1 Peter (Today's New International Version unless otherwise noted)
1 Peter 3
Wives and Husbands
1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Jesus, I know the passage addresses wives, but it applies to me. I need to have a gentle spirit. I need to concentrate on inner beauty. Also, help me to love in my wife what You love in my wife. I still lust over her body (lets just say it as it is). I think she is physically so gorgeous. Help me to see past that and to love her they way You love her. No lust, just love.
5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Jesus, You know prayers have enough hindrances without me adding this one! I respect my wife, but do I really show her the kindness and love that she deserves? Could anyone?
We need our marriage to change Lord. We need our marriage to become a mature and holy marriage. We need to pray together and read Your Word together. We need to be spiritually intimate. Change us Lord.
Suffering for Doing Good
8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Jesus, You repaid my evil with good, should I not always do the same? Sometimes the pain comes from the people closest to me, and that makes kindness harder, not easier. Perhaps that is because the pain is worse, but the love is greater also. Lord, please help me to repay evil with good. My family needs as much good as possible right now.
10For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”a
Jesus, you call us to be good, period. There is no place in this for being evil, even as a response to evil toward us. You call us to be good to those we love, and to those we don't. You call us to be good to our friends and our enemies. Control our deceitful tongues and pursue peace. That is Your call to me. I can hear it, help me to do it.
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fearb; do not be frightened.”c 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Jesus, help! I want You to be Lord, but You know I am so tempted now. My body wants to do evil so bad. Even now my mind can wonder to an evil desire so easily. Please rescue me Lord. Find a way to truly be my Lord so i do not turn away from You. Pull me close and make me strong. Help me not to fear anything or anyone but You. Help Lord!
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Jesus, help! You know my family is questioning their faith. You know I have not been a good example. You know my conscience is never clear. I have not passed on the faith as a good father and husband would. Rescue us all Lord. Help me to say what You want and be what You want so my children know why I have faith in You. And save me from my temptation Lord, so i don't bring You shame.
17It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doin
g evil.
Jesus, I know that my suffering is usually caused by my doing evil, not by my doing good. It is usually my sin, not my faith, that caused me pain. Help me to be holy and devoted to You that I could suffer for being good.
18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whomd also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledgee of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Jesus, I know You died for me. I know that You are telling me that only a small minority of people are saved. Help me to bring people to You. Help me to bring them to the true ark that You are so they can be saved from destruction. Change me so my life can be a calling to all who know me.
Footnotes:
a 12 Psalm 34:12-16
b 14 Or not fear their threats
c 14 Isaiah 8:12
d 18,19 Or alive in the spirit, 19through which
e 21 Or response
*1Peter3*