Tuesday, May 5 Sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect.​—1 Pet. 3:15.

[Áine]

Tuesday, May 5

Sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect.—1 Pet. 3:15.

 

Jesus knew that it was Jehovah’s view of matters that was most important. He trusted that Jehovah would deal with injustices at the right time. We can imitate Jesus by controlling what we say when we are treated unjustly. Some injustices are minor, and we can simply overlook them. Or we may remain silent to avoid saying something that could make matters worse. (Eccl. 3:7; Jas. 1:19, 20) At other times, we may need to speak up when we observe unfair treatment or when we need to defend the truth. (Acts 6:1, 2) If we do speak, we should try our best to do so calmly and respectfully. We can also imitate Jesus by entrusting ourselves to “the One who judges righteously.”—1 Pet. 2:23. w24.11 5-6 ¶10-12

[dljbsp]

Sometimes I don’t say anything. Not because I don’t care — but because I’m trying not to make it worse.

 

Jesus didn’t rush to answer everything thrown at him. He trusted Jehovah saw it all — even the unfair stuff. That helps me hold my words back… or let them out softer.

 

I’m learning it’s not just what I say — it’s how I say it. If I’m right but rough, I’m still wrong somewhere. I’m learning it’s not just what I say — it’s how I say it. If I’m right but rough, I’m still wrong somewhere. Because the truth doesn’t need me to dress it up with sharpness. If I use the truth like a tool to win, instead of a reason to help, then maybe I defended my point… but I didn’t really defend the hope.

 

So I try to stay ready. Not with arguments… but with a reason. A real one. Something calm. Something respectful.

 

Because the hope I’ve got — it’s not something to throw. It’s something to show.