When Jesus ate His last meal with His disciples, He took time to teach them the importance of remembering the suffering and death He was about to experience. It's in the process of giving thanks that we remember all that God gives to us. Jesus thanked His Father for what represented the worst suffering anyone could ever endure on the cross -- so le…

When we call out to God and ask Him to help us, then we have to be ready and willing to obey whatever He tells us to do in response -- even if it sounds crazy. And when we follow through on His answers to our call, we also have to remember to thank Him for the blessing we receive as a result.Oleh Richard Ellis

Scripture teaches us that God is merciful. Gracious. Slow to anger. Quick to offer salvation for all those who choose to believe in Him. But His Word also reminds us that His mercy will come to an end for those who continue to hold onto their sin and refuse to repent.Oleh Richard Ellis

When we repent from the sin that's left our lives broken and in pieces, we experience God's forgiveness. As we begin changing because of His grace, we need other people to help us pick up the pieces and show us what it looks like to live the Christian life. And as our lives begin to be made whole, we get to a place where we're able to help others i…

People walk through the doors of a church from all kinds of backgrounds and with all kinds of baggage. But no matter how different we are, God's called each of us to be part of His Church, and to be in community with one another. Let's live our lives as both "rockers" -- rocking the world by living out the Gospel -- and "knockers" -- pursuing God a…

Being smart is not the same thing as being wise. We can accumulate all the knowledge we want, but as children of God, we're instructed to grow in wisdom in order to make wise choices. The more we begin seeing things through God's eyes, the more we're able to live in obedience to Him.Oleh Richard Ellis

Jesus taught us not to retaliate in the midst of our suffering, and He lived by His own words when He endured beatings and crucifixion on the day of His death. The Bible also tells us to have discernment and to seek God in every situation -- including in situations of abuse and domestic violence. If He tells us to stay and endure, we've got to trus…

Too many people want the benefit of salvation without the lordship of Christ in their lives. Only when we fully submit to Jesus do we experience the freedom He brings from the sins and entanglements of this world.Oleh Richard Ellis

One of the greatest ways to determine how well we're letting God use us is to examine the parts of our lives that have been wasted. Instead of falling into temptations of distraction and temporary pleasure, we've got to run with endurance down the path He's called us to. We need wisdom in order to recognize the lies that the devil uses to take us c…

When we realize that Jesus’ death was the justice for our sin, we find peace with God. God provided a way of justice for our sins through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, so that we can be brought into perfect peace in relationship with Him. And when we have peace with God, we can see past our differences with others and extend peace to them, too.…

Scripture compels us that no matter how spiritually mature we might act or feel, if it's not rooted in God-honoring love, it's meaningless. If God shows us an area of our lives that needs to change, our maturity is deepened when we listen and respond in obedience. Let's examine our hearts, listen to the counsel of others, and grow in love the way C…

We're called to give an account for what Christ has done in our lives. When we're prompted to share the Gospel, we have to summon the courage to step out in obedience and testify -- because we never know what God's doing behind the scenes.Oleh Richard Ellis

There's nothing in this world -- no physical or spiritual power -- that can come against us if we're living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God's given us His power to be more than conquerors. Let's walk with confidence in that truth, knowing He's already won (and because of that, we have too!).…

These days, the world often feels "upside-down" more than it feels "right-side-up"! It's easy to allow the storms of fear and anxiety to take over our lives when we're surrounded by constant change. But we can take comfort in knowing that the Lord is always with us, and that He never changes. As children of God, let's trust Him to take care of us -…

When we listen to the Lord, He guides us to meet the needs of those who cross our path. But Scripture specifically tells us that when we give to others, we should do it in secret so that all the glory is given to God and not to ourselves. Everything we have is a gift from Him, so let's be good stewards of what's already His and distribute it where …

As Christians, we ought to be waiting on the Spirit to blow some wind in our sails -- and then allow Him to guide us where He wants us to go! Part of maturing in our faith is learning to look for the "tell tale signs" that God's working in someone or something, so that we can join Him in what He's doing. The Holy Spirit wants to use us to do extrao…

Jesus endured excruciating suffering in order for us to be saved. So when He tells us to "take up our cross" and follow Him, we'd better be ready to give our lives for His sake at any moment. Being "cross fit" means that whether we die physically for our faith or not, we still need to die to ourselves and follow His will each and every day.…

