DEVOTIONAL:

MAIN SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT) 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Standing up for what we believe in is a vital part of our spiritual journey. But it's equally important to remember how we stand up for our beliefs. The Bible doesn't just call us to be defenders of our faith; it calls us to be ambassadors of Christ's love and humility.

You see, we are all walking advertisement of God’s grace. The way we speak, the way we react, and even the way we debate or reflect not just on us but on the God we serve. Our conversations about faith aren't just opportunities to prove a point; they are opportunities to showcase God’s love. When people challenge our beliefs, it’s easy to get defensive or argumentative. However, today's scripture reminds us that our defence should be delivered not just with well-articulated points, but also with a manner that radiates gentleness and respect.

If we truly believe that Christ died for everyone, then every soul we encounter is of immeasurable value to God. May that truth guide our interactions. Let's be people who not only speak truth but who speak it wrapped in love.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, equip me to defend my faith with not just facts and reason, but with gentleness and respect that honours You. Amen.

ACTION STEP:

Revisit a moment when you could have been gentler and more respectful in defending your faith. Make amends if possible and commit to a more Christ-like approach in future conversations.