[14] But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, [15] but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, [16] having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:14–16)
This is a popular Bible verse, especially the exhortation to be prepared to make a defense of our hope in Christ. But exactly how can we prepare to share this hope? Here are three ways:
Know the Scripture that forms the foundation of our faith.
Study the Gospels, seeking to know and understand how and why Jesus came to us. Dive into the epistles to see how the apostles explain the faith and apply Jesus’ teaching to daily life. Explore the Old Testament to gain insights into how our salvation unfolded through history.
Practice defending the hope we have in Christ.
Find a safe place to verbally share your faith. A place to start is with family members who are Christians. Another location is your church, visiting with fellow members about God’s grace found in Christ. You could also email friends in the faith, articulating your hope in writing.
Pray for the words to speak when opportunities arise to share your hope.
You can include these petitions in your daily prayers. You can quickly pray when you sense an opportunity to share your hope in Christ. Or you can do both. What matters is that you specifically ask God for the words to speak.
Defending our hope in Christ is a privilege granted by God to each of us as Christians. May our Lord grant us all the words to speak when opportunity arises.
(A Second Look devotions are written for the congregations of the Ohio District LCMS.)
Kevin Wilson 360 