1 Peter 3:1-7 "Marriage Attributes"

Read 1 Peter 3:1-7.

"... purity and reverence,...gentle and quiet spirit...considerate,... with respect...." NIV

It's almost as if Peter is giving a formula for a great marriage. Look at the attributes I pulled out of this passage. 

purity and reverence: How we should live out our Christian life. Holiness and a reverence for the mightiness and awesomeness of God. Our God view affects everything in our life -- the way we worship, the way we do our jobs, how we parent, and how we have relationships. Therefore, this is where we begin in having a great marriage -- with our relationship with God.

gentle and quiet spirit: I am constantly working on this one. It does not come naturally to me. I have always admired older women (I mean in their 80s) who are so gentle and quiet that every time they do speak, you stop and listen because you just know words of wisdom are going to come out. Maybe if I keep surrendering my mouth and opinions to the Lord long enough, by the time I'm 80 I'll be that woman. In the meantime, I keep surrendering away. However, my marriage won't wait until I'm 80, so I must keep a reign on my tongue and temper. I must by God's power and Spirit, maintain a gentle spirit.

considerate: One of the things (of many) that my husband has taught me is if you take the time to meet other people's needs, your needs will be met. You don't have to always go after your needs. Giving to another person will bring about a reciprocal relation where they give back to you.

with respect: Respect is huge in a marriage and I think one of the hardest attributes to maintain. Here is a person that you know the best of anyone in the world. And your love and desire for them to succeed is great. You want them to always come out on top in whatever they try. So you tend to see not only all their strengths, but their weaknesses, as well. And since we are so familiar with one another, you automatically believe you have the right to point out those weaknesses. Hopefully, your motivation is because you want them to excel. Sometimes, it's because you are ashamed of them or feel superior to them. The caution is, you are not perfect, and they know your weaknesses, too. In a marriage, the same grace that Christ afforded to you so freely should be given to those we love and are closest to. Grace is probably the greatest forms of respect we can ever give.

Lord, first, help my relationship with you to be holy and reverent. Then through Your Spirit's filling of a gentle and quiet spirit, help me to be considerate and respectful of my husband. I commit, once again, my marriage to You.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look up the definition of each of the key words in this passage. Then find more Scriptures on each.
   
2. How did Queen Esther exemplify these attributes?
   
3. Which attribute do you already do well? Which attribute do you need to especially work on this week? 
   
4. Click on the label for this post of "the tongue." Read on ways we are to guard our tongue. How's does this apply to a great marriage?

1 Peter 2:13-25 "Respecting Leadership"

Read 1 Peter 2:13-25.

"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." NIV

I really looked forward to the inauguration this year, not because I think the savior of our nation is in the White House now, but because I was getting so sick of Bush Bashing. I have not approved of all the presidents I've experienced in my lifetime, but I do my best to respect them as our leader. If they are elected in a democratic system, then the people have spoken, and I will move forward with that decision and support them in every way possible. Not only is this the toughest job out there, but God has allowed that person to be in that office and the Word says that I am to respect them. It doesn't say that I have to agree with every decision they make. It doesn't say that I have to throw parades to support them. It says that I show respect and live my life in honor of the leadership.

I've had some leadership positions, and they are tough. No one can fully understand a particular leadership position until they have walked that walk. Leaders carry a weight on their shoulders that no one else can share. They often have hundreds if not thousands of people they are responsible for. Do they all do it well? No. Are some leaders corrupt? Yes. But that doesn't diminish the responsibility they carry every day.

The Word says that we are to submit. Christ had to submit to corrupt religious leaders and then to the oppressive Roman rule. He was crucified under this kind of authority. And if they had not been in place at that time in Christ's life, God's plan for the salvation of the world could not have happened.

For what ever reason that is beyond our comprehension, God is in control of the authorities that are set in place -- the good and the bad. Probably because we have chosen independence from Him as a people when we chose sin. Therefore, He allows some of our choices to go through. But He can take those choices, however bad they may be, and make good out of them. We may set up systems where the tyrant or the corrupt can lead, but He can take the bad and make something good come out of it. After all, He took Christ from the crucifixion to the resurrection and thus, the redemption of mankind. It all occurred under submission to the authority God had in place.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look back through the OT at the authorities in God had in place. How were even some of the corrupt leaders' decisions brought around for God's good plan?
2. Do you have a problem with showing respect to authority? Why?
3. Do a word study of "loyalty." How does loyalty honor the authorities over us and ultimately, God?
4. How can you better show respect to our present leadership in our country? Your city? Your work? Your home?