Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
"Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be of their slander." [I Peter 3:13-16]
Normally in life when someone asks us about our school, our professional teams or our political party, we are ready to speak about them at length. We know all that is to be known about our school, professional team and our political party.
To some extent, we have the same enthusiasm about our country. Most people love their country even though they might find reason to flee it for another land. A country music artist penned the words: "When you are running down my country, you are walking on the fighting side of me".
Someone once said, "It is not enough for us to cherish Christ in the heart. The believer should always be ready with an answer or defense concerning our faith."
If we are so ready to defend our school, political party or professional team, then we should be ready to defend our faith. The things of this world - our school's name, our political party or professional team are transient. Either they or we will eventually pass away.
However, God is forever. We can never escape him- not in life, nor in death. Scripture tells us in Matthew 10:28: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
God came to live amongst humankind through the person of his son, Jesus Christ, who suffered humiliation, crucifixion and death, and came back from the grave so that we can have life - yes, life eternal. Therefore, the most important relationship that we can ever have is a relationship with God through his son, our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Yes, Jesus is our Lord. He is the one to whom we owe our allegiance. When we acknowledge this as true, we should be prepared to defend his name.
Consequently, we who call ourselves Christians should have a heart for Christ. In having a heart for Christ we should live as his ambassadors, always ready to share our faith and tell others about him. However, in sharing our faith, we should do so lovingly.
During his lifetime, Christ always displayed love and concern for others. Therefore, we who are called by his name should also display that love and concern.
The love we have for Christ is demonstrated in the love we have for one another. The picture of our living faith speaks louder than our words.
How do we prepare ourselves to share and defend our faith? We do so by studying God's word.
When we speak about our faith, we should really become ignited. Our faces should show radiance and glow with excitement. Yes, when we speak about our faith, we should generate the same passion that we do when we talk about our country, our political party, our professional team or our school.
We speak life when we speak about the god who has made a change within us and brought us in to his marvelous light. Therefore, we need not be afraid of those who seek to terrorize us with fear. They can injure the body but not the soul. Christians should not be afraid of the rage or force of the enemy. Our enemies are also God's enemies. Amen.
o Rev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at The Lutheran Church of Nassau, can be reached at P. O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas or telephone: 426-9084 or e-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com, Website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.

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