SEARCHLIGHT
Are you prepared to explain to people why you are a Christian?
SCRIPTURE
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good then for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:15–17 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
Little did I know who was sitting in front of me as I was preaching about the dynamic difference it makes when someone personally knows Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The ICF Padova, Italy church was crowded with people from all over the world on a hot May 2018 Sunday morning. They were from many countries and all walks of life. Everyone listened attentively. And at the end, I noticed a tall, distinguished woman in her 60’s sitting in the center section whom I had not yet met. Afterward, she came and introduced herself, telling me she was a journalist. She gave me her card she asked for an interview.
Why would she want to interview me? Later, I checked her credentials and learned that she reported for Le Monde and Radio France Internationale. Also, she was an author. Le Monde is a French daily afternoon newspaper with a worldwide circulation of over 330,000. RFI has a listening audience of close to 60 million people.
Two days later, Donna and I, along with the ICF Padova church administrator, Juli, met with THE JOURNALIST. She explained that as she traveled Europe, she had become intrigued with discovering the recurring presence of international churches in many cities. She found them to consist of a very diversified yet unified group of people who loved vibrant music. She wondered why was this happening?
During the 1 ½ hours we spent with her, we were able to share the essence of personally knowing the living God, Jesus Christ in contrast to just intellectually knowing about God. Juli, who is a young adult from Albania, described how people her age are searching for reality. She shared how she had personally come to know Jesus having come from a formerly Communist country which had a large Islamic influence.
So, THE JOURNALIST heard a sermon on Sunday on how God can influence and direct a person’s life to maximum fulfillment. Then 2 days later, THE JOURNALIST heard a personal testimony and explanation as to why displaced people could be so joyful and excited while living away from their families and homelands.
You just never know who might ask you to explain the hope that Jesus Christ has given you. Today’s Scripture focus instructs all believers to do the following:
#1 Be prepared to give answers for why you believe what you believe. Your faith in Jesus Christ involves your will which is driven by your intellect and emotions. Can you explain to people why you have hope for today and tomorrow?
#2 Always be prepared. Opportunities to share your faith can happen at any time. Look for them!
#3 Give answers to anyone who inquires. It does not matter whether the person is an atheist, agnostic, humanist, communist, socialist, relativist, fatalist, economist, or zoophilist etc.
#4 Answer all inquirers by respecting what they believe. How would Jesus speak to them?
#5 Answer with gentleness. You do not need to convince or convict a person to become a Christian. Jesus said that was the job of the Holy Spirit. You talk, and the Holy Spirit will speak!
#6 Keep your conscience clear. Do this by saying what you believe and believing what you say. Be the real deal. Let your speech and behavior be authentic.
#7 Be prepared to suffer for what you believe. Many believers have paid a high price for their personal relationship with Jesus. He told the disciples that they would face tremendous opposition. But it would be worth it all! Read Matthew 5:10-12.
SOMETHING TO DO
What steps do you have to take to prepare yourself for the privilege of sharing your faith? What apologetic books can you read that give evidence to the credibility of Christianity?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Thank you Lord Jesus for making yourself real to me. You are the only true living God. Thank you for giving me hope for today and tomorrow. Help me to organize my thoughts so that I will be able to clearly explain to anyone why I am a Christian and why they need to become one also. Use me as Your ambassador! AMEN