December 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 2:18-3:2

¹⁸Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
¹⁹For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
²⁰For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
²¹For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
²²Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
²³Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
²⁵For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
¹Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
²While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Devotional:

Only when we have read chapter 2 can we understand chapter 3. Chapter 2 tells men to submit patiently to masters, even though they are 'unreasonable' (2:18 NASB). Here in I Peter 3:1 wives are told to submit to their own husbands, even though those husbands are 'disobedient to the Word' (NASB).

The same reason applies in both instances. Chapter 2 makes it clear that by our behavior men may see our good works and glorify God. Our submission is part of our testimony. In the context of marriage the same thing holds good. By her 'chaste and respectful behavior' (3:2 NASB) even without a volley of verbal testimony, the wife may be the instrument God will use to bring an unbelieving husband to Himself.

How often we see among God's people the sincere, devout Christian woman whose burden it is to have a husband who does not share her faith! Sometimes he allows her to go her way. More often, perhaps because her very presence is a constant reminder to him of his own deep spiritual need, he makes her life difficult by either subtle or blatant acts of spite.

What must this woman do? Surely she will pray for this man. Surely she must maintain her own relationship to God and His people. Surely, when she is able, she must give a gentle, honest verbal testimony. But God will probably use more than anything else the silent testimony of her godly life as a cooperative and submissive helper.

If a wife whose husband does not know her Saviour reads these words, let her read on to verse 12: 'The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayer.' Let her read on further to verses 14 and 15: 'But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation. And do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to every one who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence' (NASB).