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Developing Strong Relationships

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During a midnight television broadcast a 12-year-old boy with a high-pitched voice called our program. “Mr. Palau,” he said, “I’m all alone, and it’s so scary out there.” When I asked him why he was alone, he told me that his dad was in a bar somewhere. He said that his mother left him and his two sisters four years ago. One of his sisters had two babies, was unmarried and lived in another town. His other sister was on drugs and never came home.

This is an extreme example. Perhaps that dad or mom thinks if they spend a few moments of quality time with their son, it will make up for all the time they left him alone. It’s so sad. Developing strong family relationships takes ample time. A little bit of quality time does not equal lots of time spent together. So show your kids that they’re important to you-and to Jesus Christ! Spend time with them today!

God’s second greatest command says this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Did you know that that command is repeated nine different times in Scripture? Maybe you’ve never thought of your children as your neighbor, but they really are! By sharing God’s love with them, you’re living out God’s holy Word and reaching hearts for Him.

Get to Know Your Neighbors

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I know a young man whose parents almost divorced when he was 3 years old. Though this couple had grown up in church, neither of them had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Their marriage was on the rocks and they said that they had “irreconcilable differences.”

But, they had a neighbor who was a true follower of Jesus. That neighbor started to talk with this couple and get to know them. Pretty soon the neighbor clearly shared the Good News with them. The couple knew that they needed God to save their marriage, so they both made the decision to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Twenty-six years later they are happily married and are stronger than ever in their faith. And those neighbors are still some of this couple’s closest friends.

The Bible’s book of Titus says, “At his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.”

You never know what your neighbors are going through. They may seem okay on the outside, but inside they could be falling apart. Be bold in getting to know them. You never know when God will bring His truth to them through the message he’s entrusted to you. Wouldn’t that be exciting?!?

Bringing Light into Darkness

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What the World Needs to Hear

At the end of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul finds himself in court. He is defending himself for preaching the Good News Gospel, about which the authorities were very upset. Paul explains that He had no choice.

He said Jesus appeared to him on the way to Damascus, charging him to speak the Good News to the Jews and the Gentiles. God told Paul to “open their eyes and turn their darkness to light.” That’s got to be one of my favorite verses!

I remember reading about a missionary to the South Pacific who died there. The epitaph on his tombstone read, “When he came, there was no light. When he left, there was no darkness.” Man, I wish they could that about me.

When you reach out to your world with the Good News Gospel, you are turning darkness into light. Don’t think you have to be a missionary in Asia like the apostle Paul. You just need to be obedient to where God is calling you and where He’s put you. Whether it’s one-on-one with a neighbor, with a little kid in Sunday School, or talking with someone in your carpool, you are the light of Christ shining in a dark world.

Wouldn’t it be great if someone said of you someday: “When she came there was no light. When she left, the neighborhood there was no darkness.” May that be said of all of us, do you think!?!?