What's Wrong with Pursuing Happiness?

As most of you know by now, in addition to writing devotionals, I also like to comment on the messages our culture is sending us and point out why these messages are unbiblical. Since last season, I've been a somewhat avid follower of "American Idol." During "Hollywood Week" (a week of auditions in Hollywood) this year, a certain Sheryl Crow song kept popping up over and over again in various auditions, unfortunately getting stuck in my head as a consequence. The song is called "If it Makes you Happy," and it is a horrible yet catchy song with a very flawed message. I don't know the words to the song, but am unfortunately familiar with the chorus (which is playing over and over again in my head) which states, "If it makes you happy, then it can't be that bad." Do you think this is true?

Hearing this song made me think about America's obsession with "the pursuit of happiness." Is this a biblical pursuit? In a recent study called "The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness," researchers have discovered that women are very unhappy in our present age, though we are much more advanced than ever before. Books and articles are being written on the subject of becoming happy, with authors offering advice for women on their own pursuits of happiness. In The Happiness Project, author Gretchen Rubin tells women that happiness comes from "de-cluttering," "trying not to nag," "tackling a new skill," and "imitating a spiritual master." Mirelle Guiliano writes in the book Women, Work, and the Art of Savoir Faire, that women should use cloth napkins, wear a light, fresh scent, and own a little black dress (among other things). Seems like pretty frivolous stuff, doesn't it? I mean, if the goal of life is to be happy, and happiness comes from wearing perfume and a cute dress, then you've got a pretty pointless life! Isn't there a lot more to life than this?

I have heard so many young people say to me, "I just think God wants me to be happy." Is this thought found anywhere in Scripture? I've said it once, and I'll say it again...we need to be very, very careful that the philosophies we are buying into are actually from Scripture and not from pop culture. "I think God wants me to be happy" may sound good in theory, but we need to examine if this is actually from the Bible or not.

There is absolutely nothing in the Bible that says that God wants you to be happy or that your goal or right in life is the pursuit of happiness. Lots of things, good and bad, can make someone happy, but that certainly doesn't mean we should do them! It may make someone happy to seek revenge on an enemy, to have sex outside of marriage, to go to wild parties, to spend money on materialistic non-necessities...but clearly that doesn't make it OK to do these things. Sin is fun for a season and will often make you temporarily happy. However, God is more concerned with your holiness than your happiness. Pursuing happiness is a very selfish endeavor and leads to a very empty and purposeless life.

Though the Bible doesn't talk about happiness, it does talk about contentment and joy. What's the difference? In Philippians 4:11-12, Paul says, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Happiness is based on circumstance, but contentment is not affected by your situation. Christians need to come to a point where they are at peace and completely satisfied and fulfilled in Christ alone. He is all they need, bringing them to a point in which they can remain content no matter what happens to them. They know God is sovereign and that His will is being accomplished, though they may still experience a lot of suffering and unhappiness in their lives.

Joy is also not based on circumstance, because it comes from the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). Happiness comes from temporary circumstances in this world, but joy comes from the Lord, and you can experience it no where else in this world! Why do you often see lost people seek pleasure after pleasure in their lives? They're continually looking for happiness and lack the joy that comes from a right relationship with Jesus. As soon as the pleasure of one thrill wears off, they start looking for something else to make them happy...it's a vicious cycle. Because joy is from God and has nothing to do with our present situation, Christians are able to have joy in the midst of suffering and trials. Going through affliction will definitely not make you happy, but you can experience the joy of knowing that God is working and using those trials for His glory.

In Will Smith's movie, The Pursuit of Happiness, his character works hard to bring his family from a point of despair and poverty to a point of success. He gets a great job and is able to give his son the kind of life he hadn't been able to give him previously. The message is that Americans have the right to work hard in order to achieve happiness for themselves. This is such a flawed and deceptive idea. The happiness you can obtain from wealth, material possessions, and even loved ones will soon wear off. Nothing can give you lasting happiness, and only God can bring you joy and contentment...something eternal and much more precious than any temporary pleasure.

Have you bought into the dangerous lie that life is about your happiness? Remember that life is about God's glory, not about your pleasure. Following the Lord will bring you the kind of joy and satisfaction that you can never experience elsewhere, but it definitely won't be smooth sailing all of the time. You may have to sacrifice certain things, and you will certainly experience suffering and persecution like Jesus did. However, there is no greater joy than being a Christ-follower~

Who's Your Priest?

Read Hebrews 7:23-8:2, Hebrews 4:14-16

If I were to ask you who your "priest" was, how would you respond? Did you know that Jesus is your priest? Most people don't think of Jesus in this way. They see Him as their friend, Lord, Savior, Messiah, etc. While these are all true depictions of who Jesus is, He also serves as the great High Priest. What does this mean exactly? Hebrews 7:23-28 and 4:14-16 are great passages that shed light on Jesus' role as priest and should help us understand this role more clearly.

Verse 23 of chapter 7 starts out by talking about the former priests under the Mosaic Law in the old covenant. In this covenant that God initiated with the Jews, a sacrificial system was established with Levitical priests (this just means that all priests were from the Jewish tribe of Levi). The Jews couldn't go to God directly like we have the privilege of doing now. They had to make an animal sacrifice and have a priest intercede to God on their behalf. Only the priest was allowed to enter the presence of God on the day of Atonement, by entering the Holy of Holies, which was the restricted section of the Temple located behind a veil.

This sacrificial system and arrangement of the priests interceding for the people was just a temporary arrangement by God until the real solution came in the person of Jesus Christ. Under the old covenant, multiple priests fulfilled the role of intercessor for the people, because they were mere humans who would only live for a short time (23). Their role was temporary, and they had to be replaced after their death. When Jesus came, He was able to fill the role of priest forever, since He is fully God and lives for eternity (24). He is the perfect fulfillment to the old system, which was imperfect and only a temporary arrangement until Jesus would come as the perfect solution to sin. He intercedes for His people, allowing us to talk to God directly (something those under the old covenant were unable to do). His role as intercessor for us in heaven gives us access to God. Do you remember when the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom at Jesus' death? God ripped the veil in two in order to show us, that because of Jesus' sacrifice, we would now have access to God.

One thing that makes Jesus the perfect sacrifice and intercessor for us is the fact that He is sinless (26). The priests of the old covenant had to atone for their own sins before offering up sacrifices for the people (27). Because Jesus lived a sinless life and is undefiled by sin, He is able to serve as the great High Priest in the way that no other person could ever do.

Blood had to be shed in order to atone for sins, and this blood had to come from an undefiled animal without flaws. This is why the only person who could have made this sacrifice on our behalf was Jesus, who came to earth fully man and fully God and lived a life with no sin. His sacrifice satisfied the wrath of God, as He took all of man's sins on Himself. His sacrifice occurred "once for all," so we no longer have to offer animal sacrifices to pay for our sins (27). They've already been paid for by Jesus on the cross.

So what does Jesus' role as priest mean for us today? It means that we have an advocate for us in heaven who intercedes on our behalf, enabling us to confidently approach the God of the universe (Heb 4:14, 16). Because He lived on earth as a man, He is a priest who is able to sympathize and fully understand our condition and will consequently help us in our time of need (Heb 4:15-16). Is this not an amazing thing? I am so glad that I was born in 1984, under the new covenant, and don't have to go through some priest in order to have access to God or sacrifice an animal each time I sin (which would mean a LOT of dead animals!). Praise God today for sending His precious Son Jesus, who was the perfect solution to the problem of sin. Through Him we have redemption, atonement, and a direct line to the Father. What a great Priest!

*I also encourage you to read through the whole book of Hebrews for a greater understanding of Christ's Priesthood.

Discouraged? Psalm 103 should do the trick!

Read Psalm 103

The book of Psalms has always been one of my favorite books of the Bible. It is the first place I go when I am discouraged or weary. The words of these Psalms have uplifted me and brought healing and restoration to my heart on countless occasions. Are you discouraged today? Do you feel distant from God or dry spiritually? Psalm 103 would be a great chapter for you to meditate on. In this Psalm, David lists the insurmountable blessings of God for those who fear Him. It's impossible to remain downcast after reading these precious words of truth.

The Psalm begins with David blessing the holy name of the Lord. He begins to list some of the incredible blessings enjoyed by the children of God, calling them not to forget God's benefits. Is this not the first thing we do when we're distressed? We tend to forget about the power and blessings of God and focus on the daunting problem in front of us. Rather, we should gaze on the majesty and sovereignty of God, and our problems will seem really small in comparison to His greatness!

