“Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…”

— 1 Peter 3:15

Today we live in a day when it is necessary to contend for the faith. Peter said that we should always be able to provide a defense for the faith. We are called upon to proclaim the Word.

I remember I used to hear in seminary all the time men who would give sermons on how there was no need to defend the Word of God. It is like my having a trained, powerfully strong dog on a chain, and I have to go out and defend my dog? Of course, there is a certain element of truth in there, but we are called upon to defend the teachings of the Gospel.

God has been pleased to commit the Gospel into the hands of men, who can twist it or distort it, deny it, or whatever, and so we are called upon to defend it. We are to contend for this faith lest it should be perverted, as it has been so many times in the past. Thank God for the Reformers and men who were able to see the need of purifying the Word and bringing us back to the true meaning of it.

Years ago I saw a painting which I have never forgotten. It was a painting of a large anvil. Around the anvil on the floor lay scattered scores of shattered, smashed hammers and, underneath, the words of the text: “The word of the Lord endureth forever.” The attacks on the Bible break, but God’s Word stands strong.

Father God, we thank You for Your Word, and we ask that You give us strength for today that we might be true defenders of the pure doctrine You have revealed and not let it be perverted and twisted…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN
EMBRACE TRUE DOCTRINE.