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1 Peter 3:1-7
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. God’s heart rejoices when a man and a woman, as adopted children of God, unite in holy matrimony vowing to put and keep him first in their life. When God is our first priority, all other priorities fall into their right priority! Peter continues his teaching concerning Christian relationships by focusing on husbands and wives in the first half of chapter 3. Remember his whole point is to teach us that new life in Christ is to be a testimony that will draw others to Christ. Ongoing and deliberate study of the biblical doctrine of marriage is all but extinct in many local churches today. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Peter addresses Christian marriage from a perspective that is as relevant today as breathing! As God always does when he speaks to both husbands and wives he addresses wives first.
- THE MANNER OF LIVING FOR A GODLY WIFE! V.1b. Everyone has heard marriage is a 50-50 relationship. The truth is 50-50 is a formula for broken marriages. It might cause one to ask if only 50% of a person’s life is being devoted to marriage, where’s the other 50% being devoted? All successful marriages are 100%-100%. A person can give 100% to the devotion of their marriage only if they’ve given 100% of their life to God as the sovereign Lord. Why is that? If a person can’t or won’t give their entire life to a thrice holy God – they certainly can’t and won’t give it to another sinful human being! The manner of living for a godly wife is one of submission to her Lord and Savior first, then to her husband. It should be noted that if a husband wants his wife to submit to him he must first teach her how by submitting himself to the Lord. So if you want to get right down to it – this matter of submission against with us as men.
- THE MISSION FOR A GODLY WIFE! V. 1b. Read 3:1 carefully and you will see God has given the power of influence to wives. Peter is telling Christian wives they have a powerful gift of influence over their husbands. A Christian wife’s mission is to live her personal life as a woman of God in submission to her Savior first then to her husband. I think there are three truths here ladies need to know: 1 = there is no more demanding or harder ministry given to women; 2 = there is high and glorious reward for such godly women; 3 = your husband’s ministry for the Lord will be a result of your godly influence.
- THE METHOD OF LIVING FOR A GODLY WIFE! V. 2. Peter suggests three character traits of a godly wife. First, she does not nag or browbeat her husband about religion. Second, she respects him. Even though her husband may not “get it” nor may he deserve respect, a godly wife understands that respect demonstrated in daily living, is honor before the Lord. Third, is pure conduct which simply means extremely high moral and ethical behavior as a wife. Every man who has such a wife is this ought to thank God daily for such a high and holy gift.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
