Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

When we experience sorrows in this life, we should always remember God is compassionate and loving. We never want to forget that in this life sin produces countless struggles and sorrows and not everyone has the same amount of faith—some have tiny faith, some have great faith. Regardless, we can count on God to keep all of His promises to believers. There are additional truths in the Bible which give us encouragement. First, life on this earth is only temporal. James 4:14 says, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (NLT) Second, God offers eternal life to all who trust Him. We see this vividly in John 3:16. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (NLT) Third, God allows both the godly and the godless to experience trials, suffering, and pain in this life. We can see this in the lives of Ruth, Job, and Jeremiah. No, this world won't be free of suffering until the Lord makes the new heavens and new earth. I very much look forward to the joys and delights of heaven and the new heavens and earth. What about you? This is Andrew Palau.

In many cultures, including many places in America, seniority is earned through years of experience. Senior executives at most businesses are people who have been there for a long time. Elders in churches are often people who have been around the block a few times. In these situations, age and experience are great things, because they can often be equated with wisdom.But, the Bible is clear that it’s not just up to older generations to lead Godly lives. In 1 Timothy 4:12, the Bible says to young people, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Maybe you’re a teenager or young adult. If so, listen to this advice. Let your faith radiate through your actions and the way you live. And if you’re listening to this program as a parent or grandparent, encourage the young people you know to live for Jesus with confidence and courage. At the end of the day, we’re all called to be missionaries, to share the Good News with those around us. Whether you’re young or old, experienced or new to the Christian faith, God can and will use you if you obey Him. This is Luis Palau.

Many times throughout my life, I’ve been in situations where it would have been easy to be quiet about my faith. I’ve been to dinners with powerful leaders who were Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Atheist. I’ve traveled to places where Christians aren’t just scoffed at — they’re sometimes thrown in jail. I believe at some point or another, we’ll all encounter these situations. Maybe you work in a secular company, which values secular idols like money and power. Maybe your friends at school are Atheist; and they question your beliefs. Whatever the case, be assured of the fact that Jesus is the ultimate key to Salvation. The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the earth that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” And since we know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let’s not be silent about our faith. Let’s not allow fear of standing out cause us to be quiet – because the truth is, speaking up about God may actually save somebody’s life. This week consider where you need to be a little more bold in your faith. Then, ask God for wisdom and go for it. Share the Good News and good things will come to glorify God. This is Luis Palau.

My friend, author and speaker Francis Chan once said, “Worry implies that we don’t trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.” I couldn’t agree more. When we worry, we are not trusting that God has everything taken care of, even though the Bible clearly tells us that He does. Isaiah 54:4 in the Bible says, “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.” In other words, Jesus says, “Calm down! Trust me! Have peace in me!” Of course, trusting the Lord is easier said than done. At one point or another, we all experience tragedy, like cancer, or losing a job. In these cases, it’s easy to fall into worrying. We consider all of the outcomes and fixate on what could happen. In these cases, we must actively choose peace. We must plan for joy. We must realize that the temptation to worry is actually a spiritual battle. Jesus tells us, “Calm down. I’m here. I’ll never leave you.” What do you need to trust Him with this week? What is going on in your life that you need to offer up to Him? Pray about it. Then, share this with others. This is Luis Palau.

I’ll never forget when I was a young missionary before my wife, Pat, and I, had any children. I told a friend it felt like I was “always busy” and he replied, “Get used to it my friend! You will only become busier when you have children!”. At the time, I was already juggling ministry work, traveling, being a husband, and studying the Bible. I wasn’t sure how I could possibly handle anything else on my plate. How would I have time for anything? Would I have time to be a good husband, dad, and missionary? Would I have the means to provide for my family? Like many people who think about big life changes—like having children, moving to a new city, or starting a new job—I had questions, fears, and doubts. I could have let my questions scare me. I could have let my fear overcome me. But instead, I heard God’s voice comfort me. He said, “Luis, I’ve got this covered. Trust me!” Isaiah 41:13 in the Bible says, “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” And He did that! At every juncture in my life, God has provided a way through. And He will do the same for you, if you trust Him and obey Him as He leads you. So, give your heart to Jesus if you haven’t already, and share this message with others in your life. This is Luis Palau.

