Scripture to Read: 1 Peter 3:1–2
As we continue to examine the marriage relationship according to God, He gives us this same Truth about the wife’s relationship to her husband in Ephesians 5:22–24. We must not miss this beautiful picture God has given us in His Word. God tells us that the marriage relationship should be an amazing picture of the wife representing the body of Christ (the church) in the marriage relationship, and the husband should represent Christ in the marriage. In 1 Peter 3:1, God, through Peter, tells all wives who may have husbands who are NOT walking with Christ to still submit to their husband’s authority. WHY? God’s Word is clear in 1 Peter 3:1–2, …so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. God wants every Christian wife to know that through her godly behavior, perhaps her disobedient husband may be won over to Christ without her using any words, but he simply observes how she respects him and loves him. The Amplified Version says it like this in 1 Peter 3:2, when they see your modest and respectful behavior [together with your devotion and appreciation—love your husband, encourage him, and enjoy him as a blessing from God]. Today, our culture is so anti–biblical that many want to argue against God’s Word. Nevertheless, God shows us His incredible grace, even when we struggle to submit to His authority. But we must die to our cultural mindset and renew our minds through Christ.
Challenge & Application
1. How have you seen healthy marriage relationships modeling the picture God gives in Ephesians 5 and 1 Peter 3?
2. Why is it so important to marry a godly spouse and then submit to God’s Truth in Ephesians 5 and 1 Peter 3?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!