Devotionals for August 2, 2024
See you at church on Sunday at 9:00am & 10:45am!
READ
1 Peter 3:13-17
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
REFLECT
When Christians have a reputation for loving others and doing “what is good,” it has the potential effect of attracting unbelievers. The scent of Christian love should be alluring to those on the outside. However, in those cases when you are persecuted, ridiculed, and oppressed for your faithfulness to Christ, you are still told to show gentleness, even as you defend your faith. The “defense” spoken of in verse 15 is more like a legal defense made before a judge (think of a Christian being on trial for their faith!), not simply defending the faith against counterarguments. Thus, Christians should be ready to proclaim the truth of the gospel even when their lives are on the line. Yet, even with their lives on the line, Christians are not to resort to hostility or disrespect (v. 15).
In modern terms, we may not stand before a judge to give a defense of our Christian faith. Not in America at least. However, you may have to stand before your coworkers, employers, family, and society in general. As you stand firm in your faith in Christ, do so with “gentleness and respect.” You being right does not give you license to be cruel, disrespectful, or hostile.
In modern terms, we may not stand before a judge to give a defense of our Christian faith. Not in America at least. However, you may have to stand before your coworkers, employers, family, and society in general. As you stand firm in your faith in Christ, do so with “gentleness and respect.” You being right does not give you license to be cruel, disrespectful, or hostile.
APPLY
Q: What is the modern equivalent of the “defense” found in verse 15?
Q: Where right now can you stand in gentle defense of your faith?
Q: How does this passage shape how we teach others to evangelize in hostile territories?
Q: Where right now can you stand in gentle defense of your faith?
Q: How does this passage shape how we teach others to evangelize in hostile territories?
SING
PRAY
"And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."
Lord, help us to resist the enemy fully. Give us more faith and confidence in your truth and goodness. Amen.
Lord, help us to resist the enemy fully. Give us more faith and confidence in your truth and goodness. Amen.