David reminds us that our Lord pardons all of our sins, heals all of our diseases, redeems our life from the pit, crowns us with loving kindness and compassion, satisfies our years with good things, and renews us (v. 3-5). What an amazing picture of our Father. He takes us from our former state, where we were wallowing in our iniquities, diseased with sin, and struggling in the pit of destruction. He takes us from this lowly place and redeems, renews, heals, and pardons us. He brings us satisfaction in Him that we have never experienced anywhere else on earth, and He lavishes His lovingkindness and compassion on us.

David continues to call us to remember the righteous deeds God has performed and how He lead and spoke to Moses and the sons of Israel (v.6-7). Because God is faithful and unchanging, He continues to do these righteous acts now and will continue to perform them in the eternity to come.

The next few verses are some of my favorite, because they deal with God's gracious forgiveness and mercy. God is described in verse 8 as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness! This may not be the picture of God that you have in your mind, but it is the biblical picture of Him. Yes, God is also a God of wrath and judgment, but we see in verse 9 that He won't keep His anger forever. When we repent from our sins, He readily forgives us. God doesn't hold grudges against us or tally up all of the wrongs we've committed in the past. Instead, He graciously removes our sin from us and makes us clean. His wrath was satisfied on the cross when Jesus took the punishment that we deserved. We see in the following verse that God doesn't treat us as our sins deserve. This is amazing news! We deserve hell, but God has graciously given those who believe in His son eternal life in heaven. We deserve condemnation, but He has forgiven us and clothed us in righteousness. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:3). Thanks be to God who hasn't treated us as we rightfully deserve to be treated--as sinners separated from Him forever.

David says in verse 11 that God's lovingkindness is as high as the heavens are above the earth; it is more than we can fathom or grasp as humans. We also see in verse 12 that our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. What a comfort to know that our sins have been removed from us and that we don't have to live in guilt or condemnation anymore. After we repent, our sins are nowhere to be found! Have you ever measured how far the east is from the west? It's an inconceivable and immeasurable distance, and that's the point!

God has compassion on us like a Father does for His little children (v. 13). Perhaps you have never known the compassion of a father before, but God has demonstrated this fatherly love to us in countless ways. He paid the ultimate price for our redemption...the precious blood of His only Son. We see in verse 14 that God is fully aware of our frailty as humans, and His response to this is compassion. He knows that we are finite and that our lives are fragile and short (15). However, His lovingkindess to those who fear Him never ends (17).

In the final section of this chapter we are reminded that God sovereignly rules over all (19). His power and authority are established and supreme over the heavens and the earth. David ends by calling all of heaven and earth to praise His mighty name (20-22). Will you bless His name today? Perhaps you should take a break today from merely praying for God to do things for you, and instead spend your prayer time reflecting on His goodness and thanking Him for His redemption and lovingkindness. Feel free to use the phrases listed in this Psalm in your prayer to Him. Give Him the honor and praise He deserves!

1 Corinthians 1:10-13: What's Dividing the Church??

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-13

What's your pet peeve? I have several...not having my phone calls returned, people who brag about themselves, having to hear long stories about people's pets... We've all got things that just bother us! One of my main pet peeves is unfortunately found in the Christian community and is described in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 by the apostle Paul.

In this passage, Paul is addressing divisions in the church. There are numerous things that divide the church, but the one he is focusing on here is one of my aforementioned pet peeves! What is causing division in the church in Corinth is that Christians are forming groups within the church based on which teacher they follow. Some believers boasted that they followed Paul, some claimed to follow Apollos, others strictly adhered to the teaching of Cephas (better known to us as Peter), while others claimed to follow Christ.

So what's wrong with this type of behavior? Aren't Paul, Peter, and Apollos excellent teachers and leaders in the church? What's wrong with following people God has clearly chosen as leaders? The problem is that the believers in Corinth were exalting these people in a way that was taking the glory away from the Lord. Apollos, Paul, and Peter were just ordinary humans who were vessels for God. Yes, they made incredible contributions to Christianity, and their influence (especially of Peter and Paul) has majorly shaped the Christian faith. However, these individuals only had this kind of influence because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. God was doing the work through them, so He alone should get the glory.

