Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

I love Psalm 23. Have you read it before? It seems for many that Psalm 23 has become known as the “funeral Psalm.” I hear it at most funerals I go to, but I don’t hear it anywhere else very often. Why is that? As I recently did a more in-depth study of this famous Psalm, I realized that there is so much truth and goodness in this passage that it’s a tragedy not to apply it to all of our life! Psalm 23 says, “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” There is so much rich truth in this passage that will help you anywhere to reach your world! Study it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Pray over it. Journal about it. And apply it to your life. Psalm 23 isn’t just a Psalm for funerals. It’s a Psalm for each and every day. 

Recently I met with a teenager who was feeling very sad. As we talked further, I realized there was underlying guilt beneath his sadness. He had prematurely lost his sexual purity with a young woman. He knew it was wrong and couldn’t get past the guilt. The guilt weighed so heavily on him that he sank into a deep depression. This young man’s story is so common. He is one of many thousands who are suffering from depression. It’s not always related to wrongdoing, but in his case, it was. Do you know that Jesus came to free us from our burdens? Do you know that He died for all of our mistakes? That we don’t have to feel guilt forever or shame that never goes for what we’ve done? No matter how bad you think it is, no matter how far you think you’ve gone, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is enough! It’s enough to free you from guilt, from shame, depression and despair. It’s enough to make the way for eternity in Heaven. Are you overwhelmed with guilt for something you’ve done? Or, do you know someone who is? Turn to Jesus Christ.  The blood he shed on that cross purifies us from all sin. Experience “peace that passes understanding.” Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Jesus is the answer for your sadness! Turn to Him today, right now! And share what He’s done for you with someone else. That is witnessing. 

Don’t give up on reaching someone with the Good News. I sometimes wonder how hard it was for my parents to watch me grow up and rebel against God. Did they ever lose hope? If they did, I never knew it. They always did what they could to connect with me, even if it made them a bit uncomfortable. My parents knew that if anything good was going to happen in my life, it would be God’s work. They were a steadfast example of His love and purpose. My father once wrote me a letter, personalizing Romans 10:9-10 with my name: “If you confess with your lips, Andrew, that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart, Andrew…you will be saved.” This letter is now one of my most cherished possessions. Sometimes, reaching someone with the Gospel takes persistence. And it takes faith in the promises of God. Galatians 6:9 says, “for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Is there someone in your life you’ve been trying to reach for a long time – maybe even years? Don’t lose hope. Let them know you’re praying for them. Reconnect with them if it’s been a while. But don’t stop there. Lovingly share the Good News with them and never stop praying.    

I find many people are consumed with fear regarding their finances. People fear they won’t have enough to pay for retirement, or college, or pay off their house. Some people fear they won’t have enough to pay their bills this month. And there is reason to fear if you’re putting your trust in finances. They are unstable and uncertain. You could lose your job. The economy could decline further and wipe out your investments. Putting hope in these uncertain things is fearful. Money fears are not unique to our culture and our time. God’s Word is always timely and always relevant, and Jesus addressed these very concerns 2,000 years ago in the Scriptures, saying, “...do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” If we seek God first, we do not need to fear. He will provide. Our world needs to hear this. At a time when fear is prevalent, it’s up to us to tell others of God’s promises given in love - a love that casts out fear. Seek God’s Kingdom first this week, today, and watch as He transforms your life and uses you to reach others.                         

Growing up my father was a very tough businessman. While I was away at a British boarding school we had talked at length and had made many plans. But little did I know that he would die unexpectedly when I was only ten. Life wasn’t easy especially for my Mother, our family struggled financially. During these hard times, it can be so easy to wish that life would return to “normal.” I have a question: When you’re going through a difficult time do you cling to the hope that things will one day return to “normal”? But what if they don’t? Perhaps you also suffered a major loss such as the death of a parent or child. Perhaps your parents are getting a divorce or you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer. You may long for “the good old days” when things were less stressful. But we cannot go back. When tragedy strikes, whether it is the death of a family member or something like battling cancer, we’re forced to adjust to “the new normal” because life has changed sometimes forever. But, I have good news. God never changes!  “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” Hebrews tells me. Put your hope in the One who does not change. With Him, no matter what is going on around you, you can have inner peace. The Bible says that God loves us “with an everlasting love.”  This love transcends the loss of normalcy in our lives. Share this Good News with a friend in the midst of troubling change, and you never know what God will do in their life through you.

What does it mean to trust someone or something? One definition of trust says, “Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.” And yet, so often, we put our faith in things not worthy of our trust. We put our faith and hope in material possessions, or a certain job, or a flawed human being. In America, our currency says, “In God We Trust.” But, is that really true? Do you trust in God? Do I trust God with everything? Do I fully lean on Him? I think if we fully trusted God, our lives would reflect it. To trust is not just a thought or a decision. When you trust someone, it is seen through actions. When there is true reliance on God, there is not as much fear. Even when things are difficult, we have the foundation of trust in the Almighty God who loves us unconditionally. A proverb in the Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” If you’ve been trusting in people and things to bring you peace and joy, you’ve been looking in all the wrong places. Trust God and your life will never be the same. Share this Good News with a friend this week, and you’ll rejoice.

One look at today’s headlines and you know that things are quite crazy. There have been massive earthquakes, tsunamis, crime, mass killings, revolutions and the list goes on. Economies are struggling and many people are out of work. It’s times like these, when the world seems upside down, that many become afraid. But, you know, I have good news. Though we may “not know what the future holds, we DO know Who holds the future,” as the old song put it. We serve God Almighty- the God who is not surprised by any of these current events. He knows the trouble we face and He cares about each of us. He sees the tragedies in the world and weeps for those suffering. He longs to bring His children back to Him. C.S. Lewis wisely stated, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Do not despair in these troubled times. Instead, listen to God as He’s speaking to you. Share His love and peace with a worried friend. When someone asks why you’re able to face the future with confidence, tell them that Jesus Christ is your peace. And that no matter what the nightly news says, God’s promises remain. As the Bible says, He does have a “future and a hope” for His children. Trust Him this week! Really rest in the Lord.                      

Last night my wife, Wendy, took our dog for a walk. It was cold outside, but she did it anyway. It was a good thing she did because that walk brought a God-ordained moment. At the park, she ran into a woman who is new to the neighborhood. Wendy had met and chatted with her a couple times, but didn’t really know her. They ended up walking together and, as Wendy is in the habit of doing, the conversation turned to spiritual things. This new friend had been going to church with her husband and children but, felt there was much she didn't understand. Yet, she had a deep spiritual longing to draw closer to God. When Wendy found out about this desire, she immediately invited her to our neighborhood Bible study. And, this lady said yes! She said it sounded like the perfect place for her - a comfortable environment where she could ask questions and study the Bible. Often we are afraid to talk about spiritual things. But last night, Wendy sensed an open door and the prodding of the Holy Spirit. She moved with boldness. Be open and ready for those God-ordained moments. God is always at work and wants to use you! Obey, speak with boldness and love, and watch what God will do. 

Some years ago at Harvard University, a Japanese Christian was speaking to my friend Paul Little and he said these words,” I wish that you Christians in the West, could realize that we from the East who have gone through the ravages of war, starvation, suffering, political turmoil and the loss of loved ones, have a profound wound in our hearts.” Do you know that around you here, you don’t have to be from Japan? You can be in any nation in the world. There are wounded people with broken hearts. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ came to heal the broken-hearted. He is near to you today, if you are one of those broken-hearted people who feel alone in the world, rejected perhaps, despised by a spouse or even by your parents. 50% of kids in America, for instance, come from broken homes. Those are very wounded young people. They need to know that despite the rejection of a father or a mother, God our father never rejects us. Jesus Christ never runs away from us.  Rather He comes to us and He embraces us and gives us the kiss of forgiveness and the embrace of love. He is near to you today. Jesus Christ heals the broken-hearted. If you are broken-hearted, surrender to Him right now. And if you know a friend that is broken-hearted, tell him what Jesus can do for them, just like He did for you.

In Matthew chapter 4 Jesus said very boldly, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” I remember a cartoon from Michael Green that I saw years ago.  An older guy was coming back from fishing, his wife was standing at the door looking menacing and she said to him, “Well, did you catch anything?” and he said, “No, but I influenced a lot of them.”  You know there are many people who feel the same way. They want to influence people towards Christ. They want to influence them to come to know the Lord, but they never catch anything. And you know Jesus didn’t say, “Go into all the world and influence people,” although we do influence them by our behavior, by our talk and by our ways. He said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel.” And he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” You know one of the greatest joys and privileges that any human being can ever have? It’s more unforgettable I think than getting married or having your children is to lead someone into the eternal kingdom of God. There is something unique and special because you know you have led a person from darkness to light. From hell to heaven. And the idea that one day they will be in heaven forever, because God used you in their lives is absolutely motivating like nothing else in the world. So go out today and say, “Lord, use me! I want to be a fisher of men, not an influencer of people only.”

You know, just about everybody I know, including myself and I’m an evangelist, experiences fear when you have to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ one on one. The apostle Paul had fear, I fear. You may experience fear also. It’s natural. You know why, because its spiritual warfare, that’s why. It may not appear to be spiritual warfare but it is. Darkness vs. light.  Jesus vs. the devil. In Ephesians chapter 6 the apostle Paul is talking about spiritual warfare and then he ends with an amazing, amazing phrase. Did you ever notice it? He says in verse 19, “Pray also for me.” Now this is the Apostle Paul, “So whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Now that is amazing when you think of it. This is the Apostle Paul, who was stoned. They thought they killed him. He was in jail, they beat him up. They just mistreated him over and over. And as one friend of mine just said, he went back again and again to the same towns where he had been persecuted. If Paul needed people to pray for him so that he would be fearless, you and I need it too. So ask your friends to pray for you when you go out and share the Gospel.

You know how many times people say, “A Christian is bound to give his testimony, it’s his duty.” And it is. Why do many of us shy away? I’ll tell you one reason. Because many of us feel, we don’t have the authority, we don’t have the power, we don’t have the reasoning ability to answer questions and to present Jesus Christ clearly. We just don’t have it. But here is a word of encouragement. Did you know that the Apostle Paul felt the same way?  In 1 Corinthians 2, listen to what he says. He says, “I didn’t come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I shared with you the testimony about God. Because I decided to know nothing, while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” And listen to this, this is amazing. He says, “I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not wise and persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” So don’t despair. Don’t despair. The power is in the Holy Spirit and in the truth of Holy Scripture. So you tell the story of the crucifixion and how it affects your life. And that has tremendous power, even though you are not any brighter than the Apostle Paul.

Recently, a friend emailed me to say he was coming to town that day and would love to have dinner with our family. That night, both our sons had activities and our daughter was fighting a cold. Wendy and I had come home from busy days. Having this friend to dinner would mean more work and rushing. But, Wendy whipped up a delicious meal and we sat our friend at the kitchen table along with all the backpacks, homework, and sports gear. We ended up talking about God the entire evening. Wendy and I shared how God influences our family. As the evening progressed, our friend began to open up. He told us he’d gone to church his whole life, but never read the Bible for himself. Our friendship was refreshed and He left with a Bible in his hand. Reaching others with the love of Christ takes effort and sacrifice. I shudder to think of the opportunity we could have easily missed, just to save a little effort. I had a million reasons to not spend time with him. But, thankfully, we did have him over for dinner. And, our conversation may have been just what was needed to point him to Jesus Christ. Let’s ask God to show us every opportunity where we can reach our world just by opening our front door.  

One of the most basic beliefs of our Christian faith is that Jesus died on a cross for our sins. But so often, I think we overlook that magnitude of the cross and what it really means for us, today. I’ve heard a great illustration and I’m sure you have heard it before too: that the cross is made of two beams, one horizontal and one vertical. The vertical symbolizes our reconciliation with God. And the horizontal?  Well, the beam symbolizes our reconciliation with one another. That is why Jesus died for us on the cross. He died to bridge the great chasm between humankind and God and make it possible for us to reconcile with other people and reveal love for them in the name of Jesus Christ.  Who do you need to be reconciled with? God wants you to take care of that relationship first. That would be the first step to reach your world. If you have a broken friendship, it may be hindering you in reaching your world in ways you don’t realize. St. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, “Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” We need God with us as we reach our world. So seek to take the first step in restoring a broken relationship today in your life. The cross of Jesus Christ makes it possible.

It seemed to be an ordinary day at a high school in the Midwest. Students were busy finishing up classes for the day and several waited in the cafeteria for the bus ride home. Then, out of nowhere, another student walked in to the cafeteria, straight to the table of waiting students, and opened fire. When the football coach, Frank Hall, heard screams and gun shots, he didn’t run away from the danger to protect himself, he ran straight for the gunman in the cafeteria! He chased the gunman right out of the building. Tragically, 3 students lost their lives in the shooting. But can you imagine how many more may have died if it wasn’t for Coach Hall’s selfless bravery? He could have been shot and killed. But he put the students first. You know, Jesus said that we are to “deny ourselves.” The Bible also says that those who try to “save their lives will lose it,” but those who lose their lives will find it! Coach Hall denied himself, and was willing to lose his life for his students - and what a great hero he was for doing so. How is God calling you to put others first in everyday situations? Serving others and putting their spiritual wellbeing before your own laid-back indifference, is a powerful way to honor your Lord Jesus Christ and to reach your world.