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:
This verse tells us to be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for your hope. Why do you believe what you believe?
Too often, Christians answer this with, "We just have to have faith," or "Because the Bible says so."
This ought not be.
We need to study the word of God, study and understand God's word and who He is, so we can fully give a reason for our faith.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is not enough to say you are Christian and never really seek to understand the faith. It is not enough to just say, because the the Bible says so. Read the Bible, study it and know exactly what it says so you can explain your faith.
Why did God take all that time inspiring the writers to write it down in the first place? It was so we could have an understanding of who He is, why He did all this in the first place, and so we could be prepared to share Him with others.
So, I am challenged to spend more time studying and preparing myself to give my reason the next time I am asked. I want to be able to fully explain my faith. Not give a half-baked response, but one full of depth and meaning. An answer that expounds the Word of God and displays my passion and great love for God. An answer that would ignite a desire in the hearer to find Christ for themselves.
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
What will your account be? One of passioned study and seeking to know Him, or one of skating by and not really desiring more of Him?
I hope my account will be the former. I want to be able to stand before God and say: I spent time seeking you and studying Your word so I could reason with others, share with others and show them who You are.
