There is a reason that John 3:16 in the Bible is the most familiar, most quoted, and most published piece of literature in the history of humanity. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life.” This Bible verse is significant because it is the basis for all of Christianity. We are greatly flawed; created in God’s image but fallen, sinful, and sin separates us from God. But God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us. So we can be totally reconciled to God, whom we offended and rejected. Wow! I still get chills thinking of that.

When I remember that God loves every single person enough to send His only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for our sins, I am motivated to share the Gospel boldly.

Right now, consider who you could share the Good News with. Who in your life does not yet clearly understand that Jesus died for them? Is there a parent in your child’s school, or a neighbor down the street, or a relative who doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus or assurance of eternal life and salvation? Remember, Jesus died for them. Don’t you want to share that with them? I’m sure you do! So may I encourage you to do so today?    

This is Luis Palau.

One of the main reasons I’ve spent my life sharing the wonderful Good News of Jesus is because I believe without a doubt that Jesus is the only way to be saved for eternity. Jesus could not have made it clearer in John 14:6, when he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” No religion or belief system works. Being a “good person” isn’t enough. Doing good deeds, though commendable, cannot erase sin. To truly inherit the kingdom of God, people must receive Jesus as their personal Savior.

This belief motivates everything I do. When I am in situations that intimidate me – like the time I was in a room with a bunch of dignitaries who were Muslim, Jewish, Atheist, Hindu, and Buddhist – I remember that Jesus is the only way, and then I boldly proclaim His truth. Even when it is tempting to dilute the Gospel so as to be more widely “accepted” or “popular” I remember this Truth. Jesus is the way. The only way. And I stay true to what the Bible says.

As you listen to this message, consider who else needs to hear it in your world. Who do you know who doesn’t yet know Jesus? Share the Good News with them today. Jesus is the only way to eternal life.  Tell them that.

This is Luis Palau.

Someone once asked me, “Luis, why should I share the Gospel?  Isn’t it enough that I love Jesus?” Sadly, I think this mentality is shared by many Christians in today’s day and age. We love Jesus, but we’re afraid of doing evangelism. Or, rather, we’re afraid of being perceived as pushy, self-righteous, judgmental, or closed-minded. We often forget that sharing the Good News can literally change someone’s entire life – it can change their entire eternity. Their eternal destiny.

The first reason we share the Good News is because Christ commanded it. The Bible says in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This section of the Bible is called the “Great Commission” and for good reason – it is a great obligation and commandment. His last words before ascending, that is returning to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

If you believe in Jesus, and if you have experienced His love, grace, and redemption in your life, Jesus has called you to share the Good News. What a sacred privilege! So forget about the nervousness and pray for courage – then go. Share the Good News today, and so help reach your world.

This is Luis Palau.

Are you tired? Weary? Run down?  Don’t worry – I’ve been there, too. Thankfully, Jesus promises to be our resting place. In Matthew 11:28-29 in the Bible, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Whether you are bogged down at work, overwhelmed by school, or just plain exhausted from family obligations, I encourage you to find rest in Jesus. As you rest in Him, others will surely take notice. And this might open the door to conversations about Christ. Consider who in your life is always “burned out”. Who needs to find rest and restoration in Jesus? Write that person’s name down and make a point to share God’s promise with them this week. Ask God for that open door to reach your world. 

It’s a good challenge knowing that people are curious about the nature and possibility of rest, that you would exercise it in your own life, and do it today.  Day by day in exercising this, it is good for you.  And it is just what others need to know about walking with God.

This is Andrew Palau.

About 4:00 a.m. little Olivia was startled to tears by an ambulance siren in the street.  When the babysitter had put Olivia to bed in the evening, she had forgotten to switch on the night light.  However, when her mother turned on the small yellow light, the child quickly went back to sleep.  The darkness was gone, and with it, her fear.

It is a scientific truth that light always goes into darkness, not the other way around.  Darkness cannot overcome a candle, it must wait for the flame to flicker out.  But light takes effect instantaneously, as soon as a match is struck, or a switch flipped on.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) Going into the darkness of our world can be scary, intimidating, but that is where Jesus wants us to be.  Staying in our familiar, comfortable, Christian surroundings is not the way to reach our world. We need to find out where our neighbors and coworkers hang out and join them there where possible.  That’s where we can shine the brightest.  And that’s where you will find opportunities to share the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. And by the way, here’s a question:  Are you walking in the light with God?  Are you enjoying the light?

This is Luis Palau.

