◄ What Does 1 Peter 3:15 Mean? ►

Peter finished his godly advice to husbands and wives with guidance on suffering for the sake of righteousness. He gave wise instruction on how to grow in grace and live a godly life, and he encouraged them (as he encourages us) to live in harmony with our Christian brothers and sisters.

Peter encourages us to guard our hearts and our speech, and to turn from evil and do good. We are to seek peace and to pursue it, and we are to be sanctified unto God and live godly in Christ Jesus which is the Father's will for all His children.

We are called to be holy even as our Father in heaven is holy, and we are instructed to be sanctified unto God in our hearts by faith, with thanksgiving and praise.

But there is one more piece of godly wisdom that Peter pens to all the elect of God who are set apart unto Him - a directive that we would all do well to note no matter where we live in the world and no matter what our life circumstances may be. As God's children, we should be ready to answer anyone who asks us about our faith in Christ and our trust in God. We should all be equipped to talk of our blessed hope and the grace of God that gives salvation to whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord.

We should all be properly prepared and readily inclined to give a defence of the gospel of grace in which we stand. We should be properly prepared to give an answer for the blessed hope we have in our heart and to share the glorious hope that we have in Christ Jesus our Saviour. And we are exhorted to do this in gentleness of spirit, in reverence, and in grace.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. My desire is to be fully sanctified unto Him and to offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. Guard my heart and guide my speech, I pray. Give me wisdom to be able to give a defence for my trust in Christ and to give an answer for the blessed hope that I have in Him. And Lord, I pray that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, I would be able to answer everyone who asks me about my faith in Christ, in gentleness and reverence and always to Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN.