1 Peter 3 - Mother's Day Message

Like James, Peter preaches faith and trust in the authority of Jesus and good Christian behavior.  This chapter is harder to live out than it should be.  But we can challenge each other to be the Christian men and women God expects us to be.

I heard a strong Bible message in our Baptist Church this last Mother’s Day.  It was on modeling godliness for our families.  The guest speaker hit chords that resonated.  He said that the modern church has cheapened Christianity so much - we love worldly standards and God forbid we are ever challenged to be more Christlike rather than more worldly.  We think we are a big deal when we set off firecrackers, while God shows real majesty and power.  God sets off Sun Flares and the Northern Lights.  The pastor reminded us that God will never bless shows of pride and arrogance.  But He will bless those who do what is right.

The Mother’s Day message was about modeling godliness for our families.  The core of the message was a challenge.  He told us that loving and serving our wives and families well is essential.

The message was out of Joshua 24 (make a choice to prioritize our family, be loving and kind to represent God’s character, get rid of anything that takes God’s central place, surrender to God, and be accountable to each other, and prepare now to pass on the role of servant leader so that our family grows in God for the next generations).  Great stuff.  Powerful.

The message could very well have been preached out of this passage of 1 Peter 3.  We are slaves of God.  To live out First Peter, that’s our mindset.  As such we do what is right and honorable no matter the cost to us - never acquiesce to evil.  Yes, you will sin.  Confess it, reject and resist evil.  God is pleased with us when we do what we know is right.

Be prepared to suffer for doing what we know is right.  I know, right, not a great thought.  But what were Peter and James prepared to do for God?  Christ is our example.  He never sinned.  He suffered for doing right and left his case in the hands of God.  God is growing His kingdom and I pray that He will use us at the center of His will to tell others about our Christian hope.  With God’s help, we can live honorable lives, spectacular - not in a worldly way, but in a Christian way.  Humble.  Kind.  Resilient.  Active.  Growing.

Whether we are husbands, wives, or single, we are to turn today to our Shepherd, the Guardian of our souls.  The way we live today has the power to win others over for Christ.  

Christian women are to live pure and reverent lives.  Precious to God is beauty that comes from within, “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (3:4).  Never boastful, rude, or showy.  But don’t confuse a Christian woman’s humility and quiet confidence with weakness.  Christian women trust God and “do what is right without fear of what [their] husbands might do” (3:6).  There is miraculous life-changing power in a person who knows and accepts the authority of Christ Jesus.

So, what about the husbands?  Gents, do you fear God or your spouses?  Love your wife, yes.  But put God first.  Peter tells us to treat our wives with understanding and give them honor - for our wives are our equal partners in God’s gift of new life (3:7).  Love each other.  In word and deed.  How we treat our wives matters greatly to Jesus Christ - the One who has all authority.

Men of God, we are called to hard work.  We are to worship Christ as Lord of our lives and to work doing what is right and keeping our consciences clear.  Learn.  Grow.  Stop repeating dumb mistakes and patterns of dysfunction.  Good sheep turn toward the Shepherd, not away.

We are called to be peacemakers.  Search for peace.  And maintain the peace.  Yes, peace is elusive, work for it anyway.  Do something in humility and love to bring peace today.  Not fake peace - not a truce to fight another day - real peace.  

        Repentance.  Responsibility.  Reconciliation.  In our marriages, our workplaces, and in our Christian community.  Do not be known as a troublemaker and the cause of dysfunction.  As we grow in Christ we will gain the maturity to know what is right and to do what is right.

Don’t retaliate.  Instead, pay back evil with blessing.  Yes, incredibly hard.  Do it anyway for the Lord Jesus’ sake, not ours.  Christian men are called to the hard work of building communities.  Communities that honor God.  We are to be anxious to honor God, not anxious or worried about anything else.  Let’s be as tenderhearted today as we are resilient, and as humble as we are committed to our Mighty King.  Amen.

Our fourth grandson, Beckett.