The Christian life is a race we're running through this temporary world -- but often, it's less of a sprint and more of a marathon! Whether our journey is long or short, the devil is always seeking to do everything he can to try and take us out of the race. That's why we've got to let go of past struggles, current burdens, and anything else that's …

Many people walk through life fearing all the "what ifs" that could happen. But when we put our faith in God, we trade our "what ifs" for "what is" -- and what is certain is that God promises to take care of us, provide for all our needs, and work all things for our good, no matter what negative situations come our way.…

Half of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. It's so common in this country, many couples have "pre-nupes" drafted before they even get married to decide how things will be divided when they inevitably split up! In order to have a God-honoring level of love and commitment in our marriages, we have to do things His way. And His way req…

Life changes when we adopt the mindset that everything we have belongs to God. Scripture tells us that He loves us and wants to give us good things. When we live with open hands and the understanding that nothing belongs to us anyway, it's easier to give cheerfully as the Spirit leads and to build a heavenly treasure that can never be taken away.…

When we as broken people choose to follow Jesus, He inevitably leads us to other broken people who are also in need of a healing Savior. None of us are perfect -- but we have to love each other enough to call out sin for what it is in hopes that it will lead to repentance. Instead of ignoring destructive behavior, let's be willing to sound the trum…

When it comes to the things we value -- our time, our money, our talents -- we tend to hold back from God because we're afraid He's going to take it away and leave us empty-handed. But when we give Him all we have, He can use it in miraculous ways. Instead of hoarding what He's given to us in the first place, let's offer it freely, knowing He can t…

Though this world is filled with evil, God's given us the ability to overcome it through the power and protection of His Holy Spirit. He's chosen to dwell in us so that we may become more like Him and able to fight against darkness. And once the Spirit lives within us, there's nothing that can ever separate us from Him!…

Even Christians who have seen the Light sometimes still choose to live in the dark. When we hide with our sin, we become prisoners of war. But God calls us to expose our sinful ways and walk in truth, embracing the abundant life He offers to us.Oleh Richard Ellis

When Jesus died to save us from the power of sin, He replaced it with the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. We should live with confidence, not fear, knowing that whatever temptations and trials we face can be overcome through that same power.Oleh Richard Ellis

As believers in the salvation power of Jesus Christ, we know this world is only a "terminal", a waiting room en route to our permanent destination of Heaven. But while we're here in transit, God's got a purpose for us to fulfill, and it's up to us to live out that purpose while we wait for Him to bring us home.…

When our relationship with the Lord is where it's supposed to be, our relationships with other people tend to flourish, too. And the greatest friend we can ever have is Jesus! Through Him, even the most broken relationships can be reconciled if we allow Him to intervene and heal those past and present hurts.…

God has the power to raise people from the dead -- He did that through Jesus, and He does that in us when we believe in Him. Christ died so we could live. But He didn't just sacrifice Himself to give us an abundant life in Heaven -- He did it to give us an abundant life here on earth, too.Oleh Richard Ellis

We're our own worst critics, and when we mess up, if we're not careful, we can spend the rest of our lives wallowing in the mess and just surviving until our time on earth is done. But our purpose in this life is to live for Christ - not to merely exist, or to use this as a waiting room for heaven. God's given us a calling through His Son to be in …

Our life's purpose isn't to gain glory for ourselves -- it's to bring glory to the God of the universe by spreading the Gospel far and wide. And the best way we can do that is by allowing Him to use us as a "slingshot" for other believers who are looking to us to lead them forward. When we disciple those who are following behind us, we equip them t…

The devil will always try his hardest to get us to stumble when we're obeying the Lord. And that's never more true than in our relationships. When we're married, it's critical that we remain content in our own bed, and that we have people around us to hold us accountable. God is clear about the importance of staying sexually pure within marriage, b…

God sacrificed His Son to save us. That doesn't mean we should just grab our ticket to heaven and waste our time here. He desires to use our lives for His glory, to pour us out as an offering and to let us become part of His Kingdom's work.Oleh Richard Ellis

In a world of 24/7 news and social media, it can sometimes feel impossible to not get caught up in criticizing those in leadership. But as Christians, we're called to pray for all who are in authority -- whether we voted for them or not. Instead of complaining about the way things are being run, let's try getting on our knees, praying for those in …

