I often tell the young adults in my church that it’s easy to think you already “know yourself”—what you’re gifted at, what your passions are, what your calling is. But this is the time in your life not so much to discover your passions, but to shape them. It’s the time to study what God loves—and to let that crystallize what you love.

To that end, I am delighted to see the publication of a new book from TGC titled Make It Your Ambition: Seven Godly Pursuits for the Next Generation, written by pastor Jeremy Writebol. It would make a nice graduation gift for a high school or college student.

In an age of “you do you” delayed adolescence, young adults are expected to maximize fun and wait until they’re older to get serious about things like eternity. Writebol has done the church an excellent service in writing this compass-like orienting book. (For a taste of his writing, see the recent articles “What Will You Do for the Kingdom After College?” and “How Do You Know If You’re Called to Ministry?”)

Three centuries ago, John Newton remarked, “Oh! Satan hates to see any persons, especially young persons, walking very closely with God.” Let’s defy the Devil by putting good resources into their hands.