WEDNESDAY September 13th
1 Peter 3:1–7
‘Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honour to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.’
We have had a longer reading today as we have come to the third chapter and in it, Peter is continuing from where he left off in chapter 2 and verse 18 where he talked about work ethics. Here Peter turns the attention of the readers to that which is God’s order for a good and a godly home. I believe that it is God’s ordained pattern that the husband should take the responsibility of leadership in the home, but the leadership is not a lording it over the wife nor the children but it is a leadership that should be 100% centred around love and respect. A love for the family, a love for the things of God to be central in the home and a love for honesty and integrity within the marriage setting and with a mutual respect between the man and the woman. And yes, I hold firmly onto the teaching of Scripture that a marriage is only a marriage when it has taken place between a man and a woman.
Sadly we see how the unbelieving society has eroded that which God has set in his word as the pattern for the marriage and the home, and sadly the same erosion is taking place within the setting of the Church.
We need to hold fast to that which God has set and established as his pattern for the home and for the family. We need to ensure that we seek to keep God at the centre of our homes and that his word is central to the outworking of who we are and what we do in regard to our family life. I often mention it and we regularly do so in our weekly prayer meetings, we need more than ever to pray for Church families and in particular for the children and youth. The greatest attack of the enemy at present seems to be with the children, seeking every way possible to pollute their minds with the filth of this world, we need to impart God’s righteous ways into their lives and pray for their protection.
I have three words written on a piece of paper in one of my small bibles, I wrote them down when Norman was sharing God’s word in the church on one occasion, and these three words are so applicable to parents today, they are ‘guard the gate’, in other words, watch out for that which you are allowing your children to fill their hearts and minds with, you are their guardians and it is essential to guard the gateway of their hearts and minds.
Spend some time today praying for the families in our fellowship, and for those who are belonging to another fellowship somewhere else and you read or listen to these devotions, do the same for the families in your own local fellowship.