When I became a parent, I began to understand the importance of treating my kids as unique and independent people. One loves boundaries, another one pushes on boundaries, and another one doesn’t seem to see the boundaries at all. One loves soccer, one loves lacrosse, one loves drawing. The truth is, we are all unique! Sometimes, society praises certain qualities over others—but God created each of us with a divine purpose in mind. Psalm 139:13-14 in the Bible says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” This week, consider what your unique qualities are. Are you confident, charismatic, or do you pay special attention to detail? Then, consider how God might want to use you to help spread His message. Are there people in your circle that don’t go to church? Maybe you’re the person to share the Good News with them! Are you a leader in your community, school, or neighborhood? Perhaps others would go to church with you if you invited them. In any case, know that you are unique, and you were created for a purpose. This is Andrew Palau.

After my father and the rest of my family came to know Christ, we became evangelists. My father shared Christ’s love with everyone he met, and because of his example, I did the same. I’m still doing it over 70 years later! This is a great example of what Proverbs says: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) I’ve never departed from it, and my children and grandchildren are also serving Christ. Modeling a life of Christian service to the younger generations makes a huge impact. As older Christians, we need to model what it looks like to serve God through His church. This means not just going to church each week, but being involved. This might mean teaching Sunday School, volunteering to bake for church events, or passing out bulletins on Sunday mornings. Maybe our bodies don’t work as well as they used to, but we can still find places to serve the body of Christ. This will show our grandkids and the younger generations that church isn’t only for us – it’s for God and for others who need to know God’s love. The church is made up of people, and those people need to give their gifts and talents in the service of God. This will prompt the next generations to do the same, and we will see what a beautiful difference service can make in our world. This is Luis Palau.

If you’re older, like I am, many of the memories you have are filled with people who are no longer with us on this earth. But those memories are cherished. Some people have memories of their grandma teaching them how to bake, or their grandpa mowing the lawn. Maybe they remember a next-door neighbor who always had lemonade, or a great uncle who told awesome stories. None of those memories would exist without quality time spent together. One of the best ways to share God’s love with our grandkids or younger folks is to just invite them into our homes and lives. We can cook them a meal or take them grocery shopping. Show them old pictures. Have them over for a sleepover on a Saturday and take them to church the next morning. As Deuteronomy says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. You shall teach [these laws] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) Our grandkids should see that Christ is at the center of our lives and our homes. We need to start building memories that the younger generation will keep forever, and make the love of God part of those memories. They will remember, and pass on the love of God to their kids, grandkids, and young friends. This is Luis Palau.

Why is it that younger folks listen to older folks like me? Well, a few reasons. One is that they know we’ve been around the block a few times, and we know what life is like. The other thing is that it’s not our job to rebuke them. We leave that to their parents. We are free to be the grandparents and mentors who can share freely from our lives what God has done for us. So, how can we do that? Easy. We can share our Christian lives with them. We should show them ways that we draw close to God, and include them as part of our spiritual practices. One way to do that is to pray for them. We can ask our kids and grandkids how we can pray for them. Then when we do it, we should tell them. The Bible says that if we call on God, he will hear us (Psalm 145:18), and we can show what that is like in action. We should especially pray for those who do not know Jesus among our family – and tell them too. Maybe they won’t understand what it means, but they will know that we care for them. Another way we can share our spiritual lives with the younger people is by sharing Bible verses that mean something to us or apply to their lives. We’ve had the chance to read the Bible a few more times than they have, so when they’re struggling with something, we should share God’s word with them. Again, they may not understand it completely, but they will feel heard and loved, and they will slowly draw closer to Christ. This is Luis Palau.

People say that age is only a number. Well, as someone who recently turned 82 years old, I agree! Sometimes I walk past a mirror and think, “Who is that old guy?” Other mornings I wake up and my body reminds me just how many years I’ve been alive. American culture doesn’t always appreciate those of us with gray hair, but just because some of us are older and wiser than others doesn’t mean that God stops using us. He doesn’t say, “You’re too old to do my work.” Never! In fact, the older we get, the greater responsibility we have to share God’s love and wisdom with the younger generations. Why is this our job? Well, because younger people listen to us. Many of you have grandchildren, like I do. I once read a study of 1,000 college kids from the top 100 universities in the country. They were asked how often they listen to the advice and information of those around them. They said they listened to their peers less than 30% of the time, and they listened to their parents about 60% of the time. Who did they listen to the most? Their grandparents! They listened to us 83% of the time. Our grandkids and our younger friends listen to us. In Jeremiah 15 God says that if we speak with a clean heart, we are God’s mouth (Jeremiah 15:19). So, speak up if you’re an older adult; speak God’s truth to those around you. The younger folks are listening. This is Luis Palau.