ALWAYS BE PREPARED – Part 2

The confused look on the man’s face told me I wasn’t [making sense]. Shifting gears, I decided to tell him how I became a Christian. Several minutes into my story, he interrupted me to explain he had to get off the train at the next stop. Not sure what to say in the last minute or so, I stuttered and stammered awkwardly. When the sliding doors opened, he stood and looked at me before politely speaking words I’ll never forget. “Oh well, thanks for trying.” He stepped off the train, and I watched the doors slide shut.

The apostle Peter says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Maybe you can relate. You’d like to be ready for anything, but you’re afraid you might choke under pressure. Preparation -- studying and thinking about what you’ll say -- will give you confidence.

Not every chance to share will be set up for you as obviously as it was for me on that train. You’ll recognize some opportunities -- clearly presented to you by God -- in which you are called to take the initiative. But no matter who starts the conversation, if you engage enough people, you’re going to be amazed how many of them are genuinely hungry to hear the truth from an honest, caring heart. 

-- Craig Groeschel in “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist”

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