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? Be Bright is the fifth of five plans that will help guide you closer to Him and His glory.

Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while awaiting execution. In the letter, Paul encouraged Timothy to be confident in God’s provision and not to fear persecution. Suffering is inevitable in following Jesus—He suffered, and so must we—but God gives us the power to stand up while we’re wading through it. When an obstacle seems impossible to overcome, take heart that Jesus has overcome the world and has good plans for His people (Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:28). The Spirit in us destroys our fear and replaces it with perfect love and boldness.

Be encouraged: God will equip you with everything you need to accomplish what He has for you. Giving everything for the sake of the gospel is a radical, dangerous lifestyle. But God does not call us to exist in quiet mediocrity; He invites and equips us to live with a higher purpose, sharing the news of life with everyone who will believe.

In today’s verse, we see that Paul considered the spread of the gospel the most important part of his life. Notice the words Paul used: what he “received,” meaning he did not create the gospel; and he “passed [it] on,” meaning he did not alter the gospel.

The message Paul delivered is simple and straightforward: the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians are often tempted to try to change the gospel to make it more appealing. But when they do that, they weaken the gospel’s message. That’s why Paul reminds us that no matter what we do, the gospel should be what dictates our message—and not the other way around.

We’ve all been given passions and gifts to spread Jesus’ fame in the world. There are many needs we can meet and causes we can champion that’ll let us to use those gifts for God’s glory. Yet, just like Paul, our first priority should be spreading the gospel in everything we do. So as you pursue your Christian walk and unite your passions with causes in this world, never lose sight of what’s most important: the full story of Jesus Christ—the gospel.

Many of us feel enormous pressure to be a “good Christians” and to share Jesus with others. But sometimes we need to take a step back and realize that God hasn’t abandoned us to fulfill this mission alone; He has equipped us through the Holy Spirit.

Note the phrase “Holy Spirit comes on you.” Naturally, nothing inside us moves us to share the gospel, but the power of Jesus inside of us compels us to share. What a powerful thing to realize that the pressure is not on us to do, but we are instead called to surrender to the Holy Spirit—and He’ll help us out!

With the gift of the Holy Spirit comes the promise that God will call us outside of our comfort zones. Jesus declares that we will be His witnesses in Jerusalem (for His audience, their homes) and in Samaria (a foreign place for His followers). But remember: He calls us not out of our own strength, but out of His strength. That takes the pressure off us—what freedom!

Romans and Jews did not get along, and the thought that a Roman would partake in the gospel, particularly in the Holy Spirit, was unheard of. So when Peter encountered Cornelius, a religious and devout Roman, he was shocked by what he saw. The Lord didn’t just guide Peter to Cornelius’s house to share the gospel—He straight-up interrupted Peter’s message as He poured the Holy Spirit onto Cornelius and his entire household. This is when Peter realized that the Lord does not play favorites, but welcomes anyone who sincerely fears and follows Him.

God’s mercy doesn’t operate under human standards. His kindness doesn’t draw lines, casting out people by their race, background, or societal status. Instead, the gospel shows us that God will always accept those who fear and honestly seek Him.

Do we as Christians sometimes play favorites when it comes to sharing the gospel? This passage reminds us that we should seek all who are lost, not just those we feel comfortable sharing our faith with. God doesn’t show favoritism, and neither should we.

If you are in Christ, every aspect of your life is ministry; relationships, family, work, and activity all exist to proclaim God’s authority, power, and worth. The road is long, and the journey will take our all—but one day, we will look back and see the results of our work. God will be praised, and we will be overjoyed.

In today’s scripture, Paul said that his ministry—his life’s work—was to give himself completely to others, pouring out his life over the lives of those around him so they could be saved. As he pursued Christ, no cost was too great to fulfill his duties.

Is your pursuit of Jesus characterized by such passion? Are you doing things today that will cause you to one day look back and say with Paul, “I fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith”? As you make your decisions today, whether in hardship or in “all situations,” consider your ministry. Yes, your life is a ministry, and one that requires pouring yourself out over and over again. Pause to ask God for strength, and remember that we are promised the crown of righteousness from the Author of life when we pour out our lives for those Christ loves and calls.