The NIV 365 Day Devotional

How Do I Defend My Faith?

Has anyone ever questioned why you believe what you believe?

First Peter 3:15 says, ‘‘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.’’

The Greek word used for ‘‘reason’’ is apologia, which means ‘‘a defense.’’ Peter believed Christians needed to be prepared to respond when others questioned or challenged their faith.

We should be prepared to defend our faith today too. Learning how to defend the faith is also a good way to learn about our faith. After all, we can’t learn more about why we believe without also learning more about what we believe.

Peter’s first instruction is to ‘‘revere Christ as Lord.’’ That looks like studying Scripture and learning more about who God is and what he has done for us. It’s not about winning a debate or being smarter than others, but about knowing and obeying the One who has saved us.

Peter also says we should offer our defense ‘‘with gentleness and respect.’’ That means we shouldn’t be aggressive or hostile toward those who hold different beliefs. Instead, we should aim to show the love of Christ through our character. We can engage with others to show that Christian beliefs aren’t silly or foolish, but we should always demonstrate love for those who oppose our faith. It’s possible that the way we treat those we disagree with may be more convincing than our words. Do you feel comfortable sharing your faith with others? What are some simple ways you can pursue Jesus today that might help prepare you to share him with others?

Taken from The NIV Telos Bible.