Bride of Christ Devotional, 24th October, 2023
1 Peter 3:15 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; (NKJV)
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DEFENDING the profession of faith was one of the responsibilities that the apostle Peter gave to the believers scattered abroad because of persecution. He admonished them to be ready to answer everyone that questions them about the hope they have in Christ. We must be ready also as believers in the present age must be willing to answer everyone that ask us about the hope we have.
The way we should go about this enterprise of the defense of our faith is in this wise. It starts with a conviction of the heart. He advised them to sanctify the Lord in their hearts. If you are going to defend the Lord in the midst of naysayers you must have an unwavering conviction that Jesus is Lord. It must be portrayed in your life through character and consistent Christlike conduct. Remember also that one of the potent weapons to use in defense of the hope in Christ is a righteous life.
Furthermore, the believer must go on to communication of his Christian convictions. In giving a defense of your faith in Christ it must be communicated with precision in line with scriptures. What gives our defense weight is that our lives are in alignment with the conviction we claim to have already. These believers were being persecuted but they were still faithful to God. That is already an opportunity for inquiry. So when he is asked he must be ready to answer with precision the reason for his conviction. Use every opportunity you have to give a defense of your faith by life and by word.
PRAYER: O LORD help me to give a proper defense of the gospel by life and by word in Jesus name.
