“…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” I Peter 3:15
I love this verse from First Peter! Problem is, that I don’t “always” feel hopeful and accordingly I am not always prepared. I almost wish Peter said to give an answer only when I felt like it. Emotions are fickle. They change moment by moment and are not wholly reliable. I suppose that if my reason for hope was based on emotions I would only be occasionally prepared.
Our hope is not based on emotion, it is based on Jesus and His promises and that which never changes because He is always the same. Even when my emotions are waning, I am still able to be prepared and answer others about why I am hopeful because my hope is found in Jesus. Accordingly, I can always tell people about Jesus, I can always speak of His love, I can always share about His plans and promises even when in my own spirit I may feel low. I can tell you from experience that even at such times, just talking about Jesus makes me feel happy and uplifted and full of good emotion. Sometimes I am most prepared to tell others of hope when I tell myself of the hope I have in the Lord first.
God keeps us prepared as we abide in His Word. It is through Scripture that God’s Holy Spirit works and through which we are made hopeful. We don’t rely on fickle emotion for our faith, but as the classic hymn states… “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness…” and we thank God that it is! Amen? Let me hear you. AMEN!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy!
Pastor Kilian