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The book of 2 Samuel, chapter 23, lists the names "of the mighty men whom [King] David had" (verse 8). One was "Benaiah the son of Jehoiada… he went down and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow" (verse 20). Scripture doesn't tell us what Benaiah was doing when he encountered this lion. We don't know his frame of mind, but we do know his reaction. And it was gutsy!

Let's state the obvious here: Benaiah was not the odds-on favorite. Not only do fully grown lions weigh up to 500 pounds (225 kilos) and run 35 mph (55 kph), their vision is five times better than a human with 20/20 vision! This lion had a huge advantage in a dimly lit pit. A sure-footed lion with cat-like reflexes gains the upper paw in snowy, slippery conditions.

Doesn't it seem like Benaiah is choosing his battles poorly? It's too risky. It's too unpredictable. It's too dangerous. But Scripture doesn't say that Benaiah was a prudent warrior. It says he was a valiant warrior.

For most of us, finding ourselves in a pit with a lion on a snowy day is the last place we'd want to be. But you've got to admit something: "I killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day" looks awfully impressive on your résumé if you're applying for a bodyguard position with the King of Israel! Not only did Benaiah land a job as David's chief bodyguard, he climbed all the way up the military chain of command to become commander of Israel's army. Benaiah was the second most powerful person in the kingdom of Israel. But his genealogy of success can be traced all the way back to a life- and-death encounter with a man- eating lion. It was fight or flight, and Benaiah had the guts to chase the lion.

He wasn't afraid of offending Scribes and Pharisees, touching lepers, washing feet, defending prostitutes, or befriending tax collectors.

In the words of British author Dorothy Sayers: "The people who crucified Jesus did not do so because He was a bore. Quite the contrary; He was too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround Him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have declawed the Lion of Judah and made him a housecat for pale priests (& pastors) and pious old ladies."

I used to wonder about the episode recorded in John 2 where Jesus threw a Temple tantrum, making a whip and throwing the merchants and money changers out of the Temple. It didn't fit my Sunday School caricature of Him. But I've come to appreciate that side of Jesus.

Faithfulness to Him has nothing to do with maintaining the status quo or holding the fort. It has everything to do with competing for the Kingdom and storming the gates of Hell. The gates of Hell are defensive. The church is called to play offense! (Matthew 16:18).

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop criticizing and start creating. Expand your horizons.

Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion! Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!