HOPE!

1 Peter 3:15a says in part, “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

What we are obviously talking about there is sharing the gospel and as you may have reasoned by the name of this blog and in reading my posts both here and at my main blog http://theadultsundayschool.blogspot.com/ I am passionate about the gospel and I got to thinking about that verse and this sharing of the reason for our hope.  I did however come to a realization that I know I have tended to overlook and that is that it is not that easy for everyone.

When we become Christians we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  That gift is manifested in us in many different ways.  For those of us that are gifted to preach or teach it should be fairly easy to share the reason for our hope but for those of us who are gifted in a different way such as encouraging others or giving generously it might not be so easy.

For those with these and other gifts though you love Christ and you want others to as well,  sharing your faith is more difficult but the Apostle Peter wasn’t leaving you out just because the calling you have is different from someone who is gifted in a different way. 

For you I would suggest underlining and then committing to memory a short passage of scripture that would make it a matter of habit.  As an example I would give you the following scripture from Romans 5:8a, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”…..  “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I can’t tell you in words how that touches me as I am sure it touches you that though we were undeserving, unrighteous sinners, Christ died for us anyway.  Moving back in Romans 5 a few to verse 2, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character----what hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.  You see at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

8 short but powerful words that are just one example of how all of us can find a small, short verse or passage of scripture that we can make through repetition a part of our very fabric so that when asked, all of us regardless of our spiritual gifts can give a reason for the hope that we have.  Is this the only way to do it?  By no means!  Being prepared is something all of us can do if we care about what we are preparing for and practice makes for confidence.  Once you have that confidence start praying for opportunities to share the gospel and start listening to the Holy Spirit when it says that opportunity is now!