Jack Martens was a band teacher of teens in San Francisco. For thirty-three years he braved the challenges of less-than-ideal teaching conditions at Ben Franklin Middle School to live out his faith. More than half of Mr. Martens’s students were from broken homes, on welfare, and from families where English was not the first language.
It was in those circumstances that this bearded band teacher shepherded his students through the less-than-green pastures of life. “I love these kids,” he said. “And they love me. In me they can see my love for Jesus Christ.”
Although Mr. Martens always kept a Bible and other Christian symbols on his desk, it was his interaction with the kids that was his primary witness. He ate lunch with his kids to help them talk through their problems. He stayed after school to help them with difficult fingerings on their instruments. Through the mechanics of music he was able to show his students they were capable of something beautiful.[1]
That story about Mr. Martens reminds us about our need to be witnesses for Christ wherever we work, live, or play. The apostle Peter tells his readers to intentionally evangelize others even when in the midst of suffering (1 Pet 3:15–16). Peter reminds his readers that to share their faith, they first must have a dedication of Jesus in their hearts. Peter[2] writes, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts” (1 Pet 3:15a, NASB).[3] This is contrary to the fear of others Peter has just mentioned in 1 Peter 3:14. Peter is saying that we don’t let fear live in our hearts because we have placed Christ in our hearts. Peter exhorts his readers to make an inner commitment to Christ. I like how the NIV translates this phrase, “revere Christ as Lord.”
To “sanctify” Christ means we turn everything over to him, we live only to please him, and we seek to glorify him. It means we set Jesus in a unique place as Lord and Master over our lives.
To set Christ apart “in your hearts” means to separate from the world. The Greek word for heart, kardiais, “refers to the mind as the core of one’s feelings, thoughts, and volition; it is the basic self.”[4] Instead of having the world’s passions and desires in our hearts, we should have Christ in our hearts, and as a result we want what he wants. Peter makes it clear that before we begin witnessing about our faith (1 Pet 3:15b–16) we have to get our heart right (1 Pet 3:15a).
Peter teaches us that to evangelize others we must fully consecrate Jesus in our hearts. When we say Jesus is Lord it’s not as if we’ve accepted him as our Savior, and then we need to take the next step to elevate him to Lord of our lives. Instead, when we make Christ Savior and accept him for who he is and what he did, we are in effect making him Lord. This is because of who Jesus is. Jesus is God (John 1:1, 14; Col 1:16-17). Jesus is sovereign (Matt 12:8 and John 5:17). Jesus is Savior (John 1:14, Heb 4:15; Phil 2:7-8). Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:21; Rom 10:9).[5]
But what does this look like for a practical application? This is how we set Christ as Lord of our lives. We do what he wants us to do, we desire what he longs for, we avoid what he cautions us against. Another way to practically consecrate Jesus as Lord in our hearts is to ask some questions. Would Jesus do that action? Would Jesus watch that movie? Would Jesus say those words? Would Jesus treat that person that way? It is in these ways that Jesus governs us and guides us.
Most of us have had the experience of driving “self-assist” cars. The self-assist car gives you help when you’re veering off the road, when you get distracted, or if an obstacle suddenly appears ahead of you. A self-assist car does what either you cannot do or what you’ve failed to do. You are driving the vehicle, you are conscious, but you allow the car to help you.
I think that’s what witnessing to others looks like when we dedicate our hearts and lives to Jesus. We actively try to witness and share our faith with others. But when we have Jesus dedicated in our hearts he steps in to help us when we cannot do or say what we need to do or say.
It’s in that way that we can dedicate Jesus in our hearts as the first step to sharing our faith just like Mr. Martens did for many years.
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Christopher L. Scott is a pastor and author of the book, Walking Straight When Life Goes Sideways: Essential Christian Truths for Enduring Life’s Trials (Wipf and Stock). He provides hundreds of free articles, videos, and Bible study resources at his website ChristopherLynnScott.com.
[1] This story is told by Greg Asimakoupoulos and recorded by Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof in their book, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 273–274.
[2] Here Peter is quoting a portion from Isaiah 8:13. The original quotation was an instruction for Isaiah’s readers to dedicate their lives to Yahweh, but Peter applies the text here to Christ. Yahweh was the personal name of God used by Israel in the Old Testament. It was also the name frequently used to show God’s covenant and promise made uniquely to Israel. It was a distinct name for God which was different than the names of other gods in their culture. “The name, Yahweh, comes from the Hebrew verb YHWH which is “the verb ‘to be’, meaning ‘he is (alive, present, active)’ or ‘he brings into being’” (J. A. Motyer, “Name,” in New Bible Dictionary, ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. [Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996], 801. New Testament scholar Thomas Schreiner writes, “The move from Yahweh to Christ is common in the New Testament, reflecting the conviction that Jesus the Messiah deserves the same honor as Yahweh” (Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary [Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003], 173).
[3] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
[4] Grant R. Osborne, 1–2 Peter, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, vol. 18 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2011), 222.
[5] Adapted from John MacArthur, The Gospel According to Jesus (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008), 226-233.