Devotionals

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh
you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Peter 3:15 
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2

    How can I be ready to answer? How can I be instant in season and out of season? What is the reason I have
hope inside? How could I even start to explain this to other people? And what does it mean by meekness and
fear? Are these questions you ask yourself when you hear these verses? We find the answers by reading more.
    “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” This is where we start in our search for these answers. The word
sanctify means “to make holy, to venerate.” You know God is Holy. How do you make Him Holy in your heart?
Read more. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119:11) We sanctify the
Lord God in our heart by cleansing our heart of sin, so it can be a holy place for God to dwell.
    How can you be ready to answer? You read more. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." You have to know what you
believe, and why you believe it, so when you are asked you can give an answer.
    How can you be instant in season and out of season? You read more. How is this different from being “ready
always”? The difference in being “ready always,” and being “instant in season, out of season” is the purpose of
the preparedness. In being “ready always” we are to be ready to answer anyone who asks about our faith. “Instant
in season, out of season” refers to preaching the Word, and being ready to “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.” We are to be “instant in season, out of season” on how Scripture applies to daily life,
and be able to explain this to others.
    What is the reason I have hope inside? "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord,
that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord
Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) This is our hope, if we believe "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And
that he was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:3b-4) The Christian’s
hope is someday we will leave the struggles and toils of this world to spend eternity with Christ, and with the believers
who have already gone home. Our religion is the only religion where Paradise is not reached by works. "For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
    How could I even start to explain this to other people? There are five points you can use to explain the hope.
“There is a God,” “We need a Savior,” “His name is Jesus,” “Our Duty is to Obey,” and “There is a Reward.” I challenge
you to read more and find the verses that go with these points.
    What does it mean by meekness and fear? “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all
men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,
who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26) We are to answer and teach men with meekness (or humility)
so they can hear us. I believe the reason it says “and fear” is we need to realize our answer can determine the destiny
of the listener, and to guard us from Spiritual pride.
    Are you ready to give an answer? Remember, the answers are found by reading more. Not only the answers for what our
hope is, but the answers for every issue of life are found by reading more. Let us sanctify the Lord God in our hearts,
read more, and be ready to answer.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
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