Be Still… – Page 423 – Relevant Reflections to Let God's Word Back Into Your Hands and Heart

1 Peter 3:7-12 – Is This Hard?

What a beautiful message to men, particularly husbands, here. If you are a wife, do you felt understood and respected? Do you feel like your marriage is in equal partnership with your spouse? Husbands – same questions only reversed. It can be hard. Relationships must be treated with care and attention. There would be a lot more happy marriages if husbands and wives were to really pay attention to these truths (see previous reading for message to wives).

While today’s reading starts out focusing on husbands, it quickly moves on to the rest of us, women included I would say. If we call ourselves Christian, that is a follower of Christ, we should want to claim that and be known for that. Unfortunately, we are seeing a drifting away of the kinds of holy living we’ve been reading about. There is so much emphasis these days on self and not enough on God’s empowerment and our response. Continue reading “1 Peter 3:7-12 – Is This Hard?”

1 Peter 3:1-6 – For Wives Especially

Read 1 Peter 3:1-16

This passage is similar to one we read in Ephesians 5 (I’ll have to grab link or you can search for that passage if you want to see how I dealt with the instructions to wives from that perspective.) In Ephesians, Paul was speaking, this is Peter. Peter seems a little more positive for women, in general. It seems as if his instructions could apply to all women. Lest, married women would look dumpy and frumpy, while unmarried women would look dressed and polished, lipstick and all. For wives then, we have an “extra” duty from other women.

This spoke to me having been a battered wife for fifteen years. You begin to wonder if something is wrong with you. If I had read this verse during that time, I think I would have found a lot of comfort and strength. I was at least trying my best to be pure, but it wasn’t working. There was much more emphasis on looking nice with extra jewelry, makeup, etc. That isn’t the right focus! I wish I could have lived without fear. But that was a lifetime ago. Continue reading “1 Peter 3:1-6 – For Wives Especially”

1 Peter 2:18-25 – Please God

Read 1 Peter 2:18-25

We’ve been in a series of readings lately dealing with how we should live. Many people might think, “I don’t want to be told how to live, I want to live my life the way I want.” Other people are looking for the kind of living that will please God because they have a truly thankful heart. Thankful for all that God has done for them, and continues to do on a daily basis. God loves us all no matter what way we think. I don’t know about you, but I want to please my God, and that’s not just because I’m a “people pleaser.” With God, it goes so much deeper.

For those who follow Jesus and want to be more like him, a passage like this is refreshing. We should be all about pleasing God. We can’t be sinless like Jesus, but we can choose to behave in ways that honor God. For those people who are a little stubborn or don’t have a relationship with God, hearing how to please him may not matter at all. Continue reading “1 Peter 2:18-25 – Please God”

1 Peter 2:13-17 – Respect Authority

Read 1 Peter 2:13-17

“Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.” That pretty much sums up today’s reading. Sounds simple enough. What about respect the king? Not all of us have a king. We do all have an authority or governing body setting earthly human laws to follow. We may not be a fan of these laws, but they exist to protect.

I admit I have a lead foot when it comes to driving. I like to drive fast. I like to get where I’m going. Speed limits are in place to protect us, help with fuel efficiency or some other reason. It was a huge realization for me when I realized that by breaking man’s speed limit law, I was not obeying God’s desire for me to obey authority. This is just one example. Continue reading “1 Peter 2:13-17 – Respect Authority”

1 Peter 2:1-12 – Living Stones

Read 1 Peter 2:1-12

We are living stones. That is an image not on my radar. I may be living and breathing, seeing and smelling– but as a stone? Not so much. But when you play out the metaphor here, with Jesus being the cornerstone, I’m thrilled to be a living stone.

We’ve all seen buildings with a prominent cornerstone. It will often have the year engraved. Wikipedia defines “cornerstone” (or foundation stone or setting stone) to be “the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.” Now think about how this impacts us when we think of Jesus as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-22). Continue reading “1 Peter 2:1-12 – Living Stones”

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