I use Bible Gateway for my online Bible. Anytime I need to look something up, it is there to help. Last night I went there to do a little reading and on the home page they list a verse of the day. Yesterday’s verse was this:
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 do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15.
What an amazing reminder. Our entire approach to how and why we should share our story is found here. We share our story to explain the hope that we have in Jesus.
I don’t know how often you stare hopelessness in the face, but when you do, there is no mistaking it. You can see it in a person’s eyes.
The writer of 1 Peter reminds us that for those who follow Jesus all out, we have a hope that makes a non-believer curious. A hope that allows us to hear a bad report from the doctor and yet still know that God is in control. Don’t think for a second that the hope you have is not obvious to others. It is obvious because it is not the cultural norm. It doesn’t make sense to a person who doesn’t follow in the Way.
So this verse tells us that we should be ready when someone asks us how on earth we can still have hope when the world around us is falling apart.
But don’t miss the final instruction from this verse. The writer says we must be ready and willing to share our story and to do so with gentleness and respect. I have used this cliché before, but it is true – people don’t care what you know if they don’t know that you care.
Our sharing of our stories must be done through a relationship. We must be gentle and show love and respect to others. Quite honestly, just as much hope will be communicated through that gentleness and respect as will be relayed through your telling of your story.
As St. Francis is credited with saying, we should tell others of the love of our Savior and when necessary, use words.
Show hope through gentleness and respect today.
Be a blessing!
Clay in the Hands 
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