Be Prepared

If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

1 Peter 3:15

The previous devotion mentioned that the Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared.” This means a Girl Scout is willing to help and knows what to do. Today’s verse is similar to the Girl Scout motto. The apostle Peter says Christians need to always be ready, or prepared, but in this case he means we should always be ready to tell others about the hope we have.

You, as God’s princess, know the source of hope. God’s own Son, Jesus, came to earth to provide salvation to all who believe in him and have accepted his gift of forgiveness. When you asked Jesus to be your Savior, you became a princess of the heavenly King, which means you’ll also spend eternity in heaven with him. Knowing this changes your life and gives you purpose.

When you’re living for Jesus, others notice. They see how you treat others and how you’re always filled with joy. They may want that for themselves. God wants you to be ready to tell your friends and classmates about the difference Jesus makes in your life. You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to know everything about the Bible. You don’t have to understand everything about God. No one does. But God wants you to be able to share how Jesus made a difference in your life.

What would you say if a friend asked you why you handle the problems in your life in a calm way? What if she asked you why you seem happy all the time? What if she asked you why you don’t watch some of the movies other girls your age do?

One way to answer these questions is by sharing how God sent his Son Jesus to die for our sins. One verse that explains it is John 3:16. “This is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Another good verse to share with someone who wants to learn about Jesus is Romans 6:23: “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Using those verses, you can share how God sent his Son Jesus to the earth, how Jesus lived a sinless life so that he could die to pay the penalty for sin, and how he didn’t stay dead but rose from the grave and is now with God in heaven. Only by believing in him can someone have the same hope you have—the hope of salvation and an eternity in heaven.

What would you say if someone asked you what makes the difference in your life? Jot down some things you might say.