Living Out Loud

Welcome! to the seventh month of the New Year YES! It's official we have made it into the month of July as we start this New Week in a New Season let's take a moment to reflect on these words of wisdom Read: 1 Peter 3:8–16 Bible in a Year: Job 22–24; Acts 11 In your hearts revere Christ as Lord.—1 Peter 3:15 While staying at a hotel in Austin, Texas, I noticed a card lying on the desk in my room. It said: Welcome Our prayer is that your stay here will be restful and that your travels will be fruitful. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and make His face shine upon you. This card from the company that manages the hotel made me want to know more, so I accessed their website and read about their culture, strength, and values. In a winsome way, they seek to pursue excellence and live out their faith in the workplace. Their philosophy reminded me of Peter’s words to the followers of Jesus scattered throughout Asia Minor. He encouraged them to demonstrate their faith in Christ in the society where they lived. Even as they faced threats and persecution, Peter told them not to be afraid, “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). A friend of mine calls this “living a lifestyle that demands an explanation.” No matter where we live or work, may we in God’s strength live out our faith today—always ready to reply gently and respectfully to everyone who asks the reason for our hope. —David C. McCasland May our lives cause others to ask the reason we have hope. INSIGHT: When we think of Peter, we often think of young Peter—his rash denials of Christ (John 18:17, 25, 27), his jumping out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:22-31), or his cutting off a servant’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10). Yet aged Peter—mature Peter—is a much different man who wrote letters to encourage believers in Jesus. The man who called down a curse on himself as he denied Christ (Matthew 26:73-75) now writes that believers should be prepared to give an answer for their hope—something he was once unwilling to do. Such is the difference the Spirit makes in our lives. How has the Spirit been transforming you and helping you to live out your faith? J.R. Hudberg