Today my Bible reading brings me to Peter’s first letter, and chapter three discusses the role and behavior of godly women. What might those characteristics be? Can you guess a few by looking at godly women in your own life?
Peter begins with advice on how godly wives may provide LEADERSHIP to their lost husbands. That’s right—leadership. They can LEAD them to Christ by exercising godly submission.
Think of that: submission IS leadership in God’s kingdom.
“Wives, submit to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live as they observe your pure, reverent lives” I Peter 3:1-2.
And what about every woman’s favorite topic, beauty—the source of today’s billion-dollar business in makeup, clothes, fashion, diet books and fitness schemes? God has other priorities:
“Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes. Instead, it should consist of what is INSIDE THE HEART with the imperishable quality of a GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming” 1 Peter 3:3-6.
The Bible emphasizes INNER BEAUTY. That should come as no surprise: look inside her heart for a GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT.
And guess what? Husbands are told to be gentle too.
“Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker [more sensitive] nature, yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered” 1 Peter 3:7.
Men: Be gentle and patient with the ladies—or YOUR PRAYERS WILL BE HINDERED.
Lord, teach us to honor you by honoring others in gentleness and mutual submission.
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Household Words: 