Jesus left His disciples with the Great Commission -- the directive to go and spread the Gospel throughout the whole world. But do you know what's even more amazing? The same power that was in those disciples, who took the Gospel to the ends of the earth, is also in us when we choose to follow Jesus. We're not meant to keep what He's done for us hi…

When we become Christians, we put our old life to death and begin a new life in which we submit to the Lord. But we often struggle to leave our sin behind in the process. Our flesh reminds us of the sin that we're "missing out" on, but when we hold fast to Jesus and learn to resist the temptation, we begin to miss the sin less and seek God more.…

It's easy for us to get caught up in our lives, just doing our own thing. But sometimes, God comes along, calls us out, and stops us in our tracks. And when the Lord uses something to get our attention, we'd better take notice and follow where He leads!Oleh Richard Ellis

The world is filled with wolves in sheep's clothing -- and that includes in the Church. As Christians, it's important for us to always be discerning. Many churches today concern themselves more with pleasing a culture that's rooted in sin than with pleasing Jesus. That's why we need to pay attention to those who come into our church family, and tho…

The world is full of generally-accepted beliefs that are completely countered by Scriptural truth. No matter how much we've been told something, or how fervently we want to believe it, the fact remains: if it doesn't match up with what the Bible tells us, it isn't true. Before we can engage in productive conversations in our world today, we have to…

The more we understand that it's only by God's grace that we're part of His family, the more humbled we feel. And with that humility comes a desire to share the Gospel message with others. As we draw closer to Jesus, we realize the diversity of all those whom He calls His children, and that we're all brought together in unity because of Him.…

The Bible promises that we'll have trouble in this life. But God has a bigger plan for us -- and out of our mourning comes His glory. Only He can provide the kind of lasting joy that persists even when tragedy strikes. And when He puts that gladness in our hearts that those around us may not understand, nothing will be able to steal it from us.…

It's all too easy for us to make judgments about other people when we're ignorant about their lives and their backgrounds. But that's not a justification for us to stay ignorant. Instead, let's seek to learn from and about others so we're better able to share the Gospel with them in ways they can understand.…

If you are not for Christ, you're anti-Christ. Scripture makes it clear that there's a distinct line separating those who proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and those who don't. There's no room to be on the fence; either we live for Him, or we live against Him.Oleh Richard Ellis

We all need encouragement. So why are we so reluctant to give it away? When we have an opportunity to build someone up, let's take it as a chance to encourage them and not worry that it'll give them a big ego. And when it comes to giving praises, let's start by praising our God for all He's done for us!…

In order to "run the race" that Scripture talks about, we have to find our strength and source in Jesus. And before we can do that, we have to allow ourselves to receive God's free gift of grace. When we keep our eyes on Him and allow ourselves to be used for His glory, He equips us to run not just any race, but a winning race.…

Scripture tells us that no matter how "good" a person thinks they are, we're each lost and adrift in this world. Regardless of our status or title in life, we're all shipwrecked and in need of a Savior. And while we're on this "island" of a temporary home called earth, we should be using our time to share the Good News so others can find rescue, to…

Men tend to find their value in their work -- and when they lose a job, they often lose their sense of value along with it. But when a man finds his identity in Christ, He can rest in the Lord's will for his life knowing God will take care of him no matter his work. Instead of trusting in earthly positions, let's put our trust in the Father who pro…

The Proverbs 31 woman is the kind of woman who works hard at the tasks God's given her -- but that can look like a lot of different things, depending on the season! When we become parents, it's important for us to learn to work around our kids, not make our kids work around our jobs. And if the Lord is laying on our hearts to stay home with our kid…

The workplace is a prime location for relationships to start innocently, only to ultimately lead down a path of ungodly behavior. And when we're married, it's not only to the detriment of ourselves, but also to our spouses. Instead of "playing with fire", we're called to live up to a standard of integrity with everyone we encounter -- including our…

God's placed us at our jobs for His purpose, not our own. And in those workplaces, we're to be reflections of Him to those with whom we work. Instead of gossiping about others, or chasing after our own gains, let's be diligent in our responsibilities and remember that ultimately, we're working for the Lord.…