Peter, A Breath of Fresh Air
I’m reading this passage with a smile on my face because in the quietness of this hour, with my cheerios and coffee, I do not feel very captivating. That’s why I’m here, studying God’s Word, looking into the mirror that reflects my heart and soul so that I can work on what is not good or what could be better. My bed hair is falling all around my face. My breath would send a dog packing. I stumbled into my desk chair with an ungraceful plop, but I didn’t spill my coffee. Good news…my pj top DOES match my pj pants. Woohoo. (Sarcasm here.) SO glad, ladies, that Peter is telling us it is not the outer beauty that captivates our man, our “dear husband”, but it is “our life of holy beauty” that draws them to us. Wow. Let’s work on that first…then get a shower for the outside.
1 Peter 3, The Message
1-4 The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.
4-6 Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.
7 The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.
What do we learn?
–Work on the inside first! Ask God to help you see what He can help you tidy up so that we are more captivating.
–Live a holy life, in the ebb and flow of God’s rhythm of gracious kindness.
–Address each other with dignity. I’m going to address Randy with “my dear husband” all day long today. (Smiling.) No, really.
–Honor and respect each other. We are equals. Work with each other’s strengths! Our strengths compliment each other not work against each other!
–Put your mate’s desires ahead of your own desires. For instance, have we asked lately what does he want? What does she want? How can I help him or her obtain that for their life?
–Delight the heart of God by dressing ourselves in gentle, gracious kindness.
–When we delight each other, we delight the heart of God!
–Our prayer life for and with each other are more powerful when we honor our husbands and wives! Wow!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the created union of husband and wife. Since Adam and Eve, you have delighted to be with your created humans. We draw close to You this morning, grateful for loving us the way you do. Because of Your Perfect Love, we love each other more. We love each other better. We God-love prompts Godly actions. We seek inner beauty that captivates! Continue to work on me, from the inside out. Thank you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
