Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

One of the first songs I learned as a child but struggled with later as an adult says “Yes, Jesus loves me; The Bible tells me so.” It’s a song so easily sung, but not so easily understood. Jesus made this amazing statement to His disciples. He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” And who exactly was He talking to in that moment? Peter, who would deny Jesus in a couple hours. Thomas, who would later doubt Jesus. Matthew, Philip, John and others who would later flee and leave Jesus alone in His hour of affliction. It was this broken bunch that Jesus was saying “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” God really loves you! Do you truly believe that? You may think of the people in your life who don’t like you – who cares about that? The Almighty God loves you! Maybe you’re worried or afraid right now – remember that God who holds all power and authority over tomorrow loves you. You may think of your failures – and that’s the whole point. All of our lives are filled with mistakes and sin, and God still loves us.  Jesus wants us to live with this on our mind constantly. Maybe the children’s song can help us remember today. Yes, Jesus loves you. Yes, Jesus loves you. Yes, Jesus loves you. Nothing you have done or will do can change that. This is Andrew Palau.

Jesus Christ didn’t just die on the cross. You know that, right? Jesus was buried, and on the third day He arose again from the dead. Jesus is alive! The moment we ask God to forgive our sins because of what Jesus did on the cross, He begins to live in us. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” The power to live a godly life is Jesus Christ living in us. The power doesn’t come merely through good habits. It doesn’t come through heartfelt dedication. It doesn’t come through Scripture memorization. The power comes through the indwelling Lord Jesus Christ in you and me. The late Ian Thomas, a great man of God and good friend, once said, “Every demand made on me is a demand made on Him who indwells me.” Everything God wants to do in and through you, He does through the power of Jesus Christ living in you. Claim that power today. This is Luis Palau.

Do you want to reach your world? Great! Here’s a key step. You don’t have to be a genius to teach others about the cross. You don’t have to have a theological degree or attend seminary. What you have to know is: Jesus died to pay for our sins, Romans 5:8, and to pay for the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. If you spend time in God’s Word - the Bible - He will reveal to you what Jesus accomplished on the cross. The Bible says God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a human to provide a way for guilty men and women and our sinless, holy God to live together in heaven for eternity. The only way this could happen was if someone who had never sinned paid the penalty of death that humanity had incurred through its sins. Jesus took that penalty upon Himself. As He hung upon the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46. He cried that out because God the Father was laying on Jesus Christ the sins of every person in the whole world in every generation from the Garden of Eden until Jesus Christ’s second coming. So think about it, what do you know? Teach it to someone else today. This is Luis Palau.

In the midst of life’s battles it is easy to forget what God has done for you, to wander, and even to desert Him. You may have trusted Jesus when you were younger, but drifted away. Now you’re wondering if God will take you back. Perhaps you have been unfaithful to your spouse or you lied and cheated to get that promotion. You may be involved with pornography or you are holding a long-standing grudge against someone who hurt you. A young man called me and said, “I’m nineteen years old. Six years ago my parents got a divorce. Because of that, I blasphemed and cursed God and turned my back on the church. Will God forgive me and take me back?” I reassured this young man by bringing him back to the foundations of our faith--Jesus Christ’s work on the cross and His indwelling presence. Today you can be restored by returning to those same two marvelous foundational truths. Never forget: Christ died for you, Romans 5:8, and Christ lives in you, Galatians 2:20. What marvelous truths, indeed. This is Luis Palau.

After his coach told him what the Lord did for him on the cross, a player for the Seattle Seahawks trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior. Immediately afterward he asked, “Coach, teach me the fundamentals of Christianity.” That NFL player knew the importance of learning the basics. In any sport, the fundamentals are essential if you plan on a winning sports career. A player has to know how to hit, catch, kick, or throw the ball, and what the rules of the game are to perform successfully. The same is true in Christianity. Two important biblical phrases come to mind. When we remember Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, the biblical phrase is “Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8. When we remember Jesus Christ’s indwelling presence, the biblical phrase is “Christ lives in me,” Galatians 2:20. These two biblical realities help us live holy lives in spite of immense and increasing pressures from our upside-down world. And these two foundational truths of the faith can bring us back to the Lord if we have wandered. Never forget: Christ died for you, and Christ lives in you. This is Luis Palau.

Are you afraid to stand out? Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We cannot live light-filled lives in our society without standing out, without people noticing. Your faith should make a difference in how you live your life. As a follower of Jesus, you have an incredible opportunity to shine the light of Christ constantly. God speaks the light of Jesus into our hearts, and his light shines so powerfully through us that as Philippians points out, we will be like stars in the universe that point the whole human race toward real life. It’s important to remember that Jesus did not say to live our lives in such a fashion that people will see our good deeds and say what marvelous, outstanding people we are. A lamp does not call attention to itself. It’s simply placed on a lamp-stand, from which it will give the best illumination. Embrace the light you have as a follower of Jesus and let your light magnificently shine through good works and bold evangelism. This is Andrew Palau.

