In a bygone era, millions of children said a common bedtime prayer: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Like many classic nursery rhymes and fairytales, it’s a bit sober, don’t you think?

Yet, we can’t hide children from the sober news within the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The day comes when Jesus’ public ministry here on earth ends. God-become-flesh bears the sins of the world, suffers the horrors of crucifixion, gives up His spirit, and His lifeless body is buried in a rich man’s tomb. 

Even then, Jesus is true to His word. Never the hypocrite, He shows the full extent of His love. Not just by dying, but by keeping His promise to rise from the dead.

Jesus wasn’t afraid to die for adults and children alike. So, let’s not be afraid to share the whole Good News Gospel with our own children and grandchildren, and neighbors’ children. Believe me, later they will gladly thank you for it. Jesus Himself said: “Let the little children come to me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

This is Luis Palau.

What could possibly ruin a child’s love for Jesus?

Sadly, it’s possible for a child to grow up in church, learn Bible stories, sing songs, memorize Scripture verses, say all the right things, look good — and yet not place his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.Sometimes, it’s the individual’s own choice.Sometimes, however, it’s because of the sinful, terrible choices of adults the child should have been able to trust.

Scripture couldn’t be clearer. Anyone who repeatedly or severely harms a boy or girl or young adult by sinning against them — physically, psychologically, socially, sexually, or spiritually — is in grave danger of God’s eternal judgment. Jesus said it would be better for a soldier to tie a millstone around your neck and toss you into Davy Jones’ locker.

Peter and his fellow disciples shuddered at the thought. It should make us shudder too. Why? Because the point Jesus is making is crystal clear: Don’t let your attitudes, your words, or your actions soil or steal the God-given faith of a child.

Instead, like Jesus, let’s do all we can to love and care for the children in Jesus’ name.

This is Luis Palau.

When it comes to loving our neighbors, let’s always be sure to include children. Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 18, verses 5 and 6."[A]nyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose faith or be harmed by sin, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck." [NLT]

Believe me, men in the land feared drowning above pretty much all else. Even experienced fishermen like Peter and Andrew, James and John, were scared to death of drowning, for some reason.

But perhaps Jesus’ warning should also cause us to think of other smaller ways we can cause children to be harmed — by our critical attitudes, hypocrisy, self-centered living — anything that doesn’t reflect Christ-like, child-like kingdom living. I’m not talking about being perfect. Instead, I’m saying that a child’s faith grows, not diminishes, when an adult apologizes to the child for, say, losing his or her temper.

Like Jesus, let’s love children well by showing them the love of God and humility of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is Luis Palau.

There’s a reason we often describe beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ as getting ‘saved.’ He rescues us from our sin and grants us eternal life. But, friends, He also has the power to save us in this life. Before I came to know Him, I was stuck in a haze of recklessness, looking for satisfaction in destructive places and habits. I was on a road that led to death. When I opened my heart to Him, the Lord showed me exactly what was keeping me from His unending grace. He also showed me a way out.

Our God is not stand-offish. The Bible is full of examples of God in the thick of the battles and struggles of those who trust Him. In Psalm 94:17 David says, “Unless the Lord had given me help, I would have soon dwelt in the silence of death.”

Let the Lord help you in whatever you’re struggling with today. Turn to the Bible – our help manual – and ask Him to show you the way out. God wants you to live a victorious life. This is why He calls us into a relationship with Him. Share this amazing truth with someone who needs to hear it today.

This is Andrew Palau.

You’ve probably heard the story of David and Goliath: David was a young man after God’s own heart, who volunteered to fight Goliath. Goliath was a giant who stirred fear in the hearts of men everywhere. David was smaller, weaker, and less skilled than Goliath—but somehow, he won the battle! How could this be? How did this happen?  David’s own words tell us:  “…I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…this day the Lord will deliver you into my hands…”

As Christians, we have the maker of heaven and earth on our side. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed”. In David’s case, his plans honored the Lord, and God was with him. In each of our lives, we will encounter “Goliath” situations. Big hurdles. Impossible-looking tasks. Overwhelming obstacles. But friend, I encourage you to cling to Christ. Commit your ways to Him. Let Him guide your decision-making. He will give you the power to succeed. “He gives power to the weak,” the Holy Word of God says.

One way you can submit yourself to Christ is through committing to share His good news with all the people in your life. Ask God for opportunities to share the Good News, and look expectantly for Him to provide those opportunities. He will do it.

This is Luis Palau.

What does it mean to be truly successful? In today’s world, the word “success” is thrown around often. Sometimes it seems as though anyone with money or fame has achieved success. But with Jesus, success does not look like a big bank account or a fancy college degree.

Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved”—having faith in Jesus is our true success! Matthew 22:37 says, “Jesus replied, ‘you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind’ From this, we realize that real success involves a wholehearted love for God.  The famous Bible teacher, Henrietta Mears said, “Success is anything that is pleasing to the Lord.”

It’s important to remember that Jesus does not require us to earn his love in order to be considered successful. Jesus offers a free gift to us in the form of a relationship with Him. When Jesus is in our hearts, we can’t help but want to live out His commands by reaching the world with His message of love.So today, ask yourself, are you successful in God’s eyes? Are you living for Jesus? Are you sharing the Good News? This week, I challenge you to do these things.

This is Luis Palau.

Someone I know very well, named Ann, has worked as an executive assistant for nearly 30 years! She has worked faithfully, never missing a deadline, and always being accountable. With her modest income, Ann has donated to missionaries and the church, spent money wisely, and added to savings.Today, Ann is past middle age. She’s getting close to retirement. And her faithful, modest spending habits and hard work have paid off. When she decides to retire, Ann will not have to worry. Ann has even saved enough so she can continue giving to ministries when she is no longer working. And even helping her grandchildren, too.

The Bible says in Luke, “Whoever can be trusted with little, can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Ann has been a good steward of the job she has. She does it as unto Jesus Christ Himself. And the blessings that come from such service have blessed her. This got me thinking…are we faithful with the resources we have? Are we also using our time and resources to spread the Good News? This week, I encourage you to be faithful in the little things, like Ann. God has entrusted you with the means to reach your world with Jesus’ message of salvation, right where you are.        This is Luis Palau.

I’ll never forget a story I heard of a fighter pilot, who was flying upside down at a tremendous speed, when he became disoriented and pulled the control stick in the wrong direction. Just minutes later, flaming wreckage of the plane was all that remained. Writer Del Fehsenfelt commented on this tragedy, saying, “Disorientation at a high rate of speed is a deadly combination for all of us. Capacity for discernment is diminished…the result is a high risk of careening in the wrong direction.”

In this day and age, it seems we’re living at a faster speed in life. Everyone is busy. Schedules are over-booked. And it can become easy to become disoriented and go in the wrong direction. As believers in Jesus, we must constantly ask ourselves if our direction honors God. Are we sharing the Good News? Are we living out God’s word? Are we filled with God’s Holy Spirit and with God’s holy Word?  Or are we so busy that we’re disoriented about what really matters in life?

This week, I urge you to follow what the Bible asks us in Matthew 11:28, when Jesus says, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” Pray to Jesus for guidance and clarity, and opportunities to live for Him this week and every day.

This is Luis Palau.

Our society lives in a 24/7 news cycle, yet often is blind to the biggest news story of all. The greatest news is this: That God’s kingdom is advancing His purposes through humanity here on earth.

It grieves and frustrates me when I hear someone say that God can’t use them to advance His purposes on earth. They see themselves as inadequate in some way.

God not only can use anyone to advance His purposes, but God often uses them as a means of drawing others into His family and Church today. Take the apostle Paul as a classic example. He hounded, persecuted, and killed Christians.  But once he became a Christian himself, he turned into an unstoppable evangelist.

The reality is, the more opposed someone is when God starts using them, the more likely that God will draw them to a strong faith in Jesus Christ. It sounds counterintuitive, but we see this over and over in Scripture, in Church history, in modern biography, and in contemporary experience.

God’s desire, of course, is that none perish, but that all come to repentance. Let’s make that our primary focus, too.       

This is Andrew Palau.

During an autumn festival known as the Feast of Booths, Jesus and the Jewish leaders conduct a series of debates. Early one morning Jesus walks into the Temple and begins teaching the people. They listen as He speaks words of truth with authority. Yet almost immediately a commotion draws their attention. Local religious leaders are shouting at a woman who is weeping, wailing, and fighting for her life. This mob of men cares nothing for her. She is a pawn in their latest futile attempt to trap Jesus into saying something they could report to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who alone has the authority to sentence a man to death.

It appears certain that the unnamed woman really was caught in the sin of adultery. It also appears almost certain that the religious leaders orchestrated the rendezvous and then let their man “escape.” How convenient. How dastardly. How hypocritical.

In less than 60 words, Jesus disgraces His enemies and liberates this beloved woman. She’s free. She’s forgiven. She’s changed. She’s loved by the Savior. Her story, down through the ages, has offered hope and healing to hundreds of millions.

Have you ever shared her life-changing Good News Gospel story with someone? If not, I encourage you to do so today. Just tell your friends.  It will touch them.    

This is Luis Palau.