Simple Pursuit is a bold call from the heartbeat of the Passion Movement to live for what matters most…God’s Glory. And God is most glorified in us when we live lives that are fully satisfied in Him. But what does that actually look like? A Desire for His Fame is the fourth of five plans that will help guide you closer to Him and His glory.

Many of us believe that we need a certain skill set to tell people about Jesus. But in reality, all we need is a desire to see Jesus celebrated in our lives and in the lives of people who don’t know Him yet.

This is what we see in Acts 4 with Peter and John. Full of the Holy Spirit, they spoke about Jesus to anyone who would listen. But there was nothing special about these “unschooled, ordinary men.” They weren’t educated preachers, but they believed passionately that Jesus died and was now alive. Their conviction inspired them to speak boldly the message of hope. They spoke this truth and were thrown in jail, but they didn’t cower. They shared all the more, and something amazing happened: the cultural and religious leaders were astonished because they saw, perhaps for the first time, the confidence that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus.

Peter and John weren’t qualified experts, but they were more devoted than afraid. Because Jesus is alive, let’s live with a courageous confidence that astonishes those around us.

Being an ambassador of Christ means we not only tell people about what He did for us on the cross, but also what He has done for us personally. We share how He breathes life into us every day and how He has seen us through our struggles. We tell how His strength has helped us in our weaknesses and how His grace has been enough for us. This doesn’t require us to act like we have it all together—because that is not true, and people will see right through it. It’s more important to be honest and let people know that even though life is still hard and we still make mistakes, Christ still loves us and continually forgives us.

When we are honest about our walk with Christ, we can share how we face suffering and heartache with hope because we know that the trials we face in this world won’t last forever; we’ll eventually go home to heaven to spend an eternity of peace with Jesus.

Let’s be genuine. Don’t worry about covering anything up. Instead, boldly speak about what God has done for you. Sharing your testimony is the best way you can share Jesus with the world.

The first time Paul and Barnabas spoke in Antioch, they spoke in front of the Jews in the synagogue. Their message was so gripping that the next time they spoke, almost the entire city gathered to hear them speak—Jews and Gentiles alike. This pattern played out time and time again as Paul and Barnabas traveled throughout the region. Huge crowds would gather to hear them speak, and the power of the Word of God would convict many to believe.

As He did for Paul and Barnabas, God has commissioned us as His messengers to shine the gospel everywhere we go. The gospel is not meant to lie dormant in our lives, but to be shared so the people around us can experience the grace and hope of Christ. There are people in our classrooms, workplaces, and dorm rooms waiting to be filled with the hope and love of Christ; all they need is someone to share it with them.

In response to our critics, many Christians think we should argue aggressively to communicate our perspective. Yet when Paul said our speech ought to be “seasoned with salt,” he pointed to a different path. Gracious speech isn’t argumentative; it means giving an answer that makes sense in the context of that person’s life. Intelligent rationale is important, but grace is the greatest defense of our faith.

The call to know how to “answer everyone” seems daunting; how can you possibly understand the circumstances of everyone you meet? But Paul pointed out that graciousness is a basic element of those answers. As Christians, our actions reflect Christ. So in all things, including our speech, we should reflect God’s love and grace. When deliberating on what to say to defend your faith, remember Jesus, who taught us that grace is more powerful than rhetoric.

When Jesus told Levi to follow Him, He knew that Levi was a tax collector—reviled by the Jews at that time. Levi, overwhelmed by Jesus’ kindness, immediately responded by throwing a banquet for Jesus. As some of the religious teachers saw that Jesus was associating Himself with a tax collector, they complained; they saw tax collectors as traitors, since they collected money for their oppressors, the Romans. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ complaint was sharp: His mission was to the lost and needy, not to those who thought they didn’t have a need. He came to be a doctor to “the sick.”

God is not calling believers to an isolated life of holiness. Instead, we can live a life that associates with the “sick” and shares the good news with people who haven’t heard of Jesus. As we observe who Jesus was, we find that He spent time with the “wrong type” of people. If we want to be like Jesus, we shouldn’t be afraid to do the same.

This may be challenging and even frightening, but God is with us. Even if we find opposition from religious people, as Jesus did, let’s remember that we are not simply following men, but Jesus—the Son of Man.