{"id":3096,"date":"2015-10-18T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2015-10-18T14:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3096"},"modified":"2015-08-10T17:05:39","modified_gmt":"2015-08-10T22:05:39","slug":"choose-to-be-ready-to-give-an-answer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3096","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Be Ready to Give an Answer"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Year of Choices…<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren from Barbara\u2019s Banter at\u00a0www.barbdahlgren.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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\"1<\/a>The Bible says to always be ready to give an answer to those who ask for the hope that is within us.\u00a0 (1 Peter 3:15)\u00a0 That scripture use to scare me a bit.\u00a0 Preachers have used this verse to encourage Bible study so we as Christians can answer questions about the Bible.<\/p>\n

To be honest, I\u2019m all for Bible study but I feel ill equipped to answer tons of Bible questions.\u00a0 I don\u2019t always have good memory retention.\u00a0 Plus I\u2019m not good with numbers so I continually transpose scripture references.\u00a0 I\u2019m so thankful for Internet searches and iPhones that give me easy access to this kind of information.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing wrong with being skilled in apologetics.\u00a0 We should know why we believe what we believe and may at some time be called upon to explain it.\u00a0 However, I don\u2019t think \u201calways being ready to give an answer\u201d means we need to know the year the Tower of Babel was built, who Meshezabeel was, or how many cubits there were in Noah\u2019s ark.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a little bit different way to look at this passage\u2026<\/p>\n

If we read the few verses before and after, we see this section is speaking of trials, false accusations, and suffering.\u00a0 I like what the New Living Translation says for 1 Peter 3:14-15:\u00a0 \u201cBut even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it.\u00a0 So don\u2019t worry or be afraid of threats.\u00a0 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.\u00a0 And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Christians go through trials they have something most people don\u2019t have.\u00a0 They have hope.\u00a0 Christian hope has a positive, encouraging energy that others can\u2019t quite understand.\u00a0 This hope is attractive to a hurting world.\u00a0 This hope gives a peace that passes understanding even in the worst situations. (Philippians 4:7)\u00a0 It\u2019s natural that others would be curious about where that comes from and ask questions.<\/p>\n

So what might people ask?\u00a0 Maybe they would notice we aren\u2019t reacting the way they think we should and ask, \u201cHow can you remain calm in all this turmoil?\u201d\u00a0 This opens the door for us to possibly tell them that our relationship with Jesus helps us.\u00a0 If they want to ask us more about that, they will.\u00a0 We won\u2019t need to force it or give them a crash course in salvation.<\/p>\n

Someone might ask, \u201cWhere is your God while you are going through this?\u201d\u00a0 We can quickly think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace.\u00a0 They knew God could deliver them but said, \u201cWe know our God is able to deliver us from this situation, but even if he chooses not to, we will still trust him.\u201d\u00a0 (Daniel 3:17)<\/p>\n

With that example in mind we could tell them we know we have assured promises that come through our relationship with God and what we experience on earth is only temporary.\u00a0 Trials can\u2019t be compared to what lies ahead or who lives in us. \u00a0(Romans 8:18)\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus lives in us!<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026When this passage says be ready to give an answer, perhaps the answer we need to be ready to give is Jesus.\u00a0 Jesus is the answer!\u00a0 He\u2019s the answer for everything!<\/p>\n

\"Jesus<\/a><\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n