Have you wrestled with a tough question? Have you been confronted and needed to give an answer right away? How did you handle it? Did you quickly say what you believed? Or did you stumble and stutter trying to find the right answer?
We can be confronted at any given moment to answer an unexpected question. It seems that it happens quite often when we have small children. But it can happen anywhere at any time. We should be prepared to give an answer.
Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was. If we are asked that question, are we ready to give an answer? If someone in a local store were to ask us that question, what would we say? If we fumble about with our answer, it is not very convincing. The other person may think we are lying or simply don’t have a real answer.
We are told in 1 Peter 3:15 to be prepared to give an answer for our hope. Jesus is our hope. So, we should be prepared to give His name as our answer, then answer who we believe He is. It needs to be ingrained within us. It should be an automatic response, one that is given with conviction.
Yes, give your answer with conviction, but don’t allow it to be offensive. Be confident, but not cocky. Be sure of yourself and be unwavering. Do not back down or be convinced of a lesser answer. Yet, speak your answer with humbleness and compassion for the one asking. Often, they simply want to know if you really believe what you are telling them.
I pray we all are prepared to give an answer for our hope. I pray we are prepared to tell others who Jesus is. I pray each one of us will be filled with the Holy Spirit and have the answer ready to give. Be prepared. Answer with conviction. Be confident. Be humble. Show compassion. Tell others who Jesus is.
Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?
Marty Pressey 