Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

Just before my father died, he arranged to have a one-on-one conversation with each of his grandchildren. All their lives he had prayed earnestly and fervently for God’s rich blessings in them and through them--to bless untold thousands. He did that for each of his sons too. What an example that has been for me as I pray now for my children. Like Moses, I say this blessing over them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace,” Numbers 6:24-26. Like Joshua, I boldly declare to one and all: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,” Joshua 24:15. Praying like this every day excites me about the future of my kids. I know that I can trust God to guide them as they commit their lives to Him. We also can thank the Lord daily for who He is. There’s so much to praise, including God’s sovereignty and greatness, His providence, guidance and goodness, His holiness and glory, and for His infinite, eternal love and graciousness. And how good that we can thank the Lord daily for each of our children’s hearts, lives, and futures. Let’s never stop praying for each by name. This is Andrew Palau.

My friend David had the privilege of interviewing more than a dozen third to sixth graders. Each child sat on a “hot seat” and answered five questions. The first four answers were easy: name, grade, number of siblings, and how many years they’ve gone to church. The final answer was a little tougher: talk about when it’s hard for you to trust God. David was amazed at their responses. First, they had a much shorter list of reasons than adults usually do. Second, several of the children honestly and sincerely told him, “It’s always been easy for me to trust God.” That’s exactly the way Jesus wants it to be. In the Gospels, we see Jesus blessing children. We see Him feeding them. We even see Jesus using a little boy’s sack lunch to feed the multitudes and collect 12 baskets full of leftovers. Beyond that, we see Jesus healing boys and girls who are demon-possessed and curing others who are sick and dying. He even resurrects a 12-year-old girl who had just died and an older boy who had died a few hours earlier. As we reach our world for Jesus Christ, let’s be sure to share His deep love for children. They understand it. They embrace it, and they have eternal life. This is Luis Palau.

In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly says children are part of His kingdom. Can you work hard to get into God’s kingdom? No. Can you be good enough? No. Can you pay lots of money? No, but that’s what some grown-ups would like to do. Jesus says, That’s not the way. To get into My kingdom you have to get down lower — humble yourself — and trust Me like a child would. Some claim a small child’s belief in God doesn’t count. But that’s not the case! In 2 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul said to Timothy, “continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, [pause] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” True, children can’t understand everything they’re taught. So? There is nothing wrong about a child’s inadequate concepts. First Corinthians 13:11 says: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child” (NIV). The Bible doesn’t criticize a child’s way of thinking. The One who made us knows us. May we all become like little children in our unwavering trust in God, confidence in His promises, and love for the Savior who died for us. This is Luis Palau.

Why did the children love Jesus so much? They loved Him because He first loved them. They loved Him because He showed His love with broad smiles, by enthusiastic hand motions inviting them to come see Him, by laughter and affirmations, by startling words to their parents, and by not-exactly-playful words to His un-kid-friendly disciples. It’s sometimes said that adults who love children are at heart really kids themselves. That is, they’ve retained the best qualities of their childhood. While some grown-ups love to be around kids, some don’t. There’s no question which when we look at Jesus. Jesus loved to be with children. Shortly before He is betrayed, scourged, and crucified, Jesus delights in the songs and chants and worship and adoration of the children around Him in the Temple. In Psalm 8, David declares to God, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies…” Jesus delights in the praise of children. Let’s encourage our young friends to do just that. Let’s reach the children in our world with the holy word of God. They will believe it and receive it. This is Luis Palau.

Loving your neighbor doesn’t simply mean your literal next door neighbors, and it certainly doesn’t mean only your neighbors of similar ages. Jesus showed honor and respect, and showered love and blessing, on people of all ages. As an infant, Jesus loved His young mother, the virgin Mary...and I very much believe Jesus loved the old widow Anna, who danced and rejoiced when she found Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus with Simeon in the Temple. Shortly before He came of age for the ancient precursor of the bar mitzvah, the lad Jesus loved to spend days with His cousins racing around Jerusalem...and sitting still for hours and days listening to and talking with aged scribes and priests in the Temple. When Jesus reached the age to be recognized as a prophet, His public ministry included talking about, talking with, hugging, laying hands on, and blessing children and infants everywhere He went. Jesus declared, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Yes, Jesus loves children, and we do too, don’t we? So let’s reach out to them. They’re all over our world. This is Luis Palau.

