Recently, a good friend asked me if I had any favorite Bible verses. I said that I have many, of course, but there are a couple verses in particular that I have relied on for evangelism throughout the years. One verse that comes to mind is Galatians 2:20, which says “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I love this Bible verse because it is a great reminder that when we accept Jesus into our hearts, we are literally different than before. When we accept Jesus, Christ is IN us. He is sufficient to meet all of our needs, and to walk with us through all of life’s ups and downs. When we open our hearts to Him, we are not the same person any more. I have seen countless people change completely once they received Jesus Christ. I’ve seen people with addictions find healing and people with brokenness find real peace.As you listen to this radio program, consider who in your life needs to hear the Good News. Who can you share Galatians 2:20 with? Pray to God for guidance—then be bold! Share about Jesus today.                                      This is Luis Palau.

My wife, Wendy, and I were traveling recently for an international festival, when someone asked us, “Aren’t you scared about going to such a dangerous place?” We had considered the dangers; we knew there was the possibility of terrorists, militia, and people who just wanted to wreak havoc against the things of God. But my wife brought up a great point. She said, “People always talk about physical dangers in these kind of places, and they avoid traveling there. But how often do people talk about spiritual dangers in supposedly ‘safe’ places like where we live?” For example, how often do people go to a movie that promotes violence? Or, watch a TV show about sexual affairs? Or, how often do we hang out with friends who have pressured us into behaving inappropriately?

The point is not to live inside of a bubble, but it is important that we’re aware of the spiritual battlegrounds we walk around in every day. We should arm ourselves with these things: prayer, and reading the word of God.  Be in prayer constantly and read the Bible daily so that we can see clearly what is right and wrong. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says to “test everything” and “hold fast [to] what is good” so let’s do just that! This week, consider the spiritual dangers around you. Pray for God to open your eyes, be in His word so you can be aware of His truth in all circumstances. Then you will have authority to share this Truth with others.                                                                    This is Andrew Palau.

Some of you may remember the days when you had to turn on a television to watch a television show. Television shows were on at a certain time on a certain day each week, and if you missed it: too bad! To see a movie, you would have to go to a movie theater. Once it moved on from the movie theater, it was gone.

Now, television and movies are everywhere, at the click of a button. We can even download some movies while they are still in theaters. Entire television series are available at once. This can be great for our entertainment, but dangerous for other areas of our life. We can spend too much time watching movies or television, particularly things that cause us to consider sinful ideas or actions. Ephesians says we should be “imitators of God, as beloved children,” not letting any immorality enter our lives. Discernment is key when we approach any sort of media.

At the same time, can television and movies help us bring others to Jesus? Jesus lived and worked within a culture. He told stories that were familiar to those people in order to relate to them. We should seek to relate to those around us while making sure we are remaining pure and holy. Let’s seek to be representatives of Christ wherever we are and whatever we do. It is this witness that will bring others to the saving blood of Jesus Christ.This is Luis Palau.

A benefit of today’s information age is that we can know everything that is happening all over the world in seconds. We can get news updates within minutes, even if the news is happening halfway across the world. This is a wonderful thing. We can and should be more informed global citizens. We should care what is happening in Africa, in China, in the Middle East.

This information age can also lead to an information overload. Some researchers have called this information fatigue. Sometimes we are overwhelmed, especially by all of the pain and suffering that so many people are experiencing. Droughts, genocides, war, disease – those things are everyday life for many people.

Information can be overwhelming when it just stays nothing but information. Proverbs says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Our knowledge needs to be paired with the wisdom and understanding of the Lord. This wisdom should then move us to action.So, what can we do? First, we can pray for those who are suffering all over the world. Second, we can seek out those in our own communities who are suffering, and share with them the love of Jesus, and any practical help that we can give them. We should do what we can for those in need, and for many people, the answer is Jesus.                                                                    This is Luis Palau.

Years ago, people used to live where they worked. Whether they owned a shop or a farm, they were often only a few steps away from their job. Now, people commute as a normal part of their day, sometimes for hours. Every day, they travel by bus, train, or car in order to get to their jobs or to school. Others spend time picking up kids from school and taking them to various events. Maybe you are commuting right now.

Most of us just think about commuting as a normal and somewhat inconvenient part of our day. But what if it was a chance to share the love of Christ with those around us?

For example, if you ride the bus or subway, whom do you see every day? I bet there are others who commute like you, who you could get to know. You may make a new friend, one who might need to know Jesus. This is a chance to use that travel time to build relationships.

If you’re stuck in your car, are you preparing yourself to be a light for Christ in your workplace? What if, instead of listening to the news or music, you used the time in your car to pray for the co-workers or classmates you will encounter. In Colossians, it says, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” We should use whatever time we have to prepare ourselves and others for the kingdom of God.This is Luis Palau.

In our modern age, most things are convenient. Many people have everything they need for communication, entertainment, news, banking, and shopping in their pocket. A smartphone can do things that no one would have imagined just ten years ago.

Technology has made many things easier, but in some ways, it has made it harder to get to know the people around us. Even when I go out for dinner, I look around and see couples, families, and friends with their noses buried in their phones. They aren’t talking to each other! What happened to human connection? How can we share the love of Jesus with those around us if we can’t even see them over our technology?

Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Our job as followers of Christ is to help others hear Jesus’ voice over the loudness of modern technology. So, to start with, we need to look up. We need to put our phones on silent, or even turn them off. We need to see the people around us: our neighbors, our co-workers, strangers in our community. Once we see them, we can see how they need Jesus and share the difference he has made in our lives. People will notice, and we can make an eternal impact for their good.                                                                                             This is Luis Palau.

It’s easy to hear pastors or evangelists like me say, “Go share the Gospel!” and think, “Sure, Andrew, I do intend to get to that later.” In fact, there have been times in my own life when I didn’t see the urgency in sharing the Good News. In almost every situation, it is easier to remain quiet than to boldly proclaim Christ. But the reality is, the Gospel is an urgent message. People need to hear about Jesus today. In a very joyful, clear, and bold way. The Bible relates the importance of sharing the Good News in Proverbs 24:11, saying, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” Before I knew Christ this was me and I was desperate.

 

At any moment, something could happen to any of us. This happened to me in a plane crash in 2009. Life here is fragile and temporary. So consider who in your life still needs to hear about Jesus. Who has yet to accept Him into their hearts? Pray for an insight about who you could talk to. Then, be bold! Share God’s message. The best place to start is by telling what God has done in your life. In that way you will reach your world with the Good News today. I encourage you to do it!                                                                             This is Andrew Palau.

A while ago, someone asked me how the Gospel message has changed throughout the years. They said, “Everything evolves. Has the message of Jesus evolved?” I was shocked at this question. I told them that the Gospel message has never changed. And it will never change. Like Jesus’ love for us, the Good News is the same message today, as it was yesterday. And it will be the same tomorrow. Sure, the ways we share the Good News have evolved some--like the music has got louder, and the church buildings might look different with trendy names. But the message of the Gospel has and always will remain the same. Churches might grow or shrink. Pastors might come and go. But Jesus’ message is true for everyone. And anyone can receive salvation when they accept Jesus as their Savior.

The Bible says in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. And Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Wherever you are today, I urge you to share the unchanging Good News with someone in your life who does not yet know Jesus. This is Luis Palau.

Over the years, I’ve had countless people approach me and say, “Luis—I just don’t know what to do. I’ve been praying for so-and-so for YEARS, and they still don’t know Jesus.” When I hear these complaints, I first empathize with the feeling! I get it. It can be discouraging to want someone to know the Good News, only to have them resist it or reject it. I’ve been there. But let me encourage you to be patient and be persistent in prayer. Do not give up!

When my son, Andrew, was in his early adult years, he had walked away from the church. For years, my wife, Pat and I prayed for him. We talked to him about Jesus whenever we could without being obnoxious. Years went by. It was tempting to give up, or to stop trying -- but we persisted. And guess what? Andrew came around. He heard the Good News, responded, and the Lord changed his entire life. And Andrew isn’t the only one. I have seen God change hearts in hundreds of sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. If you know someone who doesn’t know Jesus, or who has walked away from the church, pray for them. Talk to them about Jesus. And do not give up!The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing” and in 1 Corinthians 15:59 it urges us to be “steadfast” because our labor is not in vain.                                                                                                      This is Luis Palau.

Years ago, I read a devotional called “You Are My Hiding Place” by Amy Carmichael and David Hazard. One devotion that really struck me was about reputation. The authors asked, “Would you still share the Gospel, even if your reputation was damaged because of it?” The reality is, popular culture is increasingly hostile towards Christianity. Being a follower of Jesus isn’t “popular”. And talking to people about Jesus is often labeled “extreme”. By all accounts, we may lose our reputation because of our faith—but I promise you, a life with Jesus is so much greater than a life of popularity. The Bible says in Matthew 16:24 that “Jesus told his disciples, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. Sometimes, this means denying ourselves the popularity that comes with hiding our faith, or giving up our morals.

This week, I urge you to be bold in sharing the Good News. Instead of worrying about what people might think of you, consider how many hearts God could reach using your testimony. You’ll be surprised by how many of your friends would like to know your faith story. So begin to tell it.This is Luis Palau.