Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
A Reason of the Hope
Pastor Scott
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
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"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)
Not everyone will readily embrace the gospel message we bring them. In fact, only a few will accept it. Even those that reject the message can sometimes have a natural respect. Some people will respect your stand, but most will hate you. The truth that you relate to them will be seen as haughtiness, pride, elitism, separatism--anything except someone who cares for their soul. Be sanctified (set apart) in your thinking and in your life Peter says, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh of you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15).
We don't convey self-righteousness or a holier-than-thou attitude. We convey thankfulness because when we hated God, He loved us. "Who am I," David said, "and my house that we should have this privilege of contributing to the household of God?" We aren't anybody special. If God was a respecter of persons, He wouldn't have chosen us, but whosoever will, may come.
You give the answer of the reason of the hope. The answer is that Jesus died once and for all for our sins, was buried the third day, rose again, and has ascended to the right hand of God the Father. He ever lives to make intercession for us and is coming again soon. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Every man that has that hope in Him is living a life of sanctification, purifying himself even as He is pure (1 John 3:3). What is the reason of my hope? History agrees that a man in Galilee two thousand years ago changed the world. Some say He was deluded, but who do you say that He is?
"He is the Christ, the Son of the living God."
"Flesh and blood has not revealed that to you, but My Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 16:17).
The hope is that God has personally given you revelation that others can't see or hear. Christ crucified is foolishness to others, but to us it is the power of God unto salvation. What is the hope that I have? "I'm not the same. I'm a new creature. This is not dogma, doctrine, or religion. I know in whom I have encountered and I am a new creation. I believe that which I've committed to Him, He will keep against that day." We're not just presenting doctrine, but it's the blessed hope, because if He has risen and ascended, He is coming again.
As you share and give a reason of the hope, do it with a pure lifestyle and in a good conscience, because people will say all manner of evil against you. The purer life that you live, the more critics you'll have; so don't count it strange. "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ [Himself] also hath once suffered for [our] sins, the just for the unjust, the he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but [made alive] by the Spirit" (1 Pet. 3:17- 18). As we present this testimony, we will be persecuted. Trials will come, but stand and give the reason of that hope of everyone that asks you. Be ready to bring that testimony.
Can you be silenced? Tragically, most of us are not silenced by mandate or threats. Most of us are just silenced by indifference, our own lusts and covetousness. Our eyes are caught up on the temporal things. We're satisfied with the mundane, the secular and the temporal; and hope that someday we'll inherit eternal life. We don't burn to liquidate everything to obtain the Pearl of great price.