Ready to Defend

I’d like to think I have a good answer for everything I’m asked. The people that have asked me the most questions over the course of my life are my kids. There have been some easy softball questions and then those that I am still thinking about. 

When it comes to our faith, sometimes we can get struck by fear when someone asks us a question. Other times we may get angry with those who express their unbelief in a less than kind way toward us. It can be an intimidating thing to try and defend faith when faith itself is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen as the book of Hebrews reminds us.

In 1 Peter 3, Peter tells us to “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” (1 Pet 3:15, ESV). This verse gives us 3 main keys to sharing our faith. First, to honor Jesus in our lives, second- to be prepared to give an answer, and third to answer with gentleness and respect toward others.

Of course there are going to be times where we don’t have all the answers, and in those cases it is always good to ask for help from people who have a deeper understanding, and scripture itself. But we should always be ready to have conversations with those who wonder why we have the hope that we do. And that hope isn’t a thing. It’s a person. It’s Jesus Christ!

In His Service,

Pastor Jared