Category: Riley’s Messages

Justified: Made Right with God; To be in a state of righteousness. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24) I love the way someone once put it: being justified in Christ is…

Why Holding Onto Sin Is Like Stealing “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) Sometimes, I catch myself wondering: after Jesus took all my sins on the cross, why do I keep acting like they’re still mine to carry? It’s…

Why Isaac Couldn’t Take Back the Blessing? “I have blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!” (Genesis 27:33) The story of Esau and Jacob in Genesis 27 is wild—full of deception, family drama, and a moment that changes everything: Isaac’s blessing. I’ve always been curious about why Isaac couldn’t just take back the blessing he…

God’s Grace: Pulling Us from the Fire “Is not this man a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2) The Bible’s idea of “brands in the fire” has always grabbed me—it’s such a vivid way to see how God saves us. It’s like a burning stick that’s yanked out of the flames just in time…

God’s Plan: Lessons from Jonah and the Levites “The Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17) The Bible is full of stories where God picks specific people or even creatures to carry out His plans, and two that…

What to Do When I Mess Up: Lessons from Judas and Peter “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (John 21:17) We all screw up sometimes, even when it comes to following Jesus. The Bible gives us two stark examples—Judas Iscariot and Peter—who both rebelled against Christ in their own ways. Their…

What Does It Mean to Be Saved? “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) The question “Are you saved?” has always felt heavy to me, like it’s digging into the core of what I believe. It’s not just a phrase—it’s about the heart of our faith. What does it…

Coming Back to God: The Power of Repentance “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) Repentance is one of those words that carries a lot of weight in Christianity. It’s not just saying “sorry” for messing up—it’s a full-on turn away from sin and a…

Finding Peace in the Chaos: Biblical Wisdom for Life’s Demands “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Life can feel like a nonstop whirlwind—school, work, family, friends, and all the pressure to keep it together. Sometimes, it’s overwhelming, like I’m drowning in to-do lists…

In tIn today’s world, chasing power, status, or recognition often feels like the norm. But the Bible flips that idea on its head, showing us that true greatness comes from serving others. Jesus is the perfect example of this. In Mark’s Gospel, He tells His disciples what real leadership looks like: “Even the Son of…

In today’s world, leadership often gets tied to power, control, and being the one in charge. But the Bible paints a different picture—one where true leadership is rooted in humility, service, and love. This idea, called servant-leadership, flips the usual expectations and asks us to rethink what it means to lead by looking at biblical…