Most of us know a variation of the phrase “walk the walk, talk the talk.” In other words, may what you say and how you live match. This verse gives us wisdom on how to live out our faith. First, we must worship Christ as the Lord of our lives. That means our whole lives. We can’t live one way in one setting and a different way in another— that’s incongruent. The walk and talk don’t match. As a reflection of our love for God, we can “always be ready” to explain the Hope we have as believers with gentleness. Proverbs 15:1 clearly states the power of gentleness: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” In a world with strong opinions and decisive tactics, gentleness is one of our greatest strengths. Where in your life does the walk and talk match? Where does it not match? What does it look like for you to embody gentleness?
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.”
1 Peter 3:15-16