Thursday 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: Not only are wives supposed to do their best to encourage their husbands' sanctification, but they are to pursue their own as well. A gospel-centered wife is submitted to HER SANCTIFICATION. She is seeing to it that her inner beauty grows and is seen in a peaceful spirit that is submitted to Jesus. What is your spiritual trajectory? What are you doing on a daily basis to grow more like Jesus?
- Husbands: Part of your assignment as a husband is to lead your wife and family spiritually. You are to do all you can to foster her spiritual growth. What are you doing to ensure your wife and kids are growing in their walks with the Lord? How are you leading out in this?
- Singles: For the guys, you must remember that the purpose of dating is to find a mate to marry. You want to find a wife that is sold out to Jesus; someone that can encourage you to be the most godly man possible; someone that you can gently lead towards Jesus. Has this been a priority in your dating?
Pray:
- That husbands and wives would all be dedicated to becoming more like Jesus.
- That God would help us do marriage the way He designed it.
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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