Tim Pratt Jr. explores 1 Peter 3:13-17, arguing that Christians live constantly on display and must be ready to explain their faith through both words and how they actually live. He emphasizes gentleness when facing suffering, consistency between what you preach and what you do, and the importance of staying connected to a local church community.
Tim Pratt Jr. Uh, here I'm not down at the local church, in the comfort of my home today, but I wanted to do this from the local church page, um, and just kind of share what has been on my heart. I did a message on this like I think some months ago called You're on Display, and it's so much more insight and rich, man. I really wish, based on what I know now— but that's why we should always approach the word of God with just excitement and joy, uh, like deeper revelation I like to say nothing new but fresh, just, you know, more in a practical application, you know, just through prayer and the consecration. But truly, man, truly studying, uh, our Bibles, this word of God. Uh, so like I say, just good old Bible, quick couple of notes from, uh, my private devotion. I like— I now look, I'm real big on electronics, but, uh, a lot of times when I write by hand, transfer to electronic, uh, it's just a technique that I use. Uh, but anywho, uh, let's jump into it. Uh, so 1 Peter 3:13-17, and like I said, I'm gonna switch— I'm gonna read this and then switch to my little notepad. Uh, but nevertheless, I just want you to consider this and hear me out for a little bit. Don't want to take too much of your time. Um, but yeah, let's, let's get into it. So now, who is there to harm— who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? Just highly ambitious for what is good, not evil, good things. But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ. In our hearts, not with our lips, but in our hearts. What our lips too, but in this context, with our hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for for the hope that is in you. In other words, why we believe, why are we professing this Jesus? In this context, it is talking about, you know, knowing the scriptures, making a defense, being able to clearly articulate that. But I also like to take this scripture and just meditate on it from the context of letting our life be a defense. Like, what if I don't know all the words, or I know how to go from Genesis to Revelation, ABC, 1, 2, 3, but what I do know, I'm living it, I'm practicing it, and it's making a defense for me. Um, so, uh, yeah, let's get back. Hope that in you yet— oh yeah, so for the reason, hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. Gentleness and respect, that is something I've had to learn. Gentleness and respect. Having a good conscience so that when you are slandered, those who rival your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer doing good if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. Man, there's so much in that. And like I say, you know, definitely preached on this, like I said, some months ago. But I want to take the same topic, to be truthful with you, and let you know that we are all on display. Um, and living this life of faith, it's not easy because we live in this flesh. Like, this flesh always wants to oppose God's will. Anytime we're faced with something, we're always presented to either do the will of the flesh, or do the will of the Holy Spirit, which is God? To do the will of the flesh, to do the works of the flesh, do the will of God. Surrender and submit to the Holy Spirit no matter what. It's always an option. And I used to say this is daily, but truthfully, it's getting to the point where it's minute by minute, uh, hour by hour, uh, day by day. We have to remember that this world is always watching. For example, I could be out somewhere right now and someone probably wouldn't know me from Adam. And but then they can see me, see how I handle and how I interact and how I handle situations. And then on social media they say, wait a minute, I think I just saw that guy. How was he living? How was he really handling things? How was he doing? Is it consistent with what he's teaching and preaching? Is his life making the same defense as to what he's saying? Does that make sense? I hope that makes sense because I can't— of course can't talk to you right now, but I hope that makes sense. So yeah, so to my notes, you know, just real quick, um, we're always in the courtroom. In other words, we're always on trial, always, you know. What we say versus what we live. Does what we say, uh, does our life support what we say? Um, can people know the— they know we can teach, they know we can preach, they know we can call down heaven, call down fire, you know, and all this type of stuff. We can prophesy like none other, the word of God. And all this stuff. But, um, how do we practice in public? How do we— how do we practice? In other words, how do we live in public? How do we live when, you know, we're not in within the four walls? Um, what do we do? In other words, God gave it to me like this in my devotion, uh, do we shut off that light? Do we dim it? Or do we let it shine in a way that's pleasing and acceptable to God? Uh, so in other words, um, if someone ticks us off in any type of capacity, our level of maturity, do we just shut the light of God off because our flesh is more important to yield to in that moment because of whatever happened? Um, do we damn it? Do we wrestle? Do we go back and forth where it's like, I kind of handled it right, but I also gave a little bit of the flesh? Or do we say, man, you know what, Father, let your will be done in my life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was my ultimate model. He was the perfect model. And so my goal is to strive and be like that because I'm on display. What can I become? What can I say? What can I conform to through the power of God's word to reach this soul that's in front of me that I may or may not know? Is it more about me getting off how I feel and displaying that, or is it more important me displaying the love of God, the compassion, the patience, the the righteousness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So remember, you're always on trial, you're always on display. Somebody is always watching. Be an inspiration. Let your life— let our lives be consistent with the very thing that we proclaim. I love you all, man. I hope to see you one of these Sundays. And if it's not with Chapel Ministries— and everything is all good at Willow Chapel Ministries, a lot of rumors went out A lot of things are good. Uh, never let— trust me, things are good. Uh, but man, I love you. And if you're not in a biblical-based, uh, church, man, please start visiting and plug into one, because we were not designed to do this thing apart from community. You're on display. Somebody's watching. I love you. Praying for you all. God bless.
