Day 4: Always prepared
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame (1 Peter 3:13-16 – ESV).
Heavenly Father, You are holy, You are righteous. And You have called us to holiness: But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16, Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2).
The apostle Peter, even as he emphasizes the importance of being holy, forewarns us that holiness often meets with resistance in this fallen world—that believers in Jesus would suffer for righteousness sake (1 Peter 3:14).
Peter understood the general principle from Your word that the Lord is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints (Proverbs 2:7-8). And he asks the rhetorical question, Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (I Peter 3:13).
But he also understood that we live in a topsy-turvy world of evil among those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20).
Yet, in the midst of that reality, You call us to be Your ambassadors, fearless and untroubled, revering Jesus as Lord in our hearts; always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that [we] have (1 Peter 3:14-15 - NIV).
Furthermore, You call us to do so with gentleness and respect, following the example of Jesus, who, When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
Father, You are our shield and our defense. We entrust ourselves to You, our righteous and just judge—just as Jesus did. You hear us when we cry out to You: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer (1 Peter 3:12).
Help us to seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). Help us to be effective witnesses, always prepared and ready to minister hope and healing. Help us to interact with the world around us with courage and humility, gentleness and integrity. Teach us gracious answers that defeat malice, silence slander, and glorify our Lord Christ.
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