Marriage Monday 1 Peter 3

The scripture we are going to talk about today is so great! It is extremely rich with meaning and lessons for us wives. There is no way this crazy mama from "Podunk" Michigan can do it justice. I won't even try!

What I will do is share some thoughts interspersed throughout the text.

I want to challenge you to meditate on this passage at least for this whole week. Let is go in and work on your heart and let the Lord really speak to your heart. Read it through at least once a day and more if you can. You may print up the download I have provided or you can print up your favorite version from Bible Gateway. You just put the reference in and choose your version.

In like manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives,

There is that word 'adapt' again. ;-) (See this post) What strikes me here is that they are won over not by our discussion but by our example! Not by our multiple words, nagging and just plain old trying to make them just "get it", but by the godliness in our own lives! Ouch. How often do I think if I could just make him 'see', when it would be better for me to shut my mouth and live what I am preaching.

When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him--to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].

What kind of example do we give, to our husband (and children)? I love the amplified here with its description of 'reverence'. Am I respecting him when I question him on how he does things or what I think he should be doing? Do I honor and appreciate him? Do I enjoy him? Do you see what I am saying? There is sooooo much here to meditate on and seek the Holy Spirit's enlightenment on?!

Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.

Oh, that precious 'gentle and peaceful spirit'. Am I anxious or wrought up over things in our marriage, or in my husband? Am I able to trust it to the Lord and just be at peace? Do I focus more on my outward appearance than I do my 'hidden person of the heart'? What is more precious to God?

For it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were [accustomed] to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands [adapting themselves to them as themselves secondary and dependent upon them].

It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].

Do you remember the stories about Abraham? He made a few blunders, but Sarah obeyed him! She recognized his headship over her. What things do you let terrify you or make you anxious?

Here is 1 Peter 3:1-6 for you to print up and study this week. Click on the link here and follow the directions on the page you arrive at.

Let me know how you are doing with it. Please feel free to share your thoughts about this section of scripture and how it speaks to you.

This is what the download should look like.

Lord Jesus, how we desperately need You if we are even going to come close to living our Your Word. Open our eyes, speak to our hearts, impart your glorious grace to be the Godly wives you have called us to be.