What's Your Answer?

Today’s Verse

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: ~1 Peter 3:15

---

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to give an immediate answer about a matter you did not have time to prepare for? Invariably, you were asked, “What’s your answer?” The believers whom Peter wrote to were facing immense pressures and persecution for their faith. Peter exhorted them about the “how” and “what” of giving a right answer.

We must be holy.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” “Sanctify” means to set apart as holy. Peter is saying that even if we are hurting from our pressures and trials, we must realize that the trial is a gift from God. We should not draw back in self-pity, but, rather, we must see God having an evangelistic purpose in this matter. The emphasis on sanctifying the Lord in our heart is keeping our heart pure from bitterness, anger, and malice. It is committing our pressure to the Lord and desiring to say only that which will honor Him.

We must be handy.

“Be ready always to give an answer.” Readiness involves premeditation. We should decide in our hearts that we will give an answer that is God-glorifying and gospel-centered. Readiness means that we have prepared ourselves in private long before we go out in public. David testified to this when he told Saul that he would face the giant named Goliath. Readiness involves prayer. We should pray for opportunities to witness. Readiness involves pro-activeness. This means we are prepared to say the right thing when God gives us an open door.

We must be humble.

Peter said that we should answer in meekness and in fear. First, don’t be boastful, arrogant, or conceited in your answer. Second, meekness implies a quiet and teachable spirit. It should indicate that your faith is in God for your outcome. It should indicate that you know that it will work out for good. It should demonstrate a spirit of humility. In many cases, our situation might open a door to serve an unsaved person who is suffering. Humility should always be helpful. Humility is being willing to serve without any thought of reward or compensation.

We must be available to all humanity.

Finally, Peter said that it should be to every man. We must have a godly response to the kind and to the critical. We must be ready to respond to the favorable and to the froward. We must be ready to respond to kings and to the common man. We must be ready to respond when it is comfortable and when it is uncomfortable. Every man means every man.

How will you answer when you are asked about the hope that is within you? What will you answer? Follow Peter’s encouragement and be ready always to every man!

Have a ready God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 11-13

#Trials #1Peter #Readiness #Witnessing #Answer