The great thing is that Paul (who wrote 1 Corinthians) recognizes that the unhealthy loyalty and admiration that he is receiving is a bad thing. He doesn't let their adoration of him boost up his own self esteem (like most people would!). Rather, he rebukes them for their behavior and calls them to stop exalting him to a place of equality with Christ.

You might be wondering what the Corinthians' exaltation of Apollos, Peter, and Paul has to do with you today. However, the same type of behavior is very prevalent in the Christian community right now. People have a very dangerous tendency to over-exalt individuals who are having influence in the church and become strict followers of them. Once they become one of these leaders' followers, they become arrogant and develop a sense of superiority over those who don't follow their favorite teacher. There are a lot of big names in the Christian world today...Paige Patterson, John Piper, Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, Joel Osteen, Tony Evans, Pat Robertson, Rick Warren, Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, Charles Swindoll, and James Dobson, to name a few... Surely you have met people who have become obsessed and smitten with one of these teachers. This is such a dangerous thing to do, because it is taking the focus off of Christ and putting it on a human. Even if this person is a strong and wise believer, this person is still flawed.

Not only is putting your focus on a certain teacher dangerous, it is harmful to the unity of the church. Like I mentioned before, there is a certain degree of arrogance and competitiveness that accompanies this type of behavior. It forms cliques in the church and shuts out those who may not prefer that teacher. I will give you one of the most troubling examples I have observed in the Christian realm. There seems to be a resurgence of the predestination teachings first popularized by John Calvin several centuries ago. I am not commenting on Calvin's teachings in particular but on the unhealthy following he has obtained in the church. People have gotten so into Calvin's teaching, that they have become obsessed with it. They refer to themselves as Calvinists, which makes me cringe, because they should be referring to themselves as Christians. Calvin didn't die for them and he is not the one they should be devoted to. These individuals are very proud of being "reformed" and continually talk about it, looking down on those who are not part of this following. Their facebook profiles have more about Calvin and reformed theology on them than about Christ. To me, this is exactly what Paul is rebuking the Corinthians for in chapter 1. It is over-exalting a person in the church over Christ and forming exclusive groups within the church based on that person's teaching.

I have been very blessed by so many Christian authors and teachers and am so thankful for their leadership in my life. However, I try to stay away from focusing in on 1 particular individual to an unhealthy degree. When we become all about Beth Moore and her Bible Studies, or Matt Chandler and his sermons, we are taking the focus off of Christ. I am sure that these 2 individuals I've just listed would join Paul in telling you to stop exalting them! Be careful not to fall into this dangerous trap that the early Christians in Corinth fell into...it is very prevalent in the Christian community today and utterly detrimental to the unity of the church~

Being Wise and Innocent: Romans 16:19

Read Romans 16:19, "For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil."

Is it possible to retain your innocence in high school? Can you really walk the halls of that place, hearing the crude remarks, filthy talk, and glorification of sin, and still remain unscathed? On the other hand, by completely cutting yourself off from all contact with non-Christians and the real world, are you able to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) or be a light in a dark place? How do you remain in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-16)? I think Romans 16:19 really sheds light on the question I just asked. Paul challenges believers to be wise in what is good and innocent of evil. Let's unpack that and take a closer look of what that verse means.

The first part of that challenge is to be wise in what is good. The word "wise" in my Bible is a translation of the original Greek word "sophos" which means "skilled, expert, cultivated, learned." <*side note: Remember that the New Testament was originally written in Greek, and our Bibles are a translation from Greek to English. By looking at the original Greek words that were used, we can oftentimes gain a greater understanding of the meaning of the text. I consult blueletterbible.org to find Greek words and definitions.> The picture I get from this phrase is someone who knows what he/she believes. As Christians, we need to know the Scriptures backward and forward. The only way to do this is to read them over and over again. When you meet someone who seems to know where every passage is found off the top of their head, they have become this way by reading and rereading those passages over many years. There are far too many Christians who are illiterate in the Scriptures, and there is no excuse for this, especially with all of the resources we have today! Have you ever read through the whole Bible? Have you ever dug deeper into the Scriptures by consulting commentaries and devotional books on particular passages? It is so sad to me to see that the teenagers I meet in the Mormon community are so much more learned in their beliefs than those in the Christian community. Goodness comes from God, and you will only be wise in what is good by reading His Word and spending time with Him.

The next part of this verse is to be innocent in what is evil. The Greek word for "innocent" is "akeraios." The word has two meanings. The first means, "unmixed, pure as in wine or metals." The second definition reads, "of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile, innocent, simple." The idea is that this person has remained pure and untainted from evil. Of course evil is around us all day long. However, we are to remain set apart from this wickedness and innocent of it. How can you remain innocent of evil as a teenager, especially in school? I went to a very rough public school, but I can honestly say I maintained innocence from a lot of evil. Sure, I got teased for being innocent and naive, but I knew that I did this by choice.

One thing I would suggest you to do is to be very careful of the movies and TV shows that you watch. I have said it once and will say it again...believers should not watch R-rated comedies. These are rated R for crudeness, profanity, and sexuality. As a believer, you need to be innocent of this kind of filth and immorality. I remember one time in college, I was at a friend's apartment with a group of people. Someone put in a really filthy R-rated comedy. It only took a few minutes for me to see that this was not something I needed to put in my mind. Though it was somewhat embarrassing, I left and went home. I knew that I needed to maintain my innocence when it came to sexual promiscuity.

Another thing I would suggest you do, is when someone at school starts to talk about something perverted, either change the subject or walk away. Oftentimes people at school would say, "do you want to hear a really funny but dirty joke?" It's easy to tell them no thanks! Sometimes you can't avoid hearing a dirty joke. However, I remember hearing so many of those sexual jokes in high school that I didn't understand at all. This is a good thing! Just leave it at that. Don't ask someone what it means or think about it too hard. Protect your innocence by not having the joke explained to you. Be careful who you spend your time with, because it is impossible to remain unmixed with evil when you're consistently hanging out with wicked people. These are just a few examples of times when I think a teenager's innocence is threatened and can be easily avoided.

Romans 16:19 is a short verse, and I encourage you to memorize it. When you are facing a situation in which your innocence is being threatened, recite that verse! Ask God to keep you from temptation and deliver you from evil (a direct quote from the Lord's prayer in Matt. 6), as well as to show you how to remain pure and innocent. Also ask God to teach you, grow you and make you wise in what is good. Do not be ignorant of the Scriptures but read and study them fervently. By filling yourself up with good and godly things, and keeping yourself innocent of wickedness, you will surely be a light in a dark place for God's glory~

February 14th...Single Awareness Day??

Read Philippians 14:11b-13, 1 Corinthians 7:32-34

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching. For some girls, this day brings excitement and romance as they celebrate love with their significant other. However, for the rest of the teenage girl population, Valentine's Day is downright depressing. Even if you spend the day with friends or family members or plan some spectacular outing, you just can't get away from the fact that you're single. You see all of the seemingly happy girls out on dates with their seemingly perfect boyfriends, and if you're honest, it makes you downright jealous. I remember a local coffee shop near Baylor that renamed Valentine's Day as "SAD." The acronym stood for "Single Awareness Day," a pretty accurate description of the way many people view this holiday!

I want to get one thing straight right now, ladies. Singleness is not a disease! I say this jokingly, but it is honestly how most of us view being single. We see being single as a wholly undesirable state that we're dying to be cured of as soon as possible. I want you to know that if you are single, this is simply God's will and calling for you right now. I'm not saying that it will always be God's plan for you to be single, but at this point in your life, He's calling you to singleness.

So what is the godly response to this? If God is calling you to be single during this particular period in your life, you need to realize that He knows what's best for you. In your eyes there is probably no reason why you should remain boyfriend-less while your other friends go out on hot dates. However, your knowledge is limited and you can't comprehend God's overarching plan for you! Remember that God knows you better than you know yourself, and he knows what you need and exactly when you need it. Complaining over your current singleness reveals a lack of faith in God's perfect timing.

If God has called you to be single at this current time in your life, you need to learn to be content with that singleness. Listen to Paul's words in Philippians 14:11b-13, "for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Isn't this the attitude we should have toward being single? If God is enough for us, if His grace is sufficient for us, and if His love is unconditional, where else in the world can we go for fulfillment and satisfaction? All the love that we need is right in His arms.

Stop striving for the next stage of life and be content with the place that God has for you right here, right now. This is a unique time in your life where you can be totally devoted to the Lord. Listen to the unique benefits of being single described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34, "I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband." At this point in your life as an unmarried and single gal, you are able to have an undivided heart for the Lord. Use this time to grow more intimately in love with Christ and practice wholehearted devotion to Him. Don't waste your single years feeling sorry for yourself, but instead use them to bring Him glory.

I know you may think it's easy for me to tell you to be content with singleness when I'm married (to the most amazing man on the planet I might add...), but you've got to know that it has not always been that way. Until I met Lee at the end of college (I was 21), I had never had a boyfriend or a Valentine! I had spent so much time longing to be with a great guy and asking God to bring him to me. I had a lot of lonely Valentine's days! It wasn't until I was 21 that I finally gave up and simply told God that I didn't even care if I got married anymore. For the first point in my life, I could honestly say that I was content with the Lord alone and didn't care what He had in store for me. I would follow Him wherever He wanted me to go, whether that meant being married or not. Shortly after that point, God brought me the most incredible guy I have ever met, that I am completely head over heels in love with. I think the Lord wanted me to come to that point of complete satisfaction in Him before bringing Lee to me, because I needed to learn that a man can never love you or fulfill you like Christ does.

I tell you this story to encourage you to give all of your desires, hopes, and dreams for a Prince Charming to the Lord. Tell Him that it doesn't matter what happens to you, because all you want is Him. God has a wonderful plan for your life, His timing is always perfect, and His will is always so much more wonderful than your own plans for yourself. If you look to Him as your ultimate fulfillment and learn to be content in every circumstance (including singleness), you will be blessed. Pray that the Lord will help you to give over all of your longings for a boyfriend to Him and show you how to be content with Him alone. He is more than enough for you, and by following Him wholeheartedly, you will never be disappointed~

What I've Learned from Jack Bauer...

If you've been around me much, you've probably heard me talk about 24, which in my mind is the best show ever. Sure it's violent, unrealistic, and oftentimes extremely disturbing, but it's also amazing. Why, might you ask? The answer is simple...Jack Bauer. Jack Bauer is the star of the show, a gun-toting, terrorist-torturing patriot who has faced death approximately 287 times (just a rough estimate), only to save the world from destruction time and time again.

What is so remarkable about Jack is the fact that he is completely fearless. He looks death in the face and doesn't even flinch. He volunteers for the most dangerous suicide missions imaginable without even a second glance. If saving Americans is on the agenda, he'll sign up, no matter the cost. He doesn't hesitate to take any risk imaginable if it means saving his country.

Jack's courage reveals where his priorities lie. Unlike many others, his own life is not at the top of his list. He deeply cares about the lives of Americans, and he puts their lives above his own. He believes in goodness and will pay whatever price necessary to stop evil.

What do you think the Church would be like if it was filled with "Jack Bauers" for Christ? What if every Christian valued the souls of strangers so much, that they would take whatever risk necessary to bring them salvation? What if all Christians had an unswerving commitment to goodness and an absolute hatred for sin? Do you see Christians taking risks for God, following His will even when they have no idea what the outcome will be? Are there many Christians you know who are willing to give up their lives for the sake of the gospel? Are you willing?

In reality, many Christians are simply playing it safe. We don't see many people living like a "Jack Bauer" for Christ. As Christians, we're often afraid to move out of our own Christian bubbles and minister to the perishing people around us. Instead of fighting against evil, we become immune to it and passively tolerate it. We lack the zeal, commitment, and courage needed to make an impact on our communities.

I know what you're thinking. Jack Bauer isn't a real person, and that kind of devotion and fearlessness isn't realistic. Maybe you're right. However, if you look at the stories of the apostle Paul, he looks exactly like a Christian Jack Bauer. His boldness, unswerving commitment, and passion for the gospel is astounding. I want to encourage you to start praying that God will give you boldness. Pray that He will show you how to live a life without fear or hesitation when it comes to living out your faith. Pray that He will guide you according to His will and give you the courage to follow Him in obedience wherever He may take you. I want to end with a quote from a modern-day Christian "Jack Bauer" who devoted his entire life to spreading the gospel and fearlessly gave his life on the mission field. Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."