Bearing Witness of Your Hope
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
Read 1 Peter 3:8-18
Remarkably, the disciple Peter calls us to confess the name of the Lord God.
How is this possible in light of yesterday’s meditation? Peter had received
a visit from the resurrected Lord to confirm his faith, and he was inspired
by the Holy Spirit to write the words of our text. The exhortation that, as
Christians, we must give an account of our faith in this life is not superfluous.
This is especially true in light of the various influences and pressures
which daily confront us. If we speak smooth words but do not live Christian
lives we discredit the Christian faith.
How can you be ready to testify of your hope? This can only happen when
the Lord dwells with His Spirit in your heart. You must be deeply impressed
by the fact that the Lord is willing to be at your side. His name
is above all others, and He has been given all power in heaven and upon
earth. Because of this truth, your adversaries will be seen for what they
are: puny creatures whom you no longer need to fear. They may regard
you as a loser, but that is no longer of any concern to you since you have
been made content in the Lord.
Your duty and calling is to testify of God and exhort others to trust Him. This
also means that you should be able to speak convincingly of your personal
relationship with the Lord to nullify the wrong perceptions society has of
the Christian faith. At the same time, you need to demonstrate that faith in
God is not merely based on a system of belief, but it has the answers to all
our individual and societal needs.
Thought: To bear witness of the Christian faith is to live an exemplary life.
Psalter 236: 2,4 (based on Psalm 86)
Help me Thy will to do, Thy truth I will pursue,
Teach me to fear; Give me the single eye
Thy Name to glorify, O Lord, my God Most High,
With heart sincere.
Show me Thy mercy true, Thy servant’s strength renew,
Deliverance send; To me Thy goodness show,
Thy comfort, Lord, bestow; Let those that hate me know
Thou art my friend.
