Thursday March 22, 2012

Read 1 Peter 3:1-6

 

While the Word of God seems to forbid Christian - Non Christian marriages, it does highlight the problem that arises when two non Christians marry and one of them becomes a Christian. 1 Peter 3 advises women how to act when they find themselves in such a situation.

 

It is the purity and reverence of the lives of wives that will win husbands over. When the Lord says ‘without words’ it means something like ‘without nagging’. Non believers are to see Christ in their wives so much that they are uncontrollably drawn to Jesus. When non Christian husbands look at their wives they are to see Jesus.  Now of course there have been many beautifully obedient women married to non Christians who have not seen their husbands come to the faith. 1 Peter 3 is not making a promise. It is showing the right way to conduct oneself in that particular situation. It is not the wife’s duty to convert the husband. It is not her burden to save him. That is the Lord’s work and He alone can save. A Christian woman who applies 1 Peter 3 should have a clear conscience.

 

Christian wives should make themselves beautiful inwardly. The verse about braided hair and gold jewellery is not a prohibition against looking gorgeous. Rather, it is referring to the dress of prostitutes of the day. A Christian woman should not be attractive because she’s easy or cheap  or because she dresses a certain way. She is not to imitate a prostitute but is to be beautiful on the inside. She is to have qualities that endear her to her husband and draws him to the Lord.

 

Prayer:

¥ Do you know of any Christians married to non Christians. Write a list and commit to pray for that marriage daily. Pray that the believer shines the light of Jesus brightly and that the non believer comes to know Christ personally.

¥ Pray that all the women (married, single or other) in our congregation would have the beauty described in these verses. Pray that we would see our women believers maturing and growing in closeness to the Lord.

¥ Pray that our governments (local, state and federal) would  uphold and protect the sanctity of marriage. Pray that the Christians in politics would be willing and courageous enough to cross party lines to support biblical principles and ethics as required.