Do you remember the days of the telemarketer? Back when everyone had house phones, we used to pick up the phone and hear a friendly voice. “Hello! How are you today?” They would say cheerily. They seemed like they wanted to talk to us. Soon, though, we’d find out that they were only being nice because they wanted to sell us something! The telemarketer didn’t really want to be our friend. They didn’t really care how we were.

Sometimes the perception of Christians is that we’re spiritual telemarketers. They say we’re only being nice because we want to sell people eternal life. Honestly, this perception isn’t wholly wrong. We should never be ashamed of our true purpose, which is to follow Christ and introduce others to the joy and hope we have. However, godly relationships are not a sales pitch. They can only be built through time and attention, through experiencing challenges and joys. We need to approach our relationships with love and commitment, with actions! As 1 John says, “Let us not love with words of speech, but with actions and in truth.” We are not only trying to point people to heaven. Instead, we are trying to be their friends through actions and truth, which involves telling them about the hope of Christ. We should always treat others with God’s love. That love will touch their lives and bless the world.

This is Luis Palau.

Jesus lived a life of radical inclusiveness, creating relationships with those who would not have been socially and religiously acceptable in His day. I mean, women were among His followers! He ate with tax collectors! By Jesus’ examples, we can clearly see that we are called to befriend those who need help, or those who simply need a friend.

If there was any doubt in people’s minds about Jesus’ philosophy about relationships, the story He told about the Good Samaritan erased it. This was the story of a Samaritan, a member of a group widely thought to be awful by those listening to Jesus’ story. This Samaritan helped a hurting person when no one else would, not even a religious leader who passed by. The Samaritan didn’t even stop and think about it; he gathered up the wounded traveler by the side of the road, took him to an inn, and paid for his care. He gave of his time, energy, and money for another. We are to be the Good Samaritan. Jesus calls us to give of ourselves for others who are hurting and in need of help. Yes, we want to bring them to Jesus, but one first step is to build relationships with them. Once we have developed trust, then we can more easily introduce them to the God who has called us to love. Just wait and see how God will change the world as we reach out to those in need.

This is Luis Palau.

We all have many different relationships that we invest time in. Some of these relationships are integral to our lives, like our spouses, kids, parents, or best friends. Other relationships might be less powerful but still important, like co-workers or neighbors. We also have very casual relationships.

As you think about your relationships, do you find you spend most of your time with people who believe and think the same as you do? If so, you’re like a lot of Christians. While finding a community of believers is important, so is having people in your life who do not believe the same things that you do. We are called to get to know others who might disagree with us. They will push us to understand our world in different ways, and we will do the same for them. As our relationship grows, Christ will give us opportunities to share the Good News Gospel with them.

Jesus commands us, “love your neighbor as yourself.” He doesn’t follow up by saying, “if they believe the same way as you do.” No! He says, we are to love all of our neighbors, all those who we have relationships with, as if they were ourselves. We should treat them respectfully, and tell them about God’s love for them. As we cultivate these relationships, we grow God’s kingdom on earth, and gain new perspectives about the world we live in!                 

This is Luis Palau.

Life is about relationships, isn’t it? Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors: our relationships make our lives rich. If you think about it, even the things we do in our free time are often based around relationships. For example, many of us watch sports teams because of the relationships between the teams, the teammates, and sometimes our own history with the team. Even music can be thought of as sort of a relationship between different instruments, all working together. 

God created us for relationships. He created us to desire relationship with Him; then He created us to need relationships with each other. This is clear all the way back in Genesis. It wasn’t good for man to be alone; he needed another person to live life with. Sadly, Adam and Eve, as you know, brought each other to sin. But I hope they also brought each other to God many times after that. It’s true that our relationship with God is an individual one – everyone needs to make their own decision to follow Christ. However, most of us can point to particular relationships God used to bring us to follow Christ. For me, it was my dad and my mom. It is so important that we as followers of Christ become that person, that relationship, for those around us who don’t know Jesus. Relationships are one big key to bringing others to eternal life in Christ and reaching our world for Him.                

This is Luis Palau.

Have you ever stopped to consider, “Why do I work so hard?” or “What’s my legacy going to be?” I do. Years ago, I was living in Boston, working a fast-paced retail job. I had walked away from God, and—though I didn’t realize it at the time—I was defining myself by my career. I worked late nights, was constantly stressed, and drank too much in order to chill after work. However, after a transformative encounter, God’s voice finally got to my heart. My eyes were suddenly opened to the life I was living and all at once, I realized that my legacy was a dark one. After I accepted Christ, and began walking with Him, I realized that a legacy of climbing the corporate ladder pales in comparison if outside the word of Christ, to a legacy of spreading the Good News of Jesus! It does not matter what your job is, what position you have, or if you even have a job, it’s how you live for Christ in the midst of all of it. 

Daniel 12:3 in the Bible promises, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars for ever and ever.” So this week, consider—what’s your legacy? Are there people in your life who have yet to hear the Good News? Tell them!

This is Andrew Palau.

Ed greatly respected his father-in-law, Jim, who was a pastor. He decided to ask Jim for guidance. “What do you see in my life that I need to work on?” Jim immediately replied, “You don’t love God’s Word.” Ed was shocked at first and then realized Jim was right. Although Ed studied the Word, it wasn’t with great fervor or passion.

God’s Word is truth. It outlines love, obedience and sacrifice as the ingredients of discipleship. Being a disciple and guiding others is all about truth, and about God’s presence in me.  And about the promises in God’s Word.

The more we fill up on the Word, the more it will overflow. We should read it, study it and memorize passages. Devour it and then let it pour back out to others. Ephesians 6 says the armor of God includes the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

I’d like to challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word every day. Pick a chapter you love and read it in depth. Share it with a friend or family member as you talk and discuss life, and discuss what you learned from God. Let’s learn to love God’s Word so we can use it to reach our world.

This is Luis Palau.

I read the story of a family at the park recently that made me smile. The little boy was determined to ride his bike without training wheels. He tried desperately, only to fall down again and again. Finally, with great frustration he yelled, “This was supposed to be easy!”

I don’t know about you, but I have felt the same way, especially when it comes to following Jesus. The Bible says we are to love one another. It sounds so simple, but when we try to do it we find that it’s pretty hard. Encouraging people who are difficult to get along with is a struggle. Giving our time and attention to others in a rushed world is tough too.

In John 15 Jesus says, “Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” So basically Jesus is asking us to love, obey and give. Again, this sounds so charming, but it is hard if we go for it in our own strength. This week let’s encourage others to press on, even though it is challenging, but trusting in the indwelling Lord Jesus. Supporting others and asking for support in return from members of His Church is what being a disciple is about. We are reaching our world together.

This is Luis Palau.

Bill was discouraged. He was a pastor, working with a group of young men. They studied God’s word and Bill supported them as a mentor. However, over time Bill wasn’t seeing tangible results from his efforts. Two men had left the group recently. Another long-time participant hadn’t yet accepted Jesus. Bill questioned his ability to disciple. Bill’s own mentor, Frank, encouraged him by saying: “A disciple is a lifelong learner.”

The word “disciple” means “learner.” Learning is a process that takes time, dedication and practice. Our lives will be filled with opportunities to grow in our understanding. We will never be done learning!

Bill’s efforts and the efforts of the young men he mentors are worthwhile. Seeds are being planted. God’s Word is being read and absorbed. They are learning to be disciples, and Bill is learning right along with them. We are all aiming to be more like Christ. Think about what it means to be His disciple. You are a student. God is the Teacher. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t stop boldly reaching your world for Christ. God is using you to attract your friends to Christ as they see Christ living in you.                             

This is Luis Palau.

Arlo was a lost boy. He consistently got into trouble and struggled with his studies. His parents weren’t actively involved in his life, leaving him to his own devices. Arlo would roam his neighborhood, knocking on doors looking for odd jobs to earn a little money. Jeff and Sydney, a couple Arlo visited often, made a decision on his behalf; to invest their time and attention in him. They invited Arlo to help in their garden. They ate meals and attended church together. Arlo began to improve in all areas, eventually even accepting Jesus into his life.

Jeff and Sydney are missional; not overseas missionaries sent out in the traditional way, but called to service.  Matthew 28:19, the Great Commission, says “… go and make disciples of all nations…” This is the charge that we have all been given – to go, to do evangelism, to act, to invest. Jeff and Sydney didn’t wait for the potential call of an overseas mission field, or even a degree from a Bible college. They participated in life with Arlo and it made a big difference:  his soul saved by Jesus Christ, his life turned around.

This week, ask God to guide and empower your life as you seek to fulfill the Great Commission in your town. You will see opportunities come your way to reach your world.

This is Luis Palau.

When I first gave my life to Christ, He called me to roles I was very happy to accept: marrying Wendy, becoming my dad’s personal assistant, and being a festival director. I loved it all. I thought, “This is my calling and it’s great!”

And it was my calling for a season. But then God said “Now I want you to be a preaching evangelist.” That thought scared me. I didn’t like speaking. I wasn’t good at preparing. And, I was afraid that people would think I was doing it just to be like my dad. So, I said no. The more time that passed, the more tension and pressure I felt both with the team and at home. I knew it was because I wouldn’t listen to God’s new calling and release my former role. I liked my former role too much.

Through that time I learned that resistance to God’s calling is serious. The Bible says in Exodus that God was angry with Moses when Moses asked God to send someone else to Egypt. God had a plan. He knew what He was doing and He knew that Moses was the man. When I realized the same was true in my life and obediently submitted to God’s calling, wonderful things happened. Doors opened, opportunities came, and I found myself passionate and excited for my new role. If you’re fighting against God’s calling, stop! His plans are far better than our own and He has a role for YOU.

This is Andrew Palau.