"Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (vv 14b-15).
The issue here is the opposition and ridicule one will face if they choose to do what is right. You may know what that feels like. The group wants to go one way, and you have a choice—go with the crowd, or go against them by doing what is right. Which is easy, except the fact that going against the crowd is hard.
But why? The reason it's hard is because in that moment we are mostly concerned about what others think of us. But Peter wants us to be concerned with honoring Christ. That's the key to always being prepared to give a reason for the hope you have—setting your heart on honoring Christ as holy, rather than on being concerned with what others think of you.
Easier said than done for sure. But think about the hope that we have for moment. Our hope is founded in Christ himself, and because of him we get to spend eternity with him in heaven. Eternity. Now think about your reputation. Usually it only matters for a moment, but even if it mattered for your whole lifetime, how does that compare with eternity?
I know this does not guarantee you will do what is right the next time you're faced with a decision to go against the crowd. But I'm hopeful that it will cause you to think twice. Will you make your choice out of fear of what others will think? Or will you make your choice out of a heart that is set on honoring Christ as holy?
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