Day 15 – Godly Counsel for All
(1 Peter 3:1-12)
Relationships are part of God’s created order because relationships involve community, and we are designed to live and function in community. We are made in the image of God and the Trinity is the perfect example of life in community. Community life means that we live our lives in relationships.
To have a good life, we must build and maintain good relationships. Whether married or single, today’s passage gives counsel to all on how to conduct ourselves in every relationships God has placed us in.
Married women
The married women are reminded of their high calling in Christ, which places high demand on their lives and conduct as wives. For the married woman, respecting and submitting to your husband is a personal choice in response to who you are in Christ. It is not a devaluation of your person, but an act of obedience to Christ.
God demands a high standard of conduct from the Christian married woman that points the husband to Christ without preaching. Her conduct should be enough gospel to her husband. The inner beauty of the wife, characterised by a gentle and quiet spirit, is valued more by God over outward beauty and appearance.
Married men
The call of married men is to live with their wives in a considerate manner (verse 7). This means that men should honour their wives in a way that honours God. To honour your wife is to treat her with respect. It means that you treasure her because you find her valuable. What you value you will love, cherish, and protect.
The last part of the verse warns that when you do not treat your wife well as God demands, you will be living under a closed heaven. This means that your prayers will be offensive to God and will not get answers. To operate under an open heaven, you must treat your wife honourably.
Godly Counsel for All
Finally, in every relationship, whether married or single, pursue unity of the spirit, love for one another, tender-hearted and a humble mind. Refuse the desire to retaliate, speak only what is true and let only clean words come out of your mouth.
Do good to all in all your relationships, outdo one another with goodness. This is your higher calling in Christ.
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you“
Ephesians 4:32
