BE READY!

BE READY!

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (I Peter 3:15-16).

Jesus is Lord, my Master and King. Because I love Him I will live for Him. It is so clear what many of His desires are for us. We are to be witnesses and the Holy Spirit enables us to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). I am to be always ready to “to give an answer to everyone who asks” me “the reason for the hope that” I have. The answer is clear as the song “The Solid Rock” says— “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

When giving the reason for this hope we have, we are to do so with “gentleness and respect.” People will know if we really have a concern for them. They will also know if you are genuine when speaking to them. The way we behave toward them, and not just the words we say, will have an impact on their view of us. If they sense we are treating them as a “project” then their ear will not be open to us. We need to be sharing out of genuine concern! As followers of Jesus we are to be authentically concerned for the lost!

As we speak to people with sincerity, having a clear conscience and behaving properly in Christ, then this may cause those who slander us to be ashamed. So let us be living faithfully for Jesus, loving Him and being obedient to Him. Lord, who would You have me talk with today?

Dear Father, may I approach people as Jesus would have me. Oh, that I would give them the reason for the hope I have. May I do this clearly by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI