1 Peter 3:15-17
13 but set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Peter wrote his first letter to encourage others who were being persecuted for being Christians, telling them that it is right and good to speak openly about Christ to anyone who asks. Note, however, that he says to do this “with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear.” Witnessing, according to Peter, should be a thing done with subtlety and finesse rather than bluntness and brutality, so that others cannot point to you and say, “Well, if that’s a Christian, I don’t know that I want to be one.” And along with a gentle, respectful style of witness, you also must have a strong commitment to God in your heart already, as Peter says in verse 13. If you do not have this commitment and faith, it will be much harder to endure the “suffering for good” and “accusations” that Peter speaks of, the possibility of which still exists today.

Nowadays, it is not so much the Pharisees or polytheistic Romans who would attack our beliefs, but the message is still relevant–you must not be afraid to share your story about God when the moment arises, even if you’re afraid someone else will take offense. This can be difficult in this era of multitudes of religions; you’re never sure how the other person is going to take it. You might sit there fearing that your words won’t be enough to adequately describe your experience, or that the other person will brush you off as another silly Bible-thumper ready to judge them for their sins. But sometimes the preparation isn’t a conscious process of devouring Bible verses for hours, but a result of speaking honestly about your personal salvation story. Sometimes, all a lost person needs to hear is how your life has been touched by Jesus and His loving sacrifice.