1 Peter 3:1-7
As Christians and people of faith our conduct is far more important than our words. How we present ourselves, how we treat others, our demeanor, our language our behavior even the choices we make about how we spend our time and money matter immensely to those around us. People remember what they see. Woman- God fearing or not-have always and will always be slightly concerned about beauty, appearance and presentation.
Since the beginning women have a certain physical appeal. Abraham’s wife Sarah was, the bible says, beautiful. Rebekah, Bathsheba and Esther also beauties and the bible takes care to tell us this. God made females fine specimens of his creation, like a dainty daffodils, a rose in full bloom or a dahlia complex and mathematical. Peter understands the tendency women have because of who they have been made to be. He makes this appeal to women in particular, “do not let your adorning be merely external, but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with imperishable beauty of a gentle heart and quiet spirit” Women appeal to men just by existing, Peter implores them then, rather then appealing to men who can see you and are acutely aware of your outward features especially when they are accentuated, appeal to God by adorning your inner spirit with what only he can see.
This will also manifest on the outside as well. Have you ever seen a really beautiful woman open her mouth and let out a string of profanity or start screaming at her children. Suddenly her beautiful face fades into a contorted mass of grotesqueness that you quickly turn from. A kind and gracious woman will draw you towards her regardless of her curves and jewels. What is appealing and pleasing to God is faith. God is attracted to the inner working of our heart, peace, love, patience and kindness, faithfulness mercy and purity. These attributes are not a sign of weakness, but uniqueness. Our flesh cannot win God over, it cannot tempt God or draw him to us, only the spirit of a person can appeal to God or repel him.
External beauty has always been relevant, but never more so than in today’s culture. I think a good question to ask ourselves as we fancy ourselves in the mirror. 1. What is my motive? 2. Am I trying to make up for what I lack in personality? 3. Am I trying to get attention and whose? 4. If I had no beauty would people still like me and want to be with me? And if I were standing naked, with no flesh whatsoever, before God’s throne would he see beauty?
When we submit to our own husbands it is attractive not only to them, but to God. Submission is an act of humility. God is partial towards the humble. Peter makes this plea to women on the heels of “do good even to those who are unjust.” By doing good we put to silence the ignorance of the foolish people., like unreasonable husbands. I find it so kind of God to include these matters into his word that many of us deal with on a day-to-day basis. There are many women who deal with unjust husbands every day. What is Peter’s solution? Do good to them. When we do good it proves our character not their worth and it boosts our self-confidence, heaping coals on the head of the unjust. When we are able to muster goodness towards someone unkind or unreasonable, we can be assured we are gaining crowns in heaven. When we do evil, or repay evil for evil, what does it say about who we are?
My favorite verse from this passage is to women: “do not fear anything that is frightening.” I am commanded to not be afraid of things that are fearful. I AM afraid of everything, even things not fearful, but especially things that are fearful. Perhaps women are more susceptible ‘as the weaker vessels’ to fear, but also, I wonder if this was in relation to mean husbands. God does not want woman to be tiptoeing around husbands in fear of tempers, bad attitudes or moodiness. There is a way we can live respectful and gentle pure and quiet spirited without it being driven by fear and intimidation. Peter is telling us to not be afraid of things that ought to scare you, face them. He implores women to be gentle, but tough. I like it.
Peter uses Sarah as an example. He didn’t use someone who was a door mat. Sarah was the boss in her tents in many ways. Sarah was not a church mouse. Many of the Old Testament women were decision makers, they were strong, brave and resilient and yet humble, and able to respect their husbands in a way that made them respectable. This is not about bowing down before men, this is about standing for what we believe in, standing in the face of men. The way I see this, Peter is telling women to be the God fearing woman that he made you to be when he created and fashioned a woman. Be excellent, be every bit the powerhouse you can be, that is not timid and withdrawing in fear, but choosing to be humble, modest, gracious, durable and godly.
my faith place 