主動的回答和被動的回答兩者之間有所不同，可惜許多信徒在人們尋問他們信仰問題時，他們忘記了為基督贏得爭戰（得人）不是我們的責任（耶穌在約翰福音六：44說：「若不是差我來的父吸引人，就沒有能到我這裡來的。」），我們的責任非常容易，只是將主的福音告訴人，我們不應焦急想要知道結果，因傳福音是我們的工作，拯救人靈魂是上帝的工作。

        回答我們心中盼望的緣由，是將上帝的知識（上帝的話語）和我們的經歷結合在一起，有些人說，我知道這，知道那，這代表了他明白事情的結果，卻不知原因；彼得認為這種情形不夠，我們不但要知道心中的盼望，也要知道盼望的緣由，也就是我們的心思意念要和上帝的話語、上帝的靈相結合，再仔細思想，我們相信主的原因（為何要信）？而非毫無準備就對人說：「因我相信，所以你也要信。」最好的是我們能說，我信且我知為何而信；按著正意分解真理的道（提後2：15），且以溫柔敬畏的心回答人。

        主啊！求您賜下恩典，讓我們竭力在上帝面前作無愧的工人，按著正義分解真理的道；賜給我們以勇敢熱心態度，將我們信靠您的原因告訴其他的人。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        There's a difference between being able to "give a defense" and being defensive. Unfortunately, too many believers take it personally whenever someone questions their faith. They forget that it is not our responsibility to win anyone to Christ ("No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him," said Jesus in John 6:44). Our responsibility is simply to tell others about the Lord. We should have no performance anxiety or notches on our gun. Saving people is what God does. Telling people is what we do.

        Giving a defense for the hope within us, then, is inextricably tied to knowledge — knowledge of God, His word, and of our experience. I refer to knowledge of our experience deliberately. Sometimes people will say, "I know that I know that I know..." — which means, "I know, but I don't know why." Peter is saying that's not good enough. We've got to know why. We've got to be able to give a reason (NIV) for the hope that we have. This means we've got to engage our minds with God's word, with God's Spirit, and with ourselves, thinking through what it means to be a believer. It's not enough to say, through our lack of thoughtful preparation, that "You should believe because I do."
Rather, we've got to be able to say, "I believe, and here's why", rightly "dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). And we should do so "with gentleness and respect" (v.15 NIV).

        Lord, give us grace to be diligent to present ourselves "approved unto God, workers who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth". Give us the ability to express to others our faith in Jesus Christ with all boldness and fervency.