Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 28
Monday


PROBING
QUESTIONS

READ:
1 Peter 3:8-17
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Sanctify the Lord God
in you hearts, and
always be ready to give
a defense to everyone
who asks you a reason
for the hope that is in
you. __1 Peter 3:15
____________________________________________________________________________________________

While riding on a train a few years after the American Civil War, General Lew Wallace of the Union Army encountered a fellow officer, Colonel Robert Ingersoll. Ingersoll was one of the 19th century's leading agnostics, and Wallace was a man of faith. As their conversation turned to their spiritual differences, Wallace realized that he wasn't able to answer the questions and doubts raised by Ingersoll. Embarrassed by his lack of understanding about his own faith. Wallace began searching the Scriptures for answers. The result was his confident declaration of the person of the Savior in his classic historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

Probing questions from skeptics don't have to be a threat tour faith. Instead, they can motivate us to seek a deeper understanding and equip us to respond wisely and lovingly to those who might question our faith. The apostle Peter encouraged us to pursue the wisdom of God in the Scriptures when he wrote, "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear: (1 Perer 3:15).

We don't have to have an answer for every question, but we need the courage, confidence, and conviction to share our love for Christ and the hope that is in us. __Bill Crowder

``````````````````````My hope is in the Lord who gave Himself for me,`````````````````````
````````````````````````And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.```````````````````````
`````````````````````````````For me He died, for me He lives,```````````````````````````
`````````````````And everlasting life and light He freely gives. __Clayton``````````````````
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Christ is the ultimate answer
to life's greatest questions.

**********************************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Peter 3:8-17******************************

8 Finally, all of you
be of one mind, having
compassion for one
another; love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous;

9 not returning evil for evil
or reviling for reviling, but
on the contrary blessing,
knowing that you were
called to this, that you may
inherit a blessing. 10 For
"He who would love life
and see good days, let him
refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips from speaking
deceit. 11 Let him turn away
from evil and do good; let
him seek peace and pursue
it. 12 For the eyes of the
LORD are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to
their prayers; but the face
of the LORD is against those
who do evil."

13 And who is he who will
harm you if you become
followers of what is good?

14 But even if you should
suffer for righteousness'
sake, you are blessed. "And
do not be afraid of their
threats, nor be troubled."

15 But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts, and
always be ready to give a
defense to everyone who
asks you a reason for the
hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear;

16 having a good
conscience, that when they
defame you as evildoers,
those who revile your good
conduct in Christ may be
ashamed. 17 For it is better,
if it is the will of God, to
suffer for doing good than
for doing evil.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hebrew boys in the first century were taught the Old Testament.
In today's reading, we see how Peter, a fisherman of the working
class, had at his command a familiarity with the Scriptures when he
quotes from Psalm 34:12-16 (v..10-12) and Isaiah 8:12 (v.14). Peter
may well have recalled these passages from memory.

[Dora]

Thank you!

I have been needing something inspiring lately and knew I would find it here amongst your sharings Cimi. God bless and keep you.