Pop quizzes aren’t always bad things.
When I was in school, whether as a kid or as a graduate seminary student, I didn’t like pop quizzes.
Taking a test with no studying and no advance warning left me feeling unprepared and vulnerable to academic failure.
I usually did OK with them because I had tried to pay attention in class. But I can’t say that I scored 100% on every quiz.
As Christians, we face pop quiz opportunities all the time.
Some are voluntary, meaning we see the opportunity to answer questions of another and we step into the moment with our spiritual insights. For example, a work breakroom conversation of several people starts raising questions about what the Bible says about this or that.
We have what we believe are answers and so we step into the pop quiz of faith.
Some are not voluntary, however, and you find yourself being confronted by one or some who think Christianity is harsh, judgmental, too restrictive and run by uncompassionate men and their god.
You’re being peppered with questions such as why would a “so-called loving” God let innocent suffer or why do crooks so often get away with ripping off old people or why are husbands ordained by God as the head of the house or how can somebody actually believe that the miracles in the Bible really happened in contrast to the laws of nature.
We Christians should have answers to the above questions, of course. I encourage you to research them and perhaps ask your pastor or congregation elders to help you find the answers.
More important than the above questions, though, is being able to answer the question, “How can I have peace in my heart?”
Now that’s a pop quiz we should all be able to answer.
Please, prepare yourself to explain to others how you found peace in your heart.
Recall the life experiences that convinced you that you weren’t getting to heaven on your own — that you were a sinner in need of a Savior.
Recall how the Word was introduced into your life — and your heart — by another.
Recall how those Gospel seeds were watered by the love and examples of other believers.
Recall that “come to Jesus” moment when you were convicted and knew that you had to choose one path or the other.
Recall that moment of public confession and baptism into the family of God.
This is an example of how the believer answers the pop quiz of sharing faith.
This is what the Apostle Peter calls us to do.
“…if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” (I Peter 3:15-16)
Be ready, my friends.
People need the hope you’ve found.
And we need to be ready whenever such a pop-quiz moment comes our way from the Lord.
As always, I love you
Martin
P.S. Because of spending time with family, the Morning Devotion postings will resume next Monday.
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