LIVING OUR ROLES WITH PROPER RIGHTEOUS RESPONSES

Living our roles with proper righteous responses







The Apostle Peter starts out by explaining how husbands and wives should treat and interact with each other so the relationship will work not just on the outside but also on the inside. He starts out with this specific institution but then uses this as an opportunity to speak in broader terms on how Christians should relate to other Christians. He then branches out on how we are to relate and respond to everyone that comes in our path especially in the revenge and tongues areas. The Apostle gets very specific. He gives us a very special promise that the eyes of the Lord are all over the righteous and His ears are open to our prayers but on the contrary is against them that do evil.



Peter starts out in 1 Peter 3:5 and writes the holy women of old time adorned themselves being in subjection to their husbands. He uses Sara as an example in how she related to Abraham. The Apostle then switches over to husbands and tells the men to dwell with their wives according to knowledge giving honor to their wives. Peter does refer to the wife as the weaker vessel but that is how God designed this scenario to be so the relationship would work with each other and before God.



In verse eight Peter is writing in more broad terms telling us to be of one mind having compassion toward one another with love all the while being pitiful and courteous. We should have sympathy for one another with a humble spirit.



The Apostle is still sort of on the same subject but he does change his tone slightly by saying do not render evil for evil or railing for railing. He urges us to know that we as Christians are called and will inherit a blessing but this precludes that we listen to his instructions penned by the Holy Spirit. If we are insulted do not try and pay them back with evil because blessings should be coming out of our months.



The Apostle writes if you love life and desire to see good days refrain our tongues from evil. He did not want our lips to speak guile which boils down to deceit. Peter is saying if we have evil in our hearts turn away from it and do good by seeking peace in a Godly way. I am now at verse twelve but I already reviewed this in the first paragraph by writing the eyes of the Lord are all over the righteous. Let me quote the original text so you can read it and perhaps make reference to this passage if need be in this particular study of the Bible.



(5) "For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: (6) Even as Sa'ra obeyed A'bra - ham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (7) Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (8) Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: (9) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and hid lips that they speak no guile: (11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (12) For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." 1 Peter 3: 5 - 12.



The Apostle Peter enforces his point by example writing the women of old who trusted in God. Notice the only ladies that can listen to the words of Peter are those who practice having faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle was not introducing a new precept but reinforcing an old biblical principle. He uses the example of Sara who had the spirit of obedience and responded correctly to Abraham. They had a really good and close relationship with each other. The Bible does teach that wives should be in subjection to their husbands but this has been practiced universally by holy women in all ages. The motive of the lady should not be fear or force but from a willing mind / heart in obedience to God.



According to this passage the husbands have a duty to their wives. In this cohabitation of marriage the husbands should dwell with their wives according to knowledge. The husbands should know their duty / the word of God and always respond with sobriety, love and gentleness. This passage writes that husbands should give honor to their wives or due respect to her and also a place of trust and confidence. Although the wife is the weaker vessel the married couple is equal because they are heirs together of the grace of life.



Notice I used the word "Married" because so many Christians think it is alright to live together outside of marriage but according to the Bible this is living a lifestyle of sin and God will judge this transgression in a very serious way. If a couple is married they should live peaceable with each other in the spirit of love because if they do not their prayers for each other will be hindered. You will then be moving in a direction away from God and away from each other which completely defeats your original purpose of union with Jesus Christ and your spouse.



The Apostle Peter sort of builds upon what he wrote into a much broader precept for Christian living. How should believers in Jesus Christ treat one another? One of our goals should be of one mind in the great points of faith. This should be done with love but it should be practiced among Christians on a consistent basis. Most believers in Christ will differ in some points but we still should show compassion and love. Who knows because we may be the one who is wrong. We should be civil to all but especially give pity to the distressed. God is very close to the broken - hearted so in like matter we should have the same spirit as Jesus Christ.



What about our enemies? This passage of Scripture tells us how to respond to them. If they rail against us bless them and if they talk to us with evil words give them good ones because Jesus Christ has called us to bless those that curse us as Christians. If we obey this biblical principal we will receive a reward in our everlasting inheritance. It says in Matthew chapter five verse forty four to return a blessing for railing. The way we can tell if we are mature Christians is if we pity, love and pray for those who do rail against us because our calling as Christians invests us with glorious privileges but it also commands us to difficult duties. When someone is clinging to us in an evil way like a demon it is hard to bless him or her.



We live in an evil world. If you do not believe me just read the newspaper or turn on the news. I am a Christian. I desire to be perfect before God but like all believers in Christ sometimes we fall short. This is one of the reasons the Bible talks about the tongue. The best use of our words are just one of the ways we can live stable in the Person of Jesus Christ. If we have a sincere, inoffensive discreet tongue then this is a great way to build a stronger relationship with God and live at peace with other people. Even animals recognize a peaceable tongue with the spirit of love so how much more humans? We as believers in Christ should embrace peace when it is offered but even more importantly seek and pursue it when it is denied. There is something about this type of Christian that offers closure in the Person of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world.



We as Christians should never fear our patient inoffensive behavior to our enemies. When I use the word enemies I am speaking of those people that go out of their way to make us miserable because we stand for and with Jesus Christ. "For the eyes of the Lord are open to the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." 1 Peter 3:12. God is an enemy to wicked persecutors and has a special care and paternal love toward His righteous people. If we are faithful to God, obeying Him then Jesus Christ will hear our prayers. This should give us tremendous comfort in the peace of the Holy Spirit.



If you are one that does not know the Lord in a personal way I would like to invite you to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your very own personal Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and inviting the Son of God in your life. As you can read in this article God is with a person that determines to live a holy, obedient and righteous life before God. This alone would give me motivation to come to know the Lamb of God who died for my sins and longs to have fellowship with me so I would ask anybody why wouldn't you desire to have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit? I hope and pray you just made that life changing eternal decision because this is the choice that God desires you to make in an honest and sincere way.



God bless you,

Bob D.