129: A very scary verse | 1 Peter 3:15

Telling others about Jesus doesn’t have to be scary. You don’t need to be a scholar. Simply share your story. No one can debate YOUR story!

One of the scariest things about being a Christian is sharing your faith. I have heard it over and over, again. We get anxious and nervous when we think about it. I get it. It’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. But there is one thing that really keeps us from telling people we are Christian or sharing our faith: “But what if someone asks me something I don’t know?” I have heard this question more times than I can count. We are afraid that when we share our faith, the other person will begin to drill us with questions about the Bible. So, we figure, I can’t tell people about Jesus because I don’t know the Bible that well. It makes sense. Even our One Verse today, 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer.” And that is what terrifies us. But what if we are thinking about it all wrong? What if there is more to this issue and this verse? I believe there is! Peter goes on to say, “to give the reason for the hope that you have.” He didn’t say you needed to answer every theological question that comes up. He didn’t say you needed to defend the Bible or Jesus. Jesus can take care of Himself. No, Peter said that we needed to be able to tell people why we decided to follow Jesus. We need to tell OUR story. I love that because we are so afraid someone will try to debate us. But no one can debate your story. It’s YOUR story! I have to be honest, though. This is still not easy. It’s hard to answer WHY you feel a certain way about anything. If I asked you, “Why do you like waffles over pancakes?” could you answer that? Yes, but it might take some thought. “Why do you prefer THIS over THAT?” Again, you have the answer inside of you. You simply need to draw it out. The same is true with your “faith story.” You know the answer, but you probably haven’t given it much thought recently. And that is what Peter is saying. Think about it. Spend some time in reflection about your faith. Figure out why you truly follow Jesus. And then you will be prepared to give an answer when people ask, “Oh, you’re a Christian? Why?” When you are prepared with an answer, the question doesn’t seem so scary.

One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Consistency trumps intensity. When it comes to working out, eating healthy, or managing our finances, consistency always trumps intensity. We reach our major life goals through small, purposeful steps taken daily. The same is true in our spiritual lives. I truly believe you will grow closer to God by spending just 5 minutes a day with Him versus cramming in an hour once a month. The One Verse Devotional is here to help take away the barriers of spending time with God. Now, during your workout, drive to work, or even shopping for groceries, you can invest in your spiritual life.

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