Let me read you what a young woman named Katie wrote. She lives in my hometown, Portland, Oregon, which has a large percentage of non-religious residents. Katie wrote: "I was raised in a postmodern home where there was a void of talking about anything spiritual. I remember one of the biggest hurdles for me was actually the idea of sin. This isn’t something that is talked about in non-Christian homes. At least, not in mine. Once I was able to wrap my mind around the idea of sin and therefore the need for Jesus, the rest happened pretty quickly. I remember realizing that Jesus wanted me to know Him. I also realized that I wanted Him too, and I became a believer." We recently received this email from Stella. She said, "My youth was a time of confusion. I was a leftist militant, into New Age, metaphysics, yoga. I challenged God to show me the way of truth because I was a sceptic and did not believe in religion. In His love He heard me and I happened on a radio program where Luis Palau was speaking. His simple, effective, and convincing message penetrated, healed and restored all areas of my life." I never get tired of hearing salvation stories. It’s evident that God is still changing lives. Let’s continue to tell His Good News to those who are looking for hope and truth. This is Andrew Palau.

James Bond became a famous action hero because he always had some crazy mission that he was brazen enough to actually complete. I doubt Mr. Bond would have become such an icon if he played it safe all his life. But I’m sure you’ve noticed how in literature and movies the action heroes never play it safe. Now, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with being safe and responsible – that’s actually admirable. But I do believe that as followers of the Lord Jesus, we’re called to live more boldly than we sometimes actually do.As followers of Christ, we are also given a very important mission: to spread the Good News Gospel to the ends of the earth! This takes courage, wisdom, and discernment. It often means we’ll be uncomfortable, but the outcome will be great. The more we can build the kingdom of Heaven, the better for people’s eternal wellbeing. Don’t you agree? The Bible says in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Isn’t it amazing that God would call you and me as human beings to be His voice around the world? Ask God what part He wants you to play in your world in this important mission. This is Luis Palau.

There is a reason that diet experts say people eat more when they sleep less. When we’re tired, we crave things that aren’t really that good for us! I personally crave ice cream. But, in all seriousness, a weary mind is one that is easily distracted. This goes for our diet, and it goes for our walk with Jesus Christ also. Think about it: when we’re spiritually tired, we’re more likely to slip up. We may do or say something we later regret. This is why it is so important to get spiritual “rest” by spending time in the Bible and in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Don’t pass up the opportunity to attend any retreat your church offers. My prayer for you is that you will rest in Christ this week. That you will be “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” — as it says in Colossians 1:11 in the Bible. Find rest in the Lord so you do not become spiritually weary and distracted. Then, you will have energy to continue fighting the good fight and sharing the Good News message with people in your life, and with people in your world. This is Luis Palau.

A lot of times people say to me, “Luis, I want to know God’s calling on my life. But I just can’t hear Him clearly.” Does this sound familiar? Maybe you have said this type of thing before. I know, in my younger years, I did! Oftentimes, people can’t hear God because we don’t make time for listening to God! We are busy, running errands and working hard in our careers, but all these good things can end up being noise. It distracts us from hearing our true calling. In order to hear God clearly, we need to create the time and space to listen to God! This means shutting down Facebook, avoiding our “to do” list, turning off the TV, and quieting the room to really be with Him. Are you making time to listen to God? Or is your schedule a little too busy? King David, in the Bible, must have been a busy man, but he wrote in Psalm 5, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” I urge you this week to clear some daily time to listen to God as David did. Ask Him for clarity about your calling. Then, ask for courage to live out the calling God has placed on your heart by the blessed Holy Spirit. This is Luis Palau.

Our lives today are full but, oddly, our souls are often running on empty. We are pushed and stretched with busy schedules and workplace to-do lists, but so many people ache for relief. For rest. For renewal. When people get burned out, they usually turn on mindless television or turn to something else mind-numbing to find rest. But God offers a kind of rest that is deeper, richer, and more meaningful than any of these things. God offers rest for our soul and renewal of our perspectives. The Bible says in Psalm 23:3, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” To experience God’s great renewal, all we need to do is create time and space for Him in our lives. Spend time reading the Bible. Go to church. Pray often and tell God what is going on in your life. This week, I encourage you to find rest and renewal in God. You’ll be surprised by how much more clear your vision becomes when He is the center of your life. These last few months I turned to reading the Bible on my iPhone. This year I’m daily listening to the New Testament plus the daily chapter of Proverbs. Talk about peace and rest and joy! I’m getting it. And this I’d recommend to you, my friend. This is Luis Palau.