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In today’s culture the very idea of this word sends chills up a woman’s spine! LOL! However, it is NOT meant to be a bad thing. God does not look at us as less than our husbands. We have been given a VERY special role. And, if today’s Christian woman will grasp what God’s Word is telling us, we really CAN have a wonderful…happy…AND fulfilling marriage.
1 Peter 3:1-6:
IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word of God, they may be won over not by discussion but by the godly lives of their wives,
Submissive (hupotasso) – obey, submit self unto, to place in order.
We NEED to have roles within the marriage. There are roles in all areas of life. If there were no leaders there would be chaos. We MUST have laws, order, and leaders. God CHOSE for man to be the HEAD of the woman and for woman to SUBMIT her will to her own husband.
When we do this we have the opportunity to WIN our husbands to the Lord if they are unsaved, or we can help them get to where God wants them to be spiritually if they are saved. This is EXTREMELY POWERFUL!
When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him–to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband.
Pure and Modest comes from the word chaste in the King James Bible which is (hagnos) or (hagios) in its original Greek. It means; sacred, consecrated, holy, clean, and pure.
At first glance you may think it means how we dress…not so…it is how we we display our WALK with the Lord. Are we living a consecrated life before our husbands? Do we conduct ourselves towards them in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord? Or culture?
Let not yours be the merely external adorning with elaborate interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes;
What we look like will only get us so far. To really help our husbands we must have a beauty that comes from within. A beauty that ONLY a submitted, obedient, and consecrated life can bring.
But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is not anxious or wrought up, but is very precious in the sight of God.
The first part of verse 4 is very interesting and hit home for me. Gentle and peaceful spirit comes from meek (praus) and quiet (hesuchios).
Meek (praus) means; humble, mild, gentle, of a soothing disposition, moderate, forbearing, soft, and tender.
On the flip side; prone to anger, savage, fierce, perilous, and difficult.
Quiet (hesuchios) means; quiet, still, tranquil, peaceful, tolerant.
On the flip side; fierce and violent.
We are to treat our husbands with the up most respect. They should not be yelled at or chastised by us. Our job as mentioned in the first part of this series is to be a balm to them. When we behave in a way that is angry, difficult, or ungodly, we are harming our husbands and marriages!
The last part of verse 4 in the King James is, “which is in the sight of God of great price.” Price comes from (poluteles) and means; extremely expensive, costly, very precious, of great price, excellent.
WOW! Daddy APPROVES big time when we are the wives that HE created us to be! We are of a great price. We are obedient daughters. We are not sad or angry that we are submitted to our husbands. Why? Simple. When your life is the Lord’s, and you study His Word, and you OBEY His commands, your will becomes HIS will!
For it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were accustomed to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands adapting themselves to them as themselves secondary and dependent upon them.
It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].
These women understood the roles God gave them. They knew that they were important, and that being submitted wives did not mean they were lowly. It meant that God had entrusted them with a GREAT purpose. The purpose to HELP their man be ALL that God created him to be. This is our purpose. To HELP.
In closing, this goes against EVERYTHING this society teaches. Television shows make men out to be stupid and the women are smart. This culture says, “Hit the road, Jack!” It is a HIGH calling and HUGE challenge to go against the current.
However, I strongly URGE you to press through. Press past what society says. Press past the lies of the enemy who is the father of lies and the ruler of this present darkness. I urge you to press IN with the Lord and TRUST Him. His purpose is NOT to harm, hurt, or take away your happiness.
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.~ Jeremiah 29:11
Let’s Pray;
Daddy God, thank You for my role as wife. Thank You for creating me to be a Help Meet to my husband. Thank You that I do not have to wonder what I should do. Thank You that Your Word is Truth and holds power. Thank You that You only have my BEST interest in mind…even when I do not see it. Lord, help me to be a wife that pleases You. Help me to be a wife that brings glory to Your Worthy Name! Help me to be the wife that my husband needs. Show me where I need to change MY heart. Show me HOW to do this. Give me strength to overcome my flesh when it creeps up. Help me to SHINE BRIGHTLY for You in my life and marriage. let my husband see YOUR loving eyes shining through mine. Thank YOU. I love You, Daddy! In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Your Homework:
Read about the way Jesus’ Life and Character taught us how to be what GOD called us to be.
Look up the following Scriptures:
- Psalm 40:6
- John 14:15
- Colossians 3:18
- Titus 2:5
- 1 Peter 1:13-15
- 1 Peter 3:9-17
Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
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This was a great devotional! My husband and I have only been married about 2 years now and it is hard. We are both very committed and do not consider divorce an option. We are in it for the long haul! I love this site it is truly helping me and making a difference in my life.