Costly

What is of "great worth" to God? Would that "thing" whatever it is be something you would desire as His child? What is valuable to the One we live to glorify? What is precious in His sight?

I Peter 3 talks about something women can possess, a characteristic we can pray for, desire and pursue that is "very precious in the sight of God." I don’t know about you but that makes my ears stand at attention (if ears can stand) and my spirit leap until I know what it is I could possibly do to bring delight to the One who brings such goodness into my life every day. Let’s take a look…

The very first verse in chapter 3 starts out with the word, "Wives..." Automatically, I could potentially lose some of you reading this. But wait!!!! The word wives is also translated women in the original Greek. So, stay with me…this applies to many areas of life not just the obvious. You don’t just want to see the obvious in scripture, do you? The obvious is good, for sure, but God’s heart is always for us to see more than what’s right in front of our face. Let’s read on…

"Wives, in the same way…" Oh my goodness, this means I’ve missed something that’s already been said! In the same way as what? Peter has just finished talking at the end of chapter 2 about our example in Christ, the reflection of God the Father, always the picture of how He wants us to live. His example in life when He suffered or was misunderstood or was wronged, He endured, it says, without retaliating. "Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed (2:23-24)." So…

"Wives, in the same way be submissive (a word we ALL hate) to your husbands…" And realize here again my single friends, that Peter (more literally, the Holy Spirit through Peter) had also just said a few verses before…"submit yourselves (all of us) for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men…" So, none of us are excluded and this can apply to any and all relationships.

"Wives, in the same way (as Jesus, who was not married) be submissive (Jesus submitted even to his enemies, humanly speaking) 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, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives." These four verses will set us FREE if we’ll take this in and let the Lord have His way in us! That’s the first two verses. What is He saying? We’ll win them over by the way we respond! (Oh, Holy Spirit turn the light on!) When somebody doesn’t agree with us, don’t we want to give them a piece of our mind! And we think we are so right! Husbands and wives do it; friends do it; parents and kids do it; bosses and employees do it; co-workers get into it; neighbors…you name it, even church leaders want to prove their point! Listen to what this says, "they may be won over without words by our behavior…when they see the purity and reverence of our lives!" I don’t have to nag, he’ll probably turn further away. I don’t have to prove my point, they’ll probably only disagree more. I don’t have to argue making sure to have the last word, that will only drive a wedge between us. Rather, let them "be captivated by your life of holy beauty (MSG)."

Let’s not stop there, this is too good to stop…

Verse 3 says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes." Believe me girlfriends, society will potentially lure us all into putting too high a priority on our outward appearance if we’re not careful. "Instead (verse 4…watch this!), it (your beauty) should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty (hallelujah!) of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.." Do you hear that?

What is of great worth to God? When I don’t try to change him! Not Him, him! Or her. You apply it to your him or her or them. Now, let’s go back to chapter 2. It said Jesus did not retaliate (offer insult or...He threatened not!) but instead He entrusted Himself to His Father. The Father finds me most beautiful when I entrust to Him what I cannot change. When I’m hurt, confused, frustrated, angry or 900 other things that make me want to tell somebody off and I choose to WIN without words by the behavior of a pure, reverent life…(which is very costly wouldn’t you agree? It costs having my own way)…THAT life is of great worth to God. It is precious to Him. That IS, by the way, the biblical definition of the fruit of the Spirit called gentleness (or meekness); not retaliating! So, what do I do? It's always good to know what not to do, but I need to know what to do with those words on the tip of my tongue. I replace them with prayer. In that instant...don't delay. Take that frustration and form words to the Lord rather than to the person you're frustrated with and say, Father, I want to please You more than I want my own way. Lord Jesus, teach me Your ways and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name (Ps.86:11). Holy Spirit, do this work in me. Apart from You, I am nothing. But with You, praise the Lord, I can do all things.

It’s gonna be worth it! I am Thine, Oh Lord, I have heard Thy voice and it told Thy love to me....draw me nearer.