1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."
• Meekness:
Matthew 11:29 (NKJV) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."
2 Timothy 2:25-26 (NKJV) "in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."
• Fear:
1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"
Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV) "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV) "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."
Psalms 111:10 (NKJV) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever."
"We are to give "the reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” [1 Peter 3:15.] What fear? Fear lest your words should savor of self-importance, lest unadvised words should be spoken. The words and the manners are to be after Christ’s likeness. {Lt 122, 1899, par. 6}
"The example which Christ has given to the world forbids all levity and cheapness, and if the life is made fragrant by the grace of God, these elements will not appear. A genuine cheerfulness, an uplifting influence, will flow forth from all who love God and keep His commandments. And this carries with it a convincing, converting power. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), says the apostle. Why with fear and trembling? Lest you shall in any way misrepresent your holy faith by lightness, by trifling, by jesting or joking, and thus give others the impression that the truth which you profess has no sanctifying influence upon the character.14 {TMK 138.3}
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is not a slavish fear, but a fear to dishonor His name. {Lt173-1899.}
"When the men working in the different lines of God’s cause are faithful Christians, laboring under the supervision of God, they will be enabled to do with honor the work placed in their hands. They are to go forward with fear and trembling, fearing lest in some emergency they do something that will misrepresent the institution which is one of the Lord’s great agencies for the advancement of His truth. {Lt67-1902.3}
"Paul continues, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Be afraid lest in word or deed you shall misrepresent the name of Christian. ... Pursue a course that will honor Christ, the One who works with every soul who bears fruit to His glory. {Lt142-1903.14}
"As followers of Christ we should make our words such as to be a help and an encouragement to one another in the Christian life. Far more than we do, we need to speak of the precious chapters in our experience. We should speak of the mercy and loving-kindness of God, of the matchless depths of the Saviour’s love. Our words should be words of praise and thanksgiving. If the mind and heart are full of the love of God, this will be revealed in the conversation. It will not be a difficult matter to impart that which enters into our spiritual life. Great thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, unselfish purposes, yearnings for piety and holiness, will bear fruit in words that reveal the character of the heart treasure. When Christ is thus revealed in our speech, it will have power in winning souls to Him. {COL 338.1}