1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared," and their slogan is "Do A Good Deed Daily."
I was a Boy Scout for many years, and I tried to honor both of those, but in all honesty, I wasn't always successful.
The apostle Peter was no Boy Scout. This is the guy who cut off a soldier's ear when they came to arrest Jesus, then denied knowing him three times before the rooster crowed. He’s the impulsive fisherman who sank trying to walk on water because his faith wavered. Yet here he is, decades later, seemingly adopting the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" but applying it to something far more important than camping, first aid, or merit badges.
Peter wrote this letter to Christians scattered across Asia Minor who were facing persecution. These weren't people living comfortable lives where everyone respected their beliefs. They were dealing with slander and hostility because of their faith. In that context, Peter's words carry real weight. He's talking about real people facing real opposition.
The phrase "always being prepared" comes from a Greek word meaning "ready for action," much like a soldier prepared for battle. But notice what kind of battle this is. We're not preparing to attack anyone. We're preparing to give a reason for our hope. In a world full of cynicism and despair, people notice when someone has genuine hope, and they want to know where it comes from.
The hope Peter talks about isn't wishful thinking or a positive attitude. This is a confident expectation that God is good, that Jesus really did rise from the dead, and that our lives have purpose beyond what we can see. It's hope that comes from the Holy Spirit working in us— another fruit of the Spirit.
But here's what I love most: the way we're supposed to share this hope. Peter says to do it "with gentleness and respect." Coming from the guy who once grabbed a sword and started swinging, that's significant. We don't bludgeon people with truth or shame them into belief. We share our hope gently, with respect for their dignity as human beings made in God's image.
Peter knows people are watching how we live more than listening to what we say. When our lives don't match our words, it gives ammunition to critics. But when we live with integrity, when our hope shows up in how we handle hard circumstances, it creates questions that only the gospel can answer.
Maybe you're thinking, "I'm not ready to give an answer about anything." But Peter isn't asking you to become a theologian. He's asking you to be ready to share your story—what God has done in your life, why you have hope when others don't. That's something only you can tell, and it's more powerful than any argument.
So be prepared.
Prayer:
Father, help us honor Christ in our hearts and be ready to share the hope we have in him. Give us gentleness and respect when we speak, and help our lives reflect your love. Amen.
This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
