Be Prepared
As believers, it’s crucial for us to understand Scripture and apply it to our everyday lives. Recently, I’ve been spending more time memorizing different verses. The more I memorize, the more Scripture is on the forefront of my mind and I’m more equipped to live out my purpose of knowing God and making Him known. One verse I’ve been clinging to lately is 1 Peter 3:15, which says, “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.”
This verse reminds us of the responsibility we have as followers of Christ to truly understand what we believe and to always be ready to share our faith with others. We are called to be prepared to explain the hope we have and why we have it, even in the midst of life’s biggest challenges and difficulties. By being knowledgeable about our faith and grounded in the Word of God, we can be confident in communicating the hope found in Christ to those around us.
To fulfill this command of being equipped and prepared, we must invest time in studying and understanding our faith. Think about it: when you’re passionate about something, you want to spend a lot of time learning more and fully understanding it, right? By immersing ourselves in the Word of God and seeking His guidance through prayer, we deepen our knowledge and relationship with Him. This not only equips us to give an answer to those who ask us questions about our faith, but also strengthens our own convictions. As we grow in our understanding of God's truth, we become more confident in sharing the hope that lives within us.
Not only does this verse emphasize the importance of being prepared, it also highlights the way in which we should share our faith. I love that this verse specifically instructs us to give an answer “with gentleness and respect.” This gentle and respectful approach is a crucial part of our interactions with people, whether they’re believers or non-believers. It allows us to engage in meaningful conversations about our beliefs without offending or alienating others. As believers, we have the most unconditional love we could ever receive through Jesus Christ, and that love should be the basis of our lives and all of our conversations. By embodying the love and humility of Christ in our words and actions, we can effectively share the transformative power of the Gospel to everyone around us.
When I read this verse, I am both inspired and challenged. I am inspired to continue seeking the knowledge and wisdom of God. It deepens my desire to experience His goodness and mercy, and reminds me that there is always room to learn and grow in our faith, which is how I want to spend my life. I am challenged in the way that I speak to people, especially when it comes to sharing my faith. It urges me to speak from a place of love and patience, overflowing from what God fills me up with. 1 Peter 3:15 so beautifully and powerfully portrays our role as ambassadors for Christ. May we always be prepared to give an account for the hope that we have, doing so with gentleness and respect.
Challenges:
Spend time with God. This is the only way to know Him deeper and to better gain understanding of the faith we have. This should always take priority in our lives!
Share your faith. As ambassadors of Christ, we are called to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19.) Don’t spend time learning about God just to keep it all to yourself. This world needs Him! Share the good news of God’s grace with everyone around you!
Memorize Scripture. This is so important and something I’ve been practicing more of lately. When we read, meditate on, and memorize Scripture, it becomes part of us! We are quicker to recall it and live by it when it’s written on our hearts.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for a new day full of new opportunities. I pray over every person reading this, that they would take a step of boldness today to share about their faith with those around them. God, would you speak through them as they share and would they be overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit. I pray that we would spend our time with you, in your Word, and surrounded by like-minded believers so that we may grow in our knowledge and understanding of who you are and what you’ve done for us. We love you and give you all the glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus’ name! Amen!