1 Peter 3:1-2, 7
In the Apostle Peter’s first letter in the New Testament, he shares this insight into what Jesus expects from women who claim Him as their Lord and Savior. He writes…
“…you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to accept the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.” (1Peter 3:1-2)
Wives – Christian women married or not – it is NOT Jesus’ expectation to accept subservience to any man. What Peter is saying here is that you are to have respect for a man who is committed to living for Jesus. That way your submission is to Jesus, not to man. And the submission Peter’s talking about here is not about you being a maid or a waitress or a sex slave. The submission Peter is talking about has nothing to do with you tolerating sinful, abusive behavior. Doing so is a form of disobedience – his sin making you sin.
Men and women who claim to know Jesus are to try and live surrendered to Jesus. On the woman’s side of that coin, it means living so in tune with the Holy Spirit that if your husband wanders off track and gives into sinful behavior without yelling, nagging, and browbeating, the Holy Spirit shining within you will win him over and prayerfully get him back where he needs to be.
And again, single ladies, don’t dismiss this. What Peter is sharing here is a template for dealing with men in such a way that protects your faith and spirit.
A little further on in this same chapter, Peter tells men who are husbands and men who hope to be husbands that when it comes to their spouses, they are to honor her. Treat her with understanding and understand that “…she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life.”
For both men and women, the key to being joined together in such a way that you are happy is to build a relationship that relies on Jesus as its cornerstone. You want to be able to look at one another and see that the work Jesus is doing in you is far more significant – and better than any differences that Satan may use to try and get you to turn on each other.
But ladies, I close with this. At One Step we love to remind you that you are the daughter of a King. And so long as your love for that King is greater than your love for anyone or anything else, in His perfect timing Jesus will lead you to the man who will treat you as you are meant to be treated…with honor. And even if you find yourself today enslaved to your own form of disobedience, surrender that to Jesus. He will be faithful to remind you that you are royalty, and He will help you to see that as well.