13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threatsb ; do not be frightened.”c 15But 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, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-17)
Thoughts: The admonition is to be able to talk to others about why you behave the way you do as a believer (the good), and to be able to give a reason that you have hope. In other words, we are to think ahead of time about what we should say to another who doubts our goodness or the reality of our hope. For some, goodness is just a relative thing- what is good for you may not be good for me. But God is not just the Creator of one corner of the world- or one people. God is the Creator of every human and invites us to all have hope, meaning, love, grace, and goodness.
So to know what you believe and why you believe it is very important.
Prayer: Help me to listen to you and to be prepared to tell others about my hope in you.
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