There are people who are looking for hope in life. Sadly, these people have been blinded and are lost. They are searching for hope in all the wrong ways. They look for it through worldly things such as money, music, sex, drugs, alcohol, and this list can go on for ever. Worldly things may make people happy for a time, but eventually it gets old, boring, or not good enough to make them feel good or happy any more. When that happens people start searching for bigger and better things to make them feel good and happy, and then the cycle starts to repeat its self.
The people who are searching for hope will see the hope we have. We show hope in Jesus through our lives: when we let God mold and shape us through prayer and reading His Word, when we live our lives to please God and set ourselves apart as an example; when we serve God by serving others; and when we give to God, and other people in various ways. People will see the hope we have and will ask us about our hope.
That is why Peter told people to be prepared to give an answer. He knew that people would ask us about the hope we have, and about why we live the way we do.
Peter wrote 1 Peter as a letter to Christians to provide a guide on how to deal with opposition in an unchristian atmosphere. Peter wanted to encourage Christians to keep following Jesus’ example under the pressures of society. In the later part of 1 Peter 3, Peter is talking about suffering for doing good. That is suffering for following Jesus.
That is where we will start reading 1 Peter 3:14-15. Everyone stand and lets read this out loud.
1 Peter 3:14-15
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart 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,
In verse 14 Peter said “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” That is, don’t be afraid of those who are going to persecute and make fun of the Christian Faith. God will richly bless Christians for telling about their faith in Jesus.
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” When people accept Jesus as Lord God and Savior, Jesus comes to live in their hearts. He is with them where ever they go. When this happens there will be a commitment to and a dependence on Jesus that is always willing and ready to speak for Him and to explain the faith in Jesus to others. This means that Jesus and God’s Word must be deeply imbedded in a Christian to properly witness and lead others to Jesus. If Christians truly live like Jesus is in their hearts, them people will see that they belong to God. If they live in such a way then they won’t have to say that they are Christians all the time, or be obnoxious with pious statements.
“Be prepared to give and answer to everyone who asks you…” Christians must know what to say at all times because people are going to ask questions. Knowing what to say comes from a personal relationship with Jesus and spending time reading the Bible.
“…for the hope that you have.” The hope of a Christian is eternal life in heaven because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. This is the hope that Jesus will save people from and eternity in Hell if they accept Him as Lord God and Savior of their lives. This hope will cause people to see something different in a Christians life, and possibly ask about that hope while they are trying to find hope in their own life.
The last part of these verses is, “But do this with gentleness and respect,” Christians need to know how to react to questions and challenges people may have about the Christian faith. This is vitally important because all Christians must reflect the love and character of Jesus.
All Christians must tell people about the hope they have in Jesus Christ.
As a Christian, a true believer in Jesus Christ, you must tell people about the hope you have in Jesus.
You must be ready to speak about your hope in Jesus because you never know when you might encounter someone who is in need of hope and is ready to hear about Jesus.
If you Pray Live Serve and Give, you will automatically reflect the hope you have in Jesus. At some point, when people see this hope you have, they are going to ask you about it. They will ask “why are you so different?” or “why do you always have hope?”. It opens up the door for you to tell them about Jesus.
When people ask, you must be prepared to tell them about the hope you have in Jesus. People are going to be skeptical, will give you a hard time, or will persecute you because of your faith in Jesus. It will take some time to talk to people like that about your faith and hope in Jesus.
That is why it is important to be gentle and respectful when telling people about Jesus. People are looking for you to show them the Love and character of Jesus. That is why you should not be loud, obnoxious, rude, arrogant, or have the holier than thou attitude. There are tones of people in this world who have been hurt by Christians and Churches that are like that. Christians who are like that do not show the love and character of Jesus, and end up turning people away. When telling someone about your faith and hope in Jesus you must do it with gentleness and respect in order to show Jesus true love and character to them.
Part of telling people about Jesus is telling them your personal story about what Jesus has done in your life. Sharing your testimony isn’t just stating what God has done in the past. It is also telling about what God is doing in your life today!
People may have doubts and argue about Jesus and the Bible, but they cannot argue with your personal experience with Jesus. Your testimony is important because it shows that God is relational and truly does make a difference in peoples lives.
You need to remember that even though your testimony can be powerful, it is still nowhere near as powerful as the Biblical story of Jesus Christ. Without telling the true story of Jesus, your testimony is useless and void. Going back to what Peter said, you need to be prepared at all times to answer the question that someone may ask. That is why it is so important for you to spend time praying and reading God’s word, so you are prepared.
You and I both must be prepared to tell our testimony and the Biblical story of Jesus.
There are some Christians out there that think that faith is a personal matter and it should be kept to oneself. Let me tell you that is a lie straight from the Pit of Hell!
According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, we as Christians, have all been called to be ambassadors of Christ. We must represent and promote Jesus as Lord God and Savior. Our mission is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through both our actions and the words we speak.
Matthew 28:19 tells us to “Go, make Disciples of all nations…” In other words, we must all be evangelists and tell people about the Good News and Hope we have in Jesus.
We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us as we look for doors to open so we can tell others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We are not to just go and preach to someone and leave. We are to tell them and help them understand what Jesus had done for them. That is why we invite people to go to church with us, so they can see the love of Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we are obligated to tell others about Jesus. That is why we must commit ourselves to pursue opportunities to tell people about the hope we have in Jesus, and to guide them into a relationship with Him as their Lord God and Savior.
We need to do this through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Telling people how Jesus has changed our lives, and by telling people the Biblical Story of Jesus Christ.
