You might be surprised how often widows come up in the Bible. Consider what the poor widow’s two mites show us. Those two mites prove no gift is too small, and no gift is too large.

First, the two mites prove no gift is too small. Those two little bronze coins called mites couldn’t buy the smallest bird to sacrifice or eat. How in the world could this miniscule donation make any difference? To Jesus, it made all the difference in the world. That small donation proved the poor widow was fully and wholly dedicated to the Lord. Her love, trust, and sheer bravery move me. And, it clearly moved Jesus, who honors her in Mark 12:41-44 and in Luke 21:1-4. He uses her as an example of the kind of faith and generosity that God loves.

Second, the two mites prove no gift is too large. Jesus tells us the poor widow put in more than all other contributors. She put in all she had to live on. Let’s not allow our personal interests, wants, and desires, and toys to end up squeezing our tithes and offerings to a trickle.

How easily we ignore this important truth: Everything we desire, want and need is found in the Lord. This marvelous truth had grabbed the poor widow’s heart. May it grab your heart, and mine too.

This is Luis Palau.

Do you remember the story we read in the Bible of the poor widow? We often focus on her two mites, but let’s not miss what Jesus does.

I can imagine the poor widow contemplating the promises of God as she walks toward the Temple that Tuesday. This was just three days before Jesus gave His all on the cross. As she walks into the Women’s Court in front of the Temple, I can imagine the widow carefully carrying her small purse, contemplating what she is about to do. As Jesus watches, she stops in front of a funnel-shaped offering receptacle. She reaches out her hand and drops in two small bronze coins.

Jesus knew this widow well. Yes, it’s true, He knows all widows. And He knew this poor widow had no property and no close family to take care of her. Therefore, since it was probably something He did often, I can imagine Jesus motioning for one of His disciples to follow after her and quietly give her a handful of silver coins.

In Matthew 6:21, Jesus tells us: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The apostle Paul enlarges on this in 2 Corinthians 8, especially verse 5, which says that generous giving is the outflow of all who give themselves “first of all to the Lord.” May we do the same.

This is Luis Palau.

I wasn’t even a teenager when my dad died, leaving my mom a widow. All too soon our family was financially destitute. The Lord always provided, but I have to wonder whether some of the people around us ignored God’s clear promptings. We became so desperately poor that sometimes we had only a loaf of bread and a tomato to eat for dinner.

In biblical times, loving your neighbor meant giving on a regular basis to the poor, especially widows and orphans. First, by inviting them to join your family for every holiday feast [Deut. 16:10-14]. Second, by sharing part of your wealth with them as part of your tithes and offerings [Deut. 26:12-13].

In the Gospels, Jesus and His disciples gave financial gifts to the poor regularly and routinely. It’s what all godly, good-hearted Jewish people did.  Sadly, however, the poor widow of Mark 12:41-44 had been neglected by relatives and overlooked by neighbors. All she had left were two mites. In her utter poverty, she gave all she had to the Lord at the temple.

When the Lord prompts you to financially share generously, don’t ignore it. Instead, do what Jesus Himself did repeatedly. Open your wallet and give to those in need. They will be blessed and so will you. I have experienced this all through my life.

This is Luis Palau.

When I go to heaven, I can’t wait to see my mom and dad again. You know, my dad passed away before I was a teenager, so my mom was a widow for many, many years.

You might be surprised how often widows come up in the Gospels. The most famous widow’s story appears at the end of Mark chapter 12[:41-44]. The immediate context suggests certain religious leaders had cheated her out of her rightful property.

The poor widow’s story takes place in Jerusalem only three days before Jesus lays down His life. A group of religious leaders called Sadducees confront Jesus one last time. These hypocrites had no love for the Lord. They also felt repulsed by the common people. Proof? What seems to be their favorite joke made a mockery of childless widows [Mark 12:18-27]. You can read it in Mark chapter 12.

Even worse? The Sadducees controlled the judicial system, which barred women. When a woman’s husband died, therefore, she couldn’t do anything to protect her family’s property from being seized “legally.” How wicked! Jesus condemned these religious scam artists in no uncertain terms towards the end of Mark 12. [Mark 12:38-40].

In biblical times, all the way back to the days of Moses, loving your neighbor meant giving to the poor, especially widows in need. Like Jesus, let’s do the same.  

This is Luis Palau.

An ambassador is a privileged position. The President handpicks this high-ranking official and sends him or her to a group of people. Then, as instructed, the ambassador delivers the leader’s message. The ambassador does not create the message, but simply communicates it. It’s good to think about this role because it’s one that has been given to each of us by God Himself. If you are in Christ, you are Christ’s ambassador. As II Corinthians says, it’s “as though God were making his appeal through us.” What an honor!

When we share God’s message, of course we want our delivery to be great. But, we must remember that it is the Good News itself that carries power to change a life. It is not the messenger; it is the message itself that is the power of God unto salvation.  God will present times and places for you to deliver His message. All you must do is be faithful to do so.

