but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1 Peter 3:15 KJV
Context and Charge:
Peter writes to the church, people who had been scattered all over the world due to persecution. My first lesson here is the assurance that God never leaves his own, even through all the trials, tribulations and tough times that are here or may be coming. I must prepare my heart to embrace these experiences, because they are God's ways of fashioning me into the person He wants me to be. Is God fully in charge of my heart, or are there competing interests fighting for attention? Therein is my second lesson: I cannot allow just anything or anyone to impact my heart; it must hold God as sanctified and holy. If my heart knows and recognises the nature of God, it will not struggle with God's commands. If I find myself trying to justify my actions or to constantly excuse my weaknesses, I need to have my heart examined by God, before it leads me astray into eternal damnation. How is your heart? How is mine?
People are watching; my life will always reflect the contents of my heart. My heart's pursuits and priorities are revealed by the company I keep and the conversations I have. Once men see that there is a difference in me, and I do not live as they do, they will ask me what makes me tick. Therein lies the third lesson: does my life in any way challenge men to examine themselves in the light of God's expectations? If I am truly a child of God, I will not lack an answer to give when men ask me the reason for my hope. I may not be able to compose songs, or put together an oratory piece, but it will be clear that the God who lives in me makes all the difference. Can I say of a truth that God's hope has been birthed and is being sustained in me? Can I stand before men and declare the foundation and basis of the hope that keeps me sane, even when the world around me is falling to pieces? Can you?
Conviction and Conclusion:
It also matters how I present my case before men. Hope of eternal life keeps me from being distracted by all that the world offers, but I must also be focused enough to impact the earth while I wait for the fulfilment of God's promise of eternal life. I must do all I do with a heart of meekness mixed with fear. Meekness means the fact of being submissive; it is important because you use it to make the gospel of Christ attractive to men. Now, fear has both a good and a bad side, but it is important to focus on the good part. The fear of God is a good one, because it keeps you from becoming complacent or careless as you strive to pursue God's purpose. Both meekness and fear are not immediately visible on the face, but you cannot ignore their impact or absence. The question then will be: "Do I have them or not?" My life must be a living expression of the presence of God. God's time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment