Daily Bible Study

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Day 169 1 Peter 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” 13 Who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. You see it everywhere, women who dress to attract men sexually. They have no conscience as they flaunt themselves, being unsubmissive to everyone. Men are led willingly as sheep to the slaughter, uncaring that their conduct is inappropriate. Peter told the women what kind of women they should be, submissive to their husbands, taking care that their appearance and conduct reflected Christ, so that their husbands would become attracted to their Christlike conduct and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. He told husbands they were to respect their wives, honoring them as the weaker vessel. Then he told them they were to conduct themselves with brotherly compassion, not giving back the same as they received from those who didn’t know their Savior and Lord. Peter reminded them that God was compassionate with them in the same way He was with Noah when He saved them from the flood. As the ark was the method of salvation for Noah and his family, the cross is for all those who accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Christians accept that they are to dress and act differently from the world. They know they are to return good for evil and let the world know why they are different, they believed in and accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. However, there are Christians who still live in the same manner as they did before they accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Their conduct is no different from the world, giving the world a confusing message. Peter warned Christians they were to behave in a manner that let the world know they belonged to Christ Jesus. When you behave as the world behaves, you don’t have the testimony of Jesus in your lives. As Peter reminded the people how God saved Noah and His family, God saved them. As the water lifted the ark and kept them safe, the water of baptism is a testament to their Christian life. Baptism alone saves no one. It is only when you confess your salvation through baptism that the world knows you belong to Christ Jesus. Then they will see how your conduct reflects Jesus in your life. Is your Christian life a reflection of Jesus Christ? Can you give a defense for your actions as they reflect Jesus? If your life doesn’t reflect Jesus, pray, and ask God to change your conduct so it does reflect Jesus. Then your life will be a testimony of His love for you. Let’s pray: Father, let my life reflect You in everything I say and do. Let me be a living testimony of Your love for me. Then my life will be a blessing to those around me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 2 January 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.