DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
OCTOBER 16, 2026
READ: 1 Peter 3 (Focus vs. 13-17)
MEMORY VERSE
Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15
BACKGROUND
It was late fall, and my wife and I were going to take a trip by car. The day before our planned departure, it began to snow, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t taken the car in to have snow tires put on.
The snowy, deteriorating conditions led to a long line at the tire shop—something I could have avoided with better planning. Much of life is about getting ready, isn’t it? It’s vital for us to think ahead, prepare for what eventualities might occur, and make sure we’ve planned well.
This is true of our spiritual life as well. In Matthew 24, Jesus pointed out the necessity of being all set for His later return. He told His listeners that they “must be ready” because He will come again (v. 44).
And Peter later wrote that believers should prepare themselves ahead of time intellectually and spiritually “to give the reason for the hope that [they] have” (1 Peter 3:15).
Our lives should be ones of preparation. First, we must make sure we’re ready for Jesus’ return by putting our faith in Him. Next, our task is to continually prepare ourselves for service for Him—even if it means to “suffer for doing good” (v. 17). With His help, let’s get ready.
Dave Branon
INSIGHT
After we’ve placed our trust in Jesus as our Savior and are ready to meet Him when He returns, we’re called to share our hope in Christ with others. The apostle Peter tells us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).
The sometimes-overlooked key to his instructions on sharing our faith is that there needs to be a catalyst in our lives that causes people to ask about it.
That catalyst is a Christlike, hope-filled life, which opens the door to sharing about our relationship with Jesus. Because we live in a desperate world, a life that displays hope can cause people to want what they see in us.
God can help us “be prepared” to tell others of our Savior (v. 15), who is our source of hope through His resurrection (1:3).
Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
How are you sure you’re ready to meet Jesus when He returns or when you die? What can you do to better prepare to serve and honor God?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“Our lives should be ones of preparation. First, we must make sure we’re ready for Jesus’ return by putting our faith in Him. Next, our task is to continually prepare ourselves for service for Him. With His help, let’s get ready.”
PR’s TAKE
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3esv
“When He returns is not as important as the fact that we are ready for Him when He returns.” A.W. Tozer
“When you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready” Joe Duncan/Beforesam
PRAYER
“Dear Jesus, please help me use my time wisely—preparing for what You want me to do. While I handle daily responsibilities, help me to also set aside times for spiritual preparation.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“MY HOPE IS BUILT”
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found:
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