I once heard a story told about Albert Einstein that he got tired of checking out churches because their God wasn’t the God that he saw in creation. The God he saw in the universe through his telescope was so big and grand. The churches’ God, he reported, was too small! I don’t know if this really happened to Einstein, but it is true: often the way we see God is too small. If we could see God in his grandeur, we wouldn’t stop singing his glory to everyone around us.  Psalm 96 is a beautiful Psalm! It says, “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations.” That Psalm, when you read it, gives you a sense of the grandeur of God, you know. He is worthy to be worshipped and all creation should and will worship Him. And we should do it over, and over again. The first line of the psalm says, “Sing to the Lord a new song!” We should sing so loud to the Lord that others will want to know who Jesus is. Then we can then tell them about the grandeur of God, a God who loves them so much he sent his Son to die for them. Let’s be a reflection of God’s grandeur, and be a light to our world in our generation. This is Luis Palau.

Over a hundred years ago, there was a missionary named A.W. Milne who went to New Hebrides to share the Good News with a tribe of headhunters. All former missionaries to this tribe had been killed by them. He lived among the tribe for 35 years and never returned home. When he died, the tribe buried him and wrote the following epitaph on his tombstone: “When he came, there was no light. When he left, there was no darkness.” Man! When the light of Christ is within us, we are the light of the world. Like A.W. Milne, Christ uses us to spread His good news. We come and shine the light in the darkness and the light cannot be hidden. What a joy and what a responsibility! In Ezekiel, in the Bible, the Lord says to the prophet that he is responsible for telling the people that judgment is coming. The people can choose whether or not to respond to God’s call, but first they need to hear it. That’s the job of the prophet and of all God’s followers today. Whether unbelievers hear or refuse to hear, you did what you were supposed to do. You told them about Jesus Christ.When Jesus said, “You are the light of the world,” the word YOU is a strong one. It means “you and only you.” Let us be brave like A.W. Milne and be a light wherever we go, whether it’s New Hebrides or New England. This is Luis Palau.

Educators often talk about the history of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. Enlightenment refers to a time in the 18th century when science became more popular than religion. Intellectually it’s true. The Enlightenment came out of the dark ages, and the Renaissance was the result. People starting thinking more freely. Coming to Jesus is true spiritual enlightenment. We wake up from the darkness of our world, and we have the chance to live in the light of Jesus. But Jesus Christ is far more than the renaissance or enlightenment eras. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. That means Jesus enlightens us intellectually, he enlightens us morally and he enlightens us spiritually by guiding us to His truth revealed in the Bible. Psalm 119 says, God’s word “is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” I love that verse! The good news of Jesus is a lamp near at hand and shows us what to do, right now. The holy scriptures – the Bible - is a light that shines broadly and guides us forever. The Word of God enlightens our future. As followers of Christ, we are the light of the world. And if we are the light of the world, then our responsibility is to light the path for others. Don’t you think? What an awesome calling it is. And whatever your work, your business, or your educational situation may be, God will use you to be His light. This is Luis Palau.

I’m amazed at what a mini flashlight can do when it’s dark. I have a mini flashlight on my keychain. It doesn’t look too impressive. But when it’s dark, that mini thing can give all of the light that I need in most circumstances.In the days of the Bible, it was a big deal when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have eternal life.” His light is able to shine in a world of darkness. And do we live in darkness today! Whenever you read the headlines, people are lying and cheating, hurting each other. Darkness seems to be everywhere. But we are called to proclaim the word of Jesus Christ, to be His light. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to His followers, “YOU are the light of the world.” YOU, yes you! You are the light of the world! When Jesus left this world, His disciples were to spread the light. What an amazing, awesome calling! You and I have been chosen to shine full time. We are Jesus’ light in the darkness around us. We are called to shine like a light in the midst of it all. Even the smallest flashlight makes the world brighter as we reach our world for Jesus Christ. Imagine thousands of those flashlights shining every day. This is Luis Palau.

