1 Peter 3:15-16
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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Yesterday I wrote on the necessity of being prepared. I tried to focus on the emergencies of life that we face at one time or another. Without a firm spiritual foundation that is based on the truth of God’s Word, we will find ourselves adrift in the sea of confusion.
There is another aspect of preparedness that I want to briefly touch upon today. I almost gave today’s E-Votional this title: “BE PREPARED TO BE QUIET!” Being of a kind nature, I decided against it. I hope you do not have the dreaded, “foot-in-mouth disease” like I do from time to time.
God has called us to be His witnesses and spread the gospel around the world, but we are told to be wise in the manner in which we share the message. Notice that this passage mentions that sharing must be done with “…gentleness and respect.”
To me, this gentleness and respect implies that we be sensitive to the open heart of the recipient. Not only that, we will be able to witness to the lost by the life we live as much, or even more than the words we speak. As the old railroad crossing signs said: STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN, before we share.
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil