Good  morning to all on this glorious Sunday morning. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville with sore backs because the bed at the Best Western is horrible! Needless to say I am not in the "best" spirit at the Best Western but as I look on the Mother's Day bouquet I have from Freddie, Tracy, Kai and Hailie, I smile. I had left it at home but my thoughtful husband brought it here for me. A shout out to all the mothers out there--Happy Mother's Day. It's GREAT to be a mother and I am blessed to have four wonderful children that allows me to have that title.

 

I am continuing my journey in 1 Peter 3 1-22 " Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own 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, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, 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. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,  like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, 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. Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For 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.” Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.  After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient 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, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him."  Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

Peter is providing instructions to the early Christian church so that their behavior could be distinguished from that of the Romans and Jews that they lived among. The lesson here for me is that we are not to live by responding to situations and people, but live because Christ sacrificed all for us. The hustle and bustle of each day can REALLY distract you and mess with your peace. In our day and age of emails, if you wake up and start reading them they can mess with your peace as  mine did this morning. I am up trying to start this blog and ruminating about some emails I received. What's the lesson--keep your mind and heart on Christ all day. Just think the best and the best will happen. I have been practicing this a lot for the past several weeks. When certain people do things that are objectionable, instead of thinking the worst I actively pray for their success, even though my natural tendency is to wish for the contrary. I am doing it as a behavior even though  my spirit has not kept up with the behavior. I know that as I keep practicing my spirit will catch up. You know you just have to be obedient. You don't have to understand it or like, just do it. Submit your will to that of the Holy Spirit and one day you will wake up and your spirit will have caught up with your behavior. So today the lesson for me is just to submit.

 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

 

Stephanie