What’s the longest period of time that you and your closest loved one have been apart? A week? A month? A year? Two years? Career-dominated jobs abound in the military, firefighting, professional sports, and many other fields of endeavor. It was no different for the twelve disciples of Jesus. Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John, and each of the other apostles to follow Him—and didn’t wait around for an answer. It was either instant yes or automatic no. What was Jesus trying to teach them during those three years of life together? A lot! But mostly, He showed them what the marvelous, amazing mercy, grace and love of God looks like in flesh and blood. As we read the Gospels, sometimes we miss the elbows and fist pumps, laughter and ribbing, humor and sarcasm of Jesus. Sometimes we miss the bone-tired walks, the leisurely meals, the beachside BBQs. Everything, everything, Jesus said and did was done a hundred percent in love. If I’m the average of the five people with whom I spend the most time, I want the Lord to be one of them! I hope the same is true for you. Cut other things, if need be, but please don’t skimp on your time with the Lord. This is Andrew Palau.

We’re all weak. We all fail. Our marriages stand or fall depending on how we respond to our spouses’ shortcomings. So, watch out for unforgiving attitudes. Maybe your spouse has hurt you deeply by unreasonable expectations or an ungodly focus. Or maybe your spouse is unforgiving toward you. No matter. Decide in your heart today to “forgive as the Lord forgave you,” Colossians 3:13. How has He forgiven us? First, sacrificially — by dying for us on the cross. Second, completely — by washing away all our sins. Third, eternally — by remembering our iniquities no more [Hebrews 10:17]. After 60 years of marriage, my wife Pat and I still find that practicing forgiveness is a vital key to our relationship. We’ve had to forgive each other a lot. That doesn’t mean we go around all day long saying, “Forgive me, forgive me.” For us, at least, forgiveness is more an attitude. When I lose my temper, for instance, Pat often tells me by the way she looks and acts that she has forgiven me. Sometimes, of course, I need to actually say: “I realize I’ve hurt you — will you please forgive me?” Now, I want to encourage you to do the same in your own marriage. This is Luis Palau.

The first three typical underlying reasons for divorce are first unreasonable expectations, secondly ungodly focus, and thirdly uncontrolled passions. As much as we in the Western world pride ourselves on our technological and scientific advances, we are incredibly impulsive. One of our most uncontrolled passions is spending. We have bought into a distorted materialistic philosophy that says, “Get more out of life.” So we spend our lives trying to accumulate things, often to the neglect of people – the people in our marriages. Another uncontrolled passion is sensualism. We are made callous by the immorality we see in the media. A little girl sent me a simple letter written in pencil: “Dear Luis Palau: Please will you pray for my daddy because he left me and my mommy. Please ask God to help Daddy realize what he has done wrong leaving me alone.” Her dad left for a younger woman. Now this seven-year-old and her mom must suffer terrible loneliness, deep heartache, financial devastation, and much more. Other uncontrolled passions are: drunkenness, drugs, shouting, and cursing. The Lord warns, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life,” (Proverbs 4:23). And Paul states: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Yes! This is Luis Palau.

Did you know that Satan whispers excuses into the ears of men and women—even Christians—trying to persuade them to divorce their spouses? His rationalizations sound convincing to people going through difficulties. His rationalizations, however, always lead to an ungodly focus. I love the song lyric, “Only Jesus can satisfy the soul.” If our relationship with Jesus isn’t right, it’s no wonder that we feel unfulfilled and discontent. We may blame our marriages when in reality our spiritual poverty is the problem. A marriage is in danger whenever the partners maintain a wrong center of focus. Some focus on their spouses, others on their children, and too many of us on ourselves. The only truly satisfying focus, however, is Jesus Christ. He said, “Whoever believes in me…streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38) Jesus alone has the power to restore marital relationships and give you “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair,” Isaiah 61:3. Ask Him to do that in your own heart and life in coming days, weeks, and months. Then thank Him for every blessing He gives. This is Luis Palau.

To protect your marriage now or in the future, I encourage you to learn how to identify and overcome the typical underlying reasons for divorce. The first is unreasonable expectations. Ironically, while marriages in this generation are failing in historically unprecedented proportions, our expectations for marriage have never been higher. Couples expect completely unrealistic things from marriage. In a word, they want total fulfillment. They expect marriage to meet all their sexual, emotional, and personal needs and desires. Of course, such expectations eventually lead to disaster. No spouse can totally fulfill our every need, let alone our desires and fantasies and dreams. No husband can give his wife everything she wants, and no wife can do that for her husband. In marriage we help, encourage and bless one another, but we can’t fulfill each other. Sometimes the key to improving our marriages is bringing our expectations down to earth. God commands in Ephesians 5:33 that a man “must love his wife…and a wife must respect her husband.” God wants to revolutionize your marriage. He wants to bless you and your spouse. I challenge you to pray. When you pray, ask God for wisdom [James 1:5] to help you embrace more reasonable expectations. Then thank Him for every added joy along the way. This is Luis Palau.