Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
1 Peter 3
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
Commentary:
3:3–4 Do not let your adorning be external. Peter’s instructions here were common in his day (see Seneca, Epistles, To Helvia 16.3–4; Dio Chrysostom, Orations 7.117; Juvenal, Satire 6.457–463; 490–511; Plutarch, Advice to Bride and Groom, Moralia 141E; Epictetus, Handbook 40). Such “external … adorning” can be witnessed in portraits and sculptures from the first century, where the elaborate braiding of women’s hair and the wearing of ostentatious jewelry was common in upper-class Roman society. In contrast to this, the Christian woman should focus on inner (hidden) beauty of the heart. What matters to God is the godly character of the wife, characterized by a gentle and quiet spirit. It is clear that Peter is not literally prohibiting all braiding of hair or all wearing of gold jewelry, because if this were the case the same prohibition would apply also to wearing clothing! Instead, Peter warns against both an inordinate preoccupation with personal appearance and material excess in such matters.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2409.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2409.
Questions:
- Wives: Being a gospel-centered wife means wanting God's best for your husband and encouraging who God is shaping him to be. It's about being submitted to HIS SANCTIFICATION. It's easy to tear down a husband that isn't living up to what God has called him to, but you can't criticize your way into a better marriage. But if you take whatever he does that's even remotely spiritual and applaud him for it, it will encourage him to be more spiritual. In your daily dynamic with your husband, are you more likely to criticize his shortcomings or praise the little wins?
- Husbands: As a husband, leading your family means following Jesus and giving them someone worth following. Sanctification is a life-long process where God changes your heart from the inside out, making you more and more like Jesus. Is this happening in your life? Are you closer to Jesus than you were a year ago? What is your spiritual trajectory?
- Singles: For the ladies, knowing you are called to submit to the leadership of your future husband should change the kind of guy you are willing to date. The purpose of dating isn't to have a good time or play the field... it's to find a life-long mate. Have you been settling when it comes to who you date? How important is his heart for Jesus to you?
Pray:
- That wives would learn to praise their husbands publicly and privately instead of only criticizing.
- That we would all be seeking to grow in our relationship with the Lord.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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