Biblical Talks

Welcome to Biblical Talks Encouraging Word for the Week, I am Rachel Tolliver,

The Christian life doesn’t begin with self-improvement—it begins with divine rescue. We weren’t just struggling; we were dead in sin. We weren’t just broken; we were bound and blind. But God, rich in mercy, didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up—He stepped into our mess and called us out by grace.

 Let the church say it loud: We are not good—we are graced.

• Paul said, “I am the chief of sinners.”
• Isaiah cried, “Woe is me!”
• David pleaded, “Create in me a clean heart…”

And yet, the blood still speaks. The cross still covers. The grace still reaches.

So yes, we were vile. But now we’re victorious. We were wretches. But now we’re washed. We were lost. But now we’re loved. That’s why we don’t boast in ourselves—we boast in the Lord. Because if it had not been for the grace of God, we’d still be in the pit, still chasing shadows, still calling sin sweet. So go ahead and shout it: “I’m not good—I’m forgiven!” That’s the anthem of the redeemed.

Welcome to Biblical Talks Encouraging Word for the Week, I am Rachel Tolliver,

You can be religious and still be lost. You can clap your hands, sing the songs, shout in the sanctuary—and still not know the Savior. You can love the rhythm of the choir, the eloquence of the preacher, the beauty of the liturgy—and still have no relationship with the One it’s all about.

You can enjoy the thing—the preaching, the praying, the praising—and still miss the Person. You can be in the building and not be in the Body. You can be around the Word and still not be rooted in the Word.

And beloved, there is nothing more tragic than that. Nothing more terrifying than to be religious but not redeemed. To be churched but not changed. To be familiar with the form but void of the fire. So, hear me today: Let’s be godly—not just religious.

Let’s hunger for holiness. Let’s thirst for righteousness. Let’s seek His face, not just His favor. Let’s pursue the presence, not just the performance.

Because God is not impressed by our rituals—He’s looking for relationship. He’s not moved by our routines—He’s calling for repentance.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…” (Psalm 103)

And the greatest benefit is not the blessing—it’s the Beloved. Not the gift—but the Giver. Not the religion—but the Redeemer.