The Greatest Treasure – Week of May 11, 2026
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:14-15
The Greatest Treasure
My five-year-old daughter recently started a treasure chest, and to her it is everything. I’m always a little shocked at the “treasures” I find in there: a broken seashell, a bead, a piece of paper she drew on months ago, the cap from her favorite glitter pen that recently dried up. To us it all looks more like… junk. But a friend comes over and what’s the first thing she does? She shows them her treasures. She picks each one up and tells them exactly where she found it and why she loves it, and she could go on forever. She doesn’t need a script or a public speaking course; she’s simply so full of excitement that the news has to come out. She’s not worried about being judged or saying the wrong thing; she just wants everyone to see what she sees.
You and I are called to live with that same kind of readiness and excitement, but the stakes often feel much higher. We live in a world that can be critical and sometimes even hostile toward our faith. We face the daily suffering of exhaustion, the pressure to conform to the world’s standards, and the internal battle of our own pride. We often stay quiet because we’re afraid we don’t have the “right” words, or we think our lives aren’t good enough to be a witness for Christ.
The truth is, on our own, we are often unprepared. Our sinful nature makes us want to hide the treasure of our faith to avoid awkward moments or makes us respond to others with harshness instead of the “gentleness and respect” Peter writes about. When we try to live for God by our own willpower, we quickly run out of steam.
But Peter gives us a reason to live differently. He reminds us that our lives aren’t built on our own shifting moods, but on the living Christ.
Jesus lives! That is the “reason for the hope” that we have. He lived the perfect life of courage that we often lack. He stood before His accusers with perfect gentleness so that we could be forgiven for our moments of cowardice and anger. Because Jesus lives, you have a treasure far greater than anything a child could hide in their treasure chest. You have the peace of knowing your sins are gone and your future is secure with God.
This reality changes the way we live. We don’t live for him to earn a treasure; we live for him because he is our treasure. He is our Lord who has already won the victory. When people see your hope in the middle of a stressful day or your gentleness when you’re being criticized, they might ask “why?” You don’t need a theological degree to answer. Like my daughter with her broken seashell, you get to speak with certainty and excitement of the treasure you have in your Savior. He lives to call you his own, and he lives through you to reach others.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the hope that only you can provide. Forgive me for the times I am silent or harsh, and help me to revere you as Lord in my heart so that I am always ready to share your love with gentleness. Amen.
A Question to Consider:
Who is one person in your life, perhaps a parent of a student or a neighbor, who needs to see the “reason for your hope” this week? How can you show them Christ’s gentleness?
