DEVOTION – DAY 436

1 Peter 3:15 Answering Others With Respect

1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 

Revering Jesus Christ as Lord in our hearts means that Christians are to have a commitment to Jesus Christ as their Lord. Then, they need not be speechless when they have to defend their faith before non-Christians. Instead, they will have answers ready to the non-Christians questions about their faith. In order to do so, Christians must be prepared to know the Bible well in order to explain their faith with conviction. In their response to the questions of non-Christians, Christians are to give their answers with gentleness and respect. Their motivation is to explain out of love and concern for the non-Christians, not adopting the attitude that they are somehow superior and better than non-Christians. It is through love and concern for others, that Christians can point non-Christians to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I recall that when I was a non-Christian, I used to have doubts about Christianity and I was skeptical about the Bible. I used to question how a book written so long ago could have anything thing to do with me today. Now that I am a Christian and committed to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, the Lord has given me the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has enabled me to discover the truths that is in the Bible, and I am convinced that every word in the Bible is truth. 

And when I come across people who cast doubts about the accuracy and relevance of the Bible, I remember that I was once like them. This enable me to be patient and respectful of their questions. I remembered that I was even more ignorant about the Bible then they were. So, I will patiently take their questions and help them find appropriate answers from the Bible. I will also pray to the Lord for wisdom to know how to answer the non-Christians questions satisfactorily, and in a respectful manner. I will also pray to the Lord for their salvation. I will also welcome their searching questions, for this means that there are opportunities to engage them to find the true Living God. Searching questions from non-Christians reveal an open heart wanting to know the truth. It is much better than people whose hearts and minds are closed. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, in you I put my faith and trust. For you are the Almighty God of the Universe. You are the unique God, the Father, God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit. Please help me to be sensitive to the spiritual needs of the people you enable me to cross paths with, so that I may point them to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus always. We pray this in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. How confident are you in answering questions about your faith when non-Christians ask you? How well do you know the Bible? 
  2. If you lack confidence to tell someone about Jesus, and you also think you lack sufficient knowledge about the Bible, will you spend more time to study the Bible? Share.
  3. How will you change the way you interact with non-Christians so that you show them love, concern and respect? Share.