Are you ready? Can you defend your faith? Can you explain why you have hope? Can you tell others why you act differently than everyone else? Will you explain to them in a gentle way? Is your conscience clear?
We defend ourselves in many ways. Sometimes we defend our bad decisions or behavior. Other times we explain what went into making a good decision. We may patiently explain our position or defend it with vigor.
The Apostle Peter instructs us to be ready to defend our faith and hope. We are not to do so with anger but with gentleness. We are to take time to explain why we have put our hope in Jesus. We are to be gentle and reverent in our explanation.
When we are maligned, and we will be, for our faith, we are to not only hold on to our faith but be able to defend it. This means we must know with all our heart and mind that we have chosen the truth. We must believe that Jesus truly is our Savior and trust that He will reward us for holding onto our faith.
There will be times when we will be asked how we can withstand a tremendous trial. We may be asked why we are always joyful. Someone may want to know how we can forgive. We must be ready to speak of our faith in Jesus.
I pray we all are ready to defend our faith. I pray we can explain our hope in Jesus. I pray each one of us will give an accounting of our hope with gentleness and reverence. Be ready. Be prepared. Defend your faith. Withstand the trial. Explain your hope. Be gentle. Be reverent.
1 Peter 3:15b-16 Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
Marty Pressey 