Who's In Charge Here? A Series on Authority
Friday, January 30, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, as another week of work and school draws to a close for millions of people across America, I pray that all such people will not simply say, “Thank God it’s Friday,” but rather “Thank God for giving me meaning and purpose in my life!” I pray especially for those who see work as simply a means to pay for the stuff that will bring happiness, because it won’t. I pray for students who go to school only because they have to, rather than as a privilege to enjoy, and as a means to gain the skills necessary to serve You more effectively. I pray that the upcoming weekend will not be just an opportunity to be away from work for two days or to have fun, but rather that we will invest it in ways that will bring You glory and honor. I pray that You will use me and all people who bear Your name, to live boldly and confidently for You, that You may receive glory and honor, and draw many to Your Kingdom. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Verses
1 Peter 3:1-7
1In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands, even those who refuse to accept the Good News. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words. They will be won over 2by watching your pure, godly behavior.
3Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, when she called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. If you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.
Reflecting on God's Word
What does it mean to you to have a “good” marriage?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
Today is our third day of reading this Scripture from 1 Peter 3. What do you see in it today that you hadn’t seen after the first two readings?
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
What does this Scripture tell us about God’s purpose for our lives?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
What one action do you need to take as a result of reading today’s Scripture?
Thoughts: The Beauty That Comes from Within...
The Apostle Peter’s command not to be concerned about the “outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or fancy clothes,” but to be “known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God,” seems to timely to have been written nearly 2,000 years ago! In our world, especially in the western world of the 21st century, outward appearances are so important. In fact, one of the reasons we are often surprised when we hear of a marriage that has failed among our friends, or of a Christian leader who has “fallen” is that we ARE so focused on outward appearances rather than that inward beauty that God values so highly. Jesus spoke of our speech coming from “the abundance of the heart.” In other words, good words come from a good heart, and evil words come from an evil heart. The Christian life, if it is anything is a life that is lived from the inside out. Beauty for a Christian wife is not primarily external. True beauty, lasting beauty comes from a heart that is alive and faithful to Jesus Christ. That is true of husbands as well as wives.
While Peter gave a rather extended discourse on wives’ obligations to husbands, it is clear from his brief closing comment that he expected husbands to operate from an interior beauty that makes the exterior actions of honoring and understanding one’s wife possible. Life in the 21st century can be so superficial, even among Christians. We hesitate to share our struggles lest others think that we are weak (we are!). We hesitate to share our successes lest others think that we are proud (and sometimes we are that, as well.). What we find from Peter’s exhortations to wives and husbands is that we must live from a life that is anchored in Jesus Christ. He must be the one living in our hearts if our marriages—or any other relationships are going to be healthy. One may be able to keep up a “front” of exterior beauty for years, even decades, but the reality is one day each of us will stand before Jesus. On that day it will be our hearts, our inner beauty that matters and that alone. So, let’s start working on that inner beauty now—After all, that’s what really counts!