I’ve just been reading Psalm 119 again, and I got excited.  This psalm is all about how wonderful God’s Word is.  Every verse – and there are 176 in the psalm – has something to say about how powerful and how precious it is. The first verse says, “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.”  Verse 9 is for youth: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”  Verse 37 is a powerful prayer: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”  Verse 114 gives us confidence: “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”  Do you want to be wise? Read verse 130: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

But read it for yourself, the whole psalm.  I hope it will give you a renewed love for the Word of God, and a desire to dive into it.  My father taught me at a very young age the value of spending time in the Bible every day.  All my adult life I have been an evangelist, speaking to people of all kinds pretty much every day.  If I had to rely on just my own thoughts and my own words, I would have run out of things to say long ago. 

We have an invaluable treasure in the Word of God, and I encourage you to read it.  Memorize verses so that when you talk to someone about Jesus, you can quote Him.  

This is Luis Palau.

Bob is a farmer in eastern Oregon.  He first heard me preach in 1978 and immediately got the vision for an evangelistic outreach in his home town of Athena – population just over one thousand.  We were not able to schedule it at the time, but Bob was persistent. 

Last fall, everything finally fell into place, and I and a few others of our team drove across Oregon to Athena.  Over half the town’s population crowded into the high school auditorium, where we had a BMX bike demo and I gave the Gospel message.  About 120 people in that small community received Jesus Christ into their lives that day, and Bob was ecstatic.  The dream he had for 35 years had come true.

Bob’s drive and persistence are impressive.  He pushed us all to get on board and do our part.  He mobilized the churches in the area and got dozens of believers involved.  The success of this event can be laid at the feet of that one man. 

Do you have a dream?  Is there something God has laid on your heart?  Don’t be afraid to take the first steps towards making it come true.  Trust that God will make something wonderful and fruitful happen if you are persistent and faithful in working towards the goal.  Remember what Galatians 6:9 says: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”    

This is Luis Palau.

Did you see the movie, “War Room”?  In it, a Christian pastor was viewing a house that was for sale.  When he went into a certain closet he could sense that a lot of praying had been done there. 

I’m reminded of an incident a friend of ours told us about.  She was home late one evening when the doorbell rang.  A young girl was on the doorstep, crying and shaking all over.  It was Linda, an acquaintance of her sons’ who had been there before with a group of young people.  Linda’s story was a sad one of taking one wrong step after another, until now she had reached bottom.  That evening, Linda had been doing drugs with her boyfriend when she suddenly was seized by a desire to get out.  She said that when she had been in my friend’s house before, she had a sense of peace and wellbeing, so now that she was in trouble and needed help, that is where she turned.  My friend was able to share Christ with Linda and lead her in a prayer of repentance. 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said about Himself, “I am the bread of life … I am the light of the world … I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  Let’s make our homes welcoming places where we can introduce people to Jesus, who will fill all their needs. 

This is Luis Palau.

A few years ago, I wrote a book called “The Secret Life of a Fool.” In the book, I talk about my life before receiving Jesus into my heart and entering into a relationship with Him. I share about how God met all of my shame and shortcomings with abundant love and grace. My life has completely changed as I’ve shifted from living by my own rules to following God. And it’s changed for the better.

Wherever you are in your life right now, whether you have accepted Jesus or not, I promise you that He can change your life too. Jesus can meet your shame with abundant grace. He can offer you a new life. A true hope. A peace beyond anything you can comprehend. The Bible says all we must do is believe and receive Him into our hearts to experience new life with Him. Romans 10:9 says, “…that if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus as Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Think about who you know who needs to hear about the everlasting love of Jesus. Who needs to accept Him and experience new life? The short answer is anyone who does not yet know Him. Share the Good News with as many as possible today.

This is Andrew Palau.

In today’s culture, people like to make big promises, but few really deliver. Some politicians might tell you one thing, but things change once elected. Commercial products are marketed as being “life-changing” but they’re not always so. And all of us have been let down by the promise of a friend or relative at some point in life, haven’t we?  We even do it ourselves, even though we mean well.

The point is: this world is full of broken promises and things that don’t live up to our expectations. As Christians, I worry that we sometimes group God in with the rest of life’s disappointments. We think, “maybe God isn’t really interested in my life,” or “maybe Jesus isn’t really coming back” – but nothing could be further from the truth.

God is the one person we can put all of our hope in. He is the one constant who promises: “ Never will I leave you and never will I forsake you” – and He is true to His word.

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8 that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” And it’s true! So believe it. You can put your whole trust in God, and you will never be let down.

This is Luis Palau.