1 Peter 3:15-18a 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

Yesterday’s passage spoke about suffering for doing good, as does today’s. That can and most likely will happen in the lives of followers of Jesus. That is why the encouragement and admonition of 1 Peter 3:15 needs to be heard loud and clear:

“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.”

The first thing we need to do is make sure that Jesus is the Lord of our hearts and lives. The word translated as “set apart” is the word that is often translated as “holy.” If fact, other translations use “sanctify,” and the ESV says “honor Christ the Lord as holy.” God is indeed holy, set apart and distinct from this world of sin. Yet He chose to come into this fallen world to bring His holiness to us. After paying the penalty our sins deserved, He declares us to be His holy people and calls us to new lives of obedience. That happens when we set apart Christ in our hearts, when we honor Him as holy.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”  This verse has had a profound impact on my life. It reminds me that I should be in a state of constant readiness to tell people about my Savior. I know what He had done for me through His incarnation, birth, life, death and resurrection. I know that assures me of complete forgiveness and life eternal. Other people do not yet know or believe that. So those of us who DO KNOW IT need to always be ready to tell those who don’t.

Don’t overthink this. Don’t let the devil convince you that you cannot do this. Don’t use the excuse that you don’t have all the answers. All you have to do it tell them what you know. You know the love of God in Christ. You know that He died for you and for everyone. You know that those who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. You know that “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”