Keep your eyes open and pray. Study God’s Word. It is His message. Memorize key scripture passages. Ask God for creative, thoughtful, ways to deliver His Good News. Let the Holy Spirit and the Word guide you. Take time before the Lord listening to His voice. And, thank you. Thank you for being an ambassador. Thank you for carrying God’s message to those who are lost, fulfilling your purpose as you reach your world. 

This is Andrew Palau.

Disappointment is never easy. Have you ever disappointed a parent, boss, or professor when you really thought you were following God’s word? I know someone whose parents weren’t believers. He wanted to go into ministry—but his parents wanted him to become an engineer. As it turns out, he went into ministry and then became an engineer. But during the time when he was in ministry, before he became an engineer, his parents were disappointed. This was hard on the young man—and understandably so! We all feel better when people in our lives are proud of us. But what happens when the people in our life don’t share the same values or vision that God offers us?

 

The Bible says in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all…” It’s important to be respectful and kind to those in our lives-  but this does not mean we should sacrifice our convictions.

 

This week, I urge you to pray about the direction God wants you to walk. Who does God want you to talk to this week? Ask God to reveal his plans, then listen! God is faithful—and he will guide you if you let him. Remember to look at God as your guidepost, and you will never be lost.

 

This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever tried really hard at something, like a sport, only to end up losing the game? Sometimes in life, things just don’t go as we plan or hope. We can try hard to be the best at our job, only to end up losing it during layoffs. Or we can try hard to change a habit about ourselves, but still find ourselves slipping up.

We’ve all been there. And during these times, it can be easy to find ourselves feeling discouraged and disheartened. Sometimes, we may even want to give up trying. But when these times come,  and when we’re tempted to lose confidence in ourselves, it’s important that we remain confident in the one who never changes – the Lord Jesus! The Bible says, in Psalm 57:5, “My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises."

God does not change. His strength does not waver. Even when we are weak, or we don’t quite measure up to the standards of others—God does. Friend, this week, wherever you are—I urge you to remain confident in the Lord. “Christ lives in me,” God’s word says. If you’ve tried something and failed, lean on Him to keep you upright. If God has set a goal on your heart, trust Him to carry it out through you. Share about Jesus—our confidence—with someone in your life today.

This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever heard the saying, “every saint has a past; every sinner has a future”? Basically, it means that anyone who is in a pit right now, can have a bright future if they turn their lives to Jesus. And anyone who is walking with the Lord, at one point or another, had something unsavory in their past. This saying reminds me of the power of God to save and change lives.

In my time as an evangelist, I’ve seen hundreds of thousands of lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ. One man I remember in particular was deep in gang activity and drugs when he first came to a festival of ours in Connecticut. At the festival, the Lord spoke to him, and he received Jesus’ free gift of salvation in his heart that very first night. This man repented, and left his old life to start a new life in Christ. Today, his story has helped others who are in a similar situation, by offering them a future filled with hope.

1 Peter 3:11 tells us, “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it”. So wherever you are today, I encourage you to seek God and his will. As a friend once told me, “God’s light shines brightest in a dark spot”. This week, share with someone the encouraging news of Jesus’ hope. Tell them of God’s love, and of the peace-filled future God wants for them. 

This is Luis Palau.

A few years ago, The Christian Post published an article about the effectiveness of online evangelism. When I read the article I thought to myself…there is so much potential for Christians to reach the world online! Life today is all about being connected online. Most people have a smart phone, access to the internet, social media—you name it. So let me ask you, are you spreading the Good News online? Are the pictures you post, the conversations you have, and the values you project honoring to God? Do you talk about God’s presence in your life?

 

The Bible says in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven”. This week, I encourage you to make over your social media profiles. Think of your Facebook. Your Instagram. Your Twitter. What is your online presence like? What does it communicate?

 

Ask God how you can share His Good News with the friends and family you’re connected to. Then, go for it! Be bold in your walk with Jesus, and God will use you in a tremendous way. 

 

This is Luis Palau.

My Dad has observed that resistance to the simplicity of the Good News of Jesus Christ always comes from the church. In Europe especially, he’s been criticized openly. The reverends say: “If you make salvation too easy, everyone will want it.” To which my Dad would reply: “Isn’t that the point?”

Why would we ever hold back from painting the message of Jesus Christ in all its glory? It is glorious Good News. This isn’t pie-in-the-sky, cheap grace, or a false gospel, or prosperity. It’s the biblical message, which is simple, and it’s free, and it is good. It’s great news!

Many Christians seem to forget that salvation is the freely given gift—God’s gift—to each of us. We all stand in need of the Good News of God’s gift of salvation even after we believe. Especially after we believe. The Good News never stops being good. It just gets better and better with age.

Of course, each of us will go through periods of loss, grief, sorrow, and deep pain. But in the big picture those are typically relatively limited.

We have received the greatest gift God could ever give, and now we can invite others to embrace the best news the world has ever heard. What could be better?

This is Andrew Palau.