21 April

TODAY’S VERSE

But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have.

1 Peter 3:15 ICB

DEVOTIONAL

To respect Jesus as the holy Lord in your heart means that you believe Jesus is God’s Son who came into the world as a baby, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, rose again, and is alive in heaven with His Father. It also means that you love, trust and follow Jesus. If He’s the Lord of your heart, people will notice that you have a special kind of hope and are not like those who don’t believe.

When people don’t know Jesus, they might ask about your faith in Him. Some might want to know why you have such hope because they want it too! Others might think you’re silly and challenge your beliefs. We should always be prepared to defend our faith, but we should do it with kindness and love. Reading your Bible and continuing to learn more about Jesus will help you to do that. The more you know about Him and understand where your faith comes from, the more you can share the Good News with others so they might make Jesus the Lord in their hearts too!

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross so that I can be forgiven and have a hope that sets me apart. Please help me to stand firm in my faith and defend it when others question me, but always do so with kindness and love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.