Daily Devotional for Sunday, May 7

Be Ready To Give an Answer

“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.

Peter wrote these words to believers scattered across the Roman empire who faced intense persecution for Christ’s sake. The verse before it gives the context: “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” (1 Peter 3:14). These words echo the Lord’s words to Paul in Corinth. “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee” (Acts 18:9, 10).
Down through the ages, persecutors have asked point-blank questions of Christians. Where do you stand? There is no room for gray, no room for hem hawing. Do you stand with Christ, or do you stand with the world? We may each have to answer that one day. This world grows more and more wicked as the end approaches. Jesus prepared his followers two thousand years ago to stand firm. Peter encouraged the same of those he loved and served. Paul, James, and John did as well. Be ready. When asked about your hope, have a defense ready.
Peter’s first command is the key to readiness. “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” (1 Peter 3:15). “Sanctify” (hagiazō) is to revere, set apart or honor as holy. Interestingly, hagiazō was used twenty-eight times in the New Testament, and twenty-seven times, the Lord was the one doing the sanctifying. Utensils and people are the objects of His sanctification. In the model prayer of Matthew 6:9 and Luke 11:2, God made His name holy (hallowed) Himself. In this one instance in 1 Peter 3:15, Peter commanded believers to sanctify Christ as Lord. Make Christ holy in your heart. As a reminder of the greatest commandment, we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and understanding.

THOUGHT: When Christ is truly holy in our hearts, we are ready to answer every question about our hope in which we stand.

Kelli Reynolds