Always Be Prepared

     What if someone this week were to ask you, “Why are you a Christian?” or “On what basis do you believe and trust that what you believe about God is true?”  What if your faith were openly challenged or just questioned?
     Would you shrink back in uncertainty or confusion, or would you lovingly answer to the best of your knowledge?
     This scripture challenges us to be ready.  The reality is that we will (and probably should) be approached regarding why our hope and trust resides in Jesus.  Our challenge and responsibility are to have an answer we can share.  Does this mean I have to know every verse and quote every doctrine and have a rebuttal for every challenged idea?
     No, but this verse does insist that I have 3 things: a hope (in   Jesus and the truth of the Gospel), an answer for the questioners, and a readiness to share.
     What will it take to have these 3 things?  It will require an active, growing covenant relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, a heart attuned to the Lord and His Mission, and a regular practice of deep diving into the Word of God.  Let us all continually pursue these, so that others can see...and then hear...our hope.

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Jon K. Smith