Weekly Study

Read: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Reflect:
• Walking through most check-out lanes in local grocery stores would convince you that Americans are obsessed with beauty. Our local department stores carry aisles and aisles of cosmetics and other beauty aids. There is an entire industry devoted to recreating beauty that has faded and wrinkled. Over 10 billion dollars was spent on cosmetic surgeries in