Welcome!
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, I will be reading from the First Book of Peter, Chapter 3, verse 15 from the New King James Version of the Bible, and it reads:
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
There are three parts in this verse that I will discuss.
Number One
“Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.”
The Greek word used here for sanctify is hagiazō, and it means to render, acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow.
The NIV version of this verse translates the word as “revere.” To have reverence for God in our hearts.
This command goes back to what Jesus said about the greatest commandment in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 22, verses 37-38.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”
This verse of the week makes no sense if we do not revere God in our hearts.
Number Two
“always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you”
The Greek word translated as “a defense” here is apologia; it is from this that we get the word apology.
It means to answer, to give a verbal defense, a reasoned statement, or an argument.
This part is essential, as most people want to know why you are always smiling, why nothing panics you, why you are always positive, and why you can tell people you are sure you are going to heaven.
The apology, the answer, could be as simple as saying, “because I trust my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This will start a conversation where we can explain further and maybe win a soul for Christ.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in the second book of Timothy, chapter 1, verse 12, when talking about his sufferings, he finishes the verse:
“…because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
“That day” is the day of His return to take us home forever.
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is our blessed hope, and we eagerly await His return so that He can take us home.
My friends, there is no such thing as a secret Christian. In the movies, James Bond works for Her Majesty’s Secret Service; we are not secret servants of Christ; we are public servants, and we should be ready to be witnesses for Christ at any moment.
Number Three
“With meekness and fear.”
The NIV version says “gentleness and respect.”
We must remember that in the past, we were also lost, without hope, and without God in our lives. We must also remember that salvation is a free gift of God, not something we earn by what we do. We do good works once the Holy Spirit has placed us in God’s family.
We have nothing to boast about except the cross of Jesus Christ; by His shed blood, we are saved. So be gentle when explaining our hope in Christ, and we may win a lost soul for Christ. God is the savior, not us. We simply plant the seed, and God makes it grow.
So this verse could actually be saying to us:
As we continue to trust and love God with all our hearts and minds, our lives will change for the better, and people will take notice. We will become light and salt. So be ready to give a reason for your change, for your hope, be a witness for Christ, and tell them what Christ has done for you. Our testimony is the best way to win a soul for Christ, but do it with gentleness.
To God, be the glory!
Everything was created By Him, For Him!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25
Disclaimer
I write this blog as I get inspired by God. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans In Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother, In-Christ, Ricardo
