Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

When we don’t understand something about God, some people are tempted to discredit Him completely. But you don’t have to understand everything to believe in something. As recorded in John 9 in the Bible, Jesus met a man who was born blind and forced to beg just to get by. Jesus’ disciples wanted to know whose fault it was that this man was blind. Was it his fault? His parents?   For some reason, it’s human nature to want to place blame. If someone gets cancer, some wonder – what did they do to get cancer? If someone’s spouse leaves them, people criticize saying If they had been a better husband or wife . . . If teenagers are rebellious, hardened onlookers gossip – if that kid’s parents had been more involved, this wouldn’t have happened.   Just because God can use what happens in our lives doesn’t mean He causes it. Much pain – maybe most of it - is not caused by God. Recognizing this doesn’t relieve our pain but it’s an important distinction. We can learn to correct our understanding of how God can allow pain but not cause it. Let’s rejoice in that today!   God is with us in the worst of times. As we get to know God, we learn to trust that He is good even in the pain. He is loving, and wise in everything He does. Even if we don’t know why things happen, we can still trust Him.                      This is Andrew Palau.

How we respond to suffering—whether we brought it on ourselves or not—is going to either make us or break us as Christians. Circumstances often do more to reveal our character than to shape it. But by properly responding to trials, we can develop patience and a proven character [Romans 5:3-4]. Problems, stress, calamity, or the death of a loved one often cause us to search ourselves for any sin in our lives [see 1 Kings 17:18]. Pain plants the flag of truth in a heavy heart. But we must be cautious not to let Satan overwhelm us with excessive and false guilt or grief [2 Corinthians 2:7]. Job's wife told him to curse God and die. He refused to give up and remained faithful to the Lord. Notice that in the end, God gave him all he had before and even more [Job 42:10-17]. Instead of looking at our circumstances, we need to keep our eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of life. He will bring us through whatever situation we face, and as a result we will be stronger Christians, better able to serve Him because of our trials. This is Luis Palau.

You and I suffer a great deal in this fallen world as a result of pandemics and other natural disasters, as a result of man’s inhumanity to man, and mostly as a result of our own erroneous actions and rebellious choices.  We suffer whenever we break creation’s natural laws against falling from great heights. We also suffer whenever we break God's moral laws and break the Ten Commandments. Again, much suffering can be traced to the evil choices that we make. Some, but not all, suffering is allowed by God as a punishment for sin. Often God simply forces us to live with the consequences of our actions [Galatians 6:7-8]. Whenever people break God's laws, others are bound to suffer as well. I refer you to the story of Achan in Joshua 7. When he coveted some of the spoil from the battle of Jericho, his sin cost the lives of 36 men in battle against Ai. It is inevitable that others will suffer in the wake of an individual's disobedience. How we respond to suffering is going to either make us or break us. By properly responding to trials, we can develop patience and a proven character [Romans 5:3-4]. This is Luis Palau.

Only by turning to the Bible can we begin to understand the problem of suffering. The first type of suffering results from natural disasters such as volcanoes, earthquakes, large storms, horrible cancers, and massive pandemics. A second type of suffering can be called man's inhumanity to man. War would be classified under this type of suffering. Because of man's greed and pride, he tries to hurt his fellow man [James 4:1-2]. A third type of suffering is best seen in the life of Job in the Old Testament; it came as a result of Satan's attack on him. After receiving permission from God, Satan moved in and caused incredible suffering to Job and his family. A fourth type of suffering is that which comes as a result of our own erroneous actions. For example, if I walk off the roof of my office and fall to the ground, breaking my leg, I am suffering because I broke God's law of gravity. We also suffer when we break God's moral laws. Often we are forced to live with the consequences of our actions [Galatians 6:7-8]. In contrast, we read in Psalm 1 of how God blesses those who walk in His ways.  He says whatever they do will prosper.  So often, our sufferings are a result of our own wrong choices. This is Luis Palau.

A philosopher from Paris once commented, "God is dead. Marx is dead. And I don't feel so good myself." His attitude illustrates the pessimism rampant in our culture today. If there really is a God, people wonder, why has He allowed so much suffering in the world? Many a Christian honestly struggles with that same question. Only by turning to the Bible can we begin to understand the problem of suffering. The first type of suffering results from natural disasters such as volcanoes, earthquakes, large storms, horrible cancers, and massive pandemics. The Bible says that both bad things and good things happen to both the righteous and the unrighteous [Matthew 5:45]. In a day of pessimism and suffering we can say with the psalmist, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" [Psalm 118:6]. The Lord Himself, as the great Sufferer, is our comfort and hope in troubled times. He said, “In the world you will have troubles, but cheer up, I have overcome the world.” And He would remind us, “I live in you.” So when you’re under pressure, don’t forget this wonderful truth: Christ lives in me, Christ lives in me. Therefore, I am a temple of God. You can face anything with that reminder. This is Luis Palau.

Whenever I find myself seeking meaning in something other than God, I read the Bible verse John 10:10. Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” I love that word: in abundance. So often, I see people getting caught up in things that fall short of abundance. I have been in this situation before. In my book, The Secret Life of a Fool I share about how for many years I sought worth and meaning in my corporate job, in wrong relationships, and in my friends. But I was empty inside. And that’s because, even with an increasing accumulation of these things, I wasn’t walking with the Lord.   Friends, until I turned and relied on Jesus 100% my life did not have the type of true abundance that God offers. The enemy will try to persuade us to chase after these worldly things, but when it comes down to it, the deep longings within us will not be satisfied outside of Christ. John says, “There is a way that seems right to man but in the end it leads to death.” This week, I urge you to reach the people in your corner of the world about the life and love that come from walking with Jesus. That is abundant life.     This is Andrew Palau.

Jesus Christ often did the unexpected, and so we as His followers should do the same. When the world is dark and we are feeling persecuted by others, the natural response is to hate or hit back and want them to be destroyed. The Old Testament is full of stories like that. But Jesus said something different. He said, “I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” How apparently ridiculous is that? Jesus knew that if we pray for those who hate us in his name, we will see them as real people. Hurting people. Scared people. People in need of Jesus’ love and salvation. Even if they want to do us harm, we need to pray that they find the love of Christ. That love will change their lives and attitudes. The history of the Christian faith is filled with those faithful believers who prayed for those who enslaved them. For example, in the 1940s, Walter Ciszek spent fifteen years in prison in the Soviet Union for doing secret missionary work. He said, “I learned to pray for my interrogators, not so they would see things my way or come to the truth so that my ordeal would end, but because they, too, were created by God, and human beings in need of His blessing and His daily grace.” This is the attitude that will give us power and love for those who want to harm us, and this is how we will change this world for Christ. This is Luis Palau.

The world is dark and scary these days. Fear can paralyze us from doing God’s good work in the world. How do we get out of this fear and frustration, when the world can be so dark? One way is to realize we are not alone. There are Christians all over this country and this world who are following Christ despite many difficulties. Life can be hard here in the United States with economic and cultural difficulties, but life for Christians in parts of Asia and the Middle East is often far more difficult and dangerous. Others can feel threatened by the way of life of the Christians, and so they terrorize Christ-followers through threats or even death. A way to get out of our own fear is to pray for those around the world who are spreading the love of Jesus even in the face of losing their lives. Like the Apostle Paul did, we can pray for fellow believers all over the world. We can find out their names and stories on websites of missionary societies. We can pray that Christ will strengthen our brothers and sisters. If we do this, hopefully our brothers and sisters in Christ will feel strong enough to face each difficult day, and we will be united across the world. Their strength can give us strength as we seek to live for Christ in this dark world. That is a beautiful ministry. This is Luis Palau. 

In Oregon, we have a lot of beautiful hiking spots. We also have a lot of rain. Sometimes a day can seem beautiful, perfect for going on a long hike. Once you start down the trail, though, the sky gets dark. The clouds come out, and oh no, rain! At that moment, you have a decision to make. You can keep going forward, hoping that the rain will stop. You can turn back, knowing that you will only get wetter. Or you can find shelter and wait for the rain to pass. Our world is often gloomy, raining down sadness and fear. We have three choices, as those who follow Christ. We can forge ahead on our own, hoping we can survive based on our own strength. We can turn back and return to our old ways. Or we can find shelter in God, seeking a place to rest until the rain lets up. Then we can go out again and walk the path He’s given us. The Psalms call God “our steadfast love and fortress, our stronghold and deliverer.” Other translations call God “our strong tower,” an image that communicates safety and security. When the rain of life is too strong to keep going, we should run to God and find rest from the rain within his strong shelter. Whether that is in reading the Scriptures, in prayer, or in a community of fellow believers. If we seek shelter in God, we can find the strength to continue to live for Christ and reach the world for Him.   This is Luis Palau. 

If you turn on the radio or the television, you will hear bad news. Terrorists are killing Christians, war is ravaging the Middle East and Russia, and destruction seems right around the corner. Inequality is everywhere, and so is hatred and fear. It would be easy to just hide under our beds. Nothing else makes sense. What can we do to get through every day, when life is so dark and angry for so many people? Sometimes any hope can be hard to find. Even we who follow Christ and believe in his sovereignty are shocked. The Apostle Paul understood this. His world was wracked with pain and destruction too. This is why he writes to the Philippians: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s peace doesn’t make sense, given the pain of the world. It seems foolish, and yet it has the power to guard our hearts and minds.Nothing is for certain in such uncertain times. Let’s face it. We are faced with pain and death daily. Yet we can have peace, unimaginable peace, through God. This peace will protect us from the fears of the world, because we will be putting our faith in the One who created this world. This will give us the hope to face every new day, and face it in the name of Christ. This is Luis Palau.

In the days ahead, you and I need to choose courage more than ever. Here are three ways to choose courage at every turn.   First, remember courage isn’t bravado. Cowardice isn’t the answer, of course. Instead, the answer is to abhor bravado and ask God for daily courage in each sphere of life.   Second, exercise self-control. If you and I lack self-control, then who’s in control of our thoughts, words, and actions? One option is we’re giving in to the desires of the nature we were born with. That nature’s passions and desires are anything but self-controlled. Another option is we may be manipulated or controlled by the Devil. If we let Satan control us, he will rob us of everything that’s good in our lives. He will tempt us to take risky, reckless, dangerous, and even suicidal actions.   Third, don’t equate feelings with reality. After all, God alone defines reality. Purely out of self-interest, you and I would do well to decide that we want God’s help to choose courage at every turn.   Do you want God’s help to choose courage? James 4:10 says: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Get on your knees and ask God for courage right now. Then you can go out courageously to reach your world.      This is Andrew Palau.  

Sometimes we treat problems and trials as if we were on a television commercial. We rush around thinking we have to solve everything in 30 seconds. When we can't, we panic. We try every option we can think of to overcome our problems and difficulties. When none of them work, we reluctantly turn to God as a last resort. What if we made God our first resort? What a wonderful difference that would make! A.W. Tozer wisely said, "The man [or woman] who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters which at the most cannot concern him for very long." God did not create you and me to be self-sufficient. Instead, God created us to depend on Him. Do you face a difficult situation, my friend? Has your way been covered by a heavy fog? God has not allowed this situation to come into your life to discourage or defeat you. Every trial you and I face is an opportunity for God to demonstrate who He is to us. The Bible says, “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal” [Isaiah 26:4]. Put your trust in Him today. This is Luis Palau.

There have been times when I have been at the airport waiting for an international flight and the whole area was wrapped in fog.  But all of us passengers were ushered onto the plane and the pilot confidently pointed the nose of the plane to the sky.  For a minute or so, I could see nothing out of the window, then suddenly we burst free of the fog and there was beautiful Mount Hood rising into the sunshine. We tend to get upset when fog hinders our journey through life, but we forget the sun is still shining overhead. We fail to maintain a proper perspective. British statesman William Wilberforce once commented, "The objects of the present life fill the human eye with a false magnification because of their immediacy." Problems and concerns often act like fog to obscure our present situation. They keep us from seeing things in proper perspective. Psychologists tell us that 45 percent of what we worry about is past, and 45 percent is future. (Thirty percent concerns our health alone!) Only one in every 10 things we worry about will ever come to pass—and we usually cannot do anything about it anyway. Thankfully, heaven knows no emergencies. God is well aware of your problems. First Peter 5:7 [NLT] says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Claim it today.  This is Luis Palau.

Loneliness causes a wretched anxiety to tug within us. We’re lonely. We hurt. We worry. This is not the kind of life God intends for us. Yet we fret we’ll always be a lonely single or we’ll never be one of the gang at work. Instead of worrying, pray and your loneliness will fade away. Listen to what the Bible promises: “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” [Philippians 4:7]. When you ask Jesus Christ to be your Friend and Savior, His peace fills your heart, and removes your loneliness and anxiety. Does your heart ache with loneliness? Do you ever wonder if anyone cares whether you live or die? Jesus Christ cares! He cares so much for you that He chose to die in your place for your sins. Jesus longs to be your Savior, to forgive your sins, and to be your Friend for eternity. Jesus promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” [Hebrews 13:5]. Believe in His promise of eternal friendship and defeat loneliness forever. Jesus Christ loves you and is waiting for you to make a decision. You can ask Jesus to be your Savior right now. This is Luis Palau.

Six weeks before he died, Elvis Presley was asked by a reporter, “Elvis, when you started playing music, you said you wanted three things in life: You wanted to be rich, you wanted to be famous, and you wanted to be happy. Are you happy, Elvis?” Elvis replied, “No. I’m as lonely as hell.” Rich. Famous. But lonely. Maybe you, too, are that lonely. A Chicago woman died after jumping off the 14th floor of her apartment building. The note she left explained she killed herself because she was lonely. A reporter interviewed the woman’s neighbor, who said, “I wish I’d known she was lonesome. I’m lonesome myself.” Such loneliness is, at the root, a spiritual problem. It is caused by our separation from God. Attempts to hide our lonely feelings are useless. The harder and longer we reject God, the longer and greater our loneliness will be. In contrast, the Lord promises He will never leave or forsake those who commit their lives to Him. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. The Bible says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” [Proverbs 18:24]. This friend is Jesus Christ. By believing and putting your faith in Jesus, you can enjoy God’s presence and friendship on a continuing basis. This is Luis Palau.