- and to fight off our old ways of doing and thinking in exchange for a new life in Jesus.

Scripture tells us that when we surrender our life to Christ, we become a new creation in Him. He doesn't just refurbish our existing self. He makes us completely new! But as new Christians, it takes time for us to grow and mature -- and to fight off our old ways of doing and thinking in exchange for a new life in Jesus.

We all tend to gravitate towards people who are most like us. But the reality of being a Christ-follower is this: the closer we get to Jesus, the more "riff raff" we'll be challenged to love and accept. Jesus focused a large portion of His earthly ministry on people who society thought of as "less than" -- and for us to be like Jesus, we've got to reach out to the hurting and broken people around us and share His love with them.

We all tend to gravitate towards people who are most like us. But the reality of being a Christ-follower is this: the closer we get to Jesus, the more "riff raff" we'll be challenged to love and accept. Jesus focused a large portion of His earthly ministry on people who society thought of as "less than" -- and for us to be like Jesus, we've got to reach out to the hurting and broken people around us and share His love with them.

It's easy to look at other people's lives and compare what we see to what we don't have ourselves. But as we're looking at the outside, God's busy working on us from the inside. Whatever -- or whoever -- we're waiting on God to bring into our lives, let's not compromise our standards, but let's trust Him while we wait.

It's easy to look at other people's lives and compare what we see to what we don't have ourselves. But as we're looking at the outside, God's busy working on us from the inside. Whatever -- or whoever -- we're waiting on God to bring into our lives, let's not compromise our standards, but let's trust Him while we wait.

The Old Testament gives us a detailed picture of the Tabernacle that God commanded His people build in order for them to worship Him. It was beautiful, ornate, and precious -- but the purpose of it was to slaughter animal sacrifices and spill their blood to cover the sins of the people. Since Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice whose blood has covered all our sins, we're able to come before Him and be washed clean from our past.

The Old Testament gives us a detailed picture of the Tabernacle that God commanded His people build in order for them to worship Him. It was beautiful, ornate, and precious -- but the purpose of it was to slaughter animal sacrifices and spill their blood to cover the sins of the people. Since Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice whose blood has covered all our sins, we're able to come before Him and be washed clean from our past.