Preparing our answers

      1 Peter 3:15; “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 so this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV).

        I have accepted Christ as my Savior, and so I do revere Him in my heart. I find this passage from Isiah 8:13, from the Amplified Bible helpful; “The Lord of hosts---regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [By regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him]. My life now is centered in Christ and what He did for me on the cross. He dwells in my spirit through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the spirit he gave us.” 1 john 3:24. I have daily devotions and prayer time twice a day. I have come to believe that it is essential that every believer start the day this way. By starting my day in this manner I have in my mind the words that I have just read and put into my heart. So then those words are the light that I need to illuminate my road through this life. I can also gain a better insight about my Father, and His Son.

          Through my better insight of God my Father I have a heart that desires a close relationship with Him so that I am able to carry out the tasks that He has desired of me. To live my life worthy to be known as a believer, and in so doing I will possible lead others to a relationship with Christ also. “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 1 Peter 5:2 (NIV).

        So I live my life for Christ and others begin to see. So my actions begin to speak louder than words, actions that are guided by the Holy Spirit that is in my heart. Through trials and storms and untimely circumstances, the way I live during and after those incidents will be a key to how people react when I talk about the Holy Spirit in my heart. Reciting what Christ has done for me, when asked by others, should be ready to be brought forth because of the eagerness, through the Holy Spirit, that is in our hearts. And we too must tell others that our God loves them through all their imperfections also. By saying that, it may just open up the door for those we talk to, to go through. So that they too will receive what we have, the love of Christ. “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3 (NIV). “so do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV).

        So as I continue to write these papers and share with others what Christ has done in my life, I need not get pumped up and over confident. This only shows others that what I am confessing is not true. That the God I believe in is a fraud and a liar and that is definitely not true. So I must act responsibly and be kind and considerate when giving my testimony to others. By living my life patterned after my Lord and Savior, my words must lift others up and show respect for their lives, and what is going on in those lives. Again, I am trying to live my life patterned after Jesus Christ, so by treating others as He would have treated them is doing an honor in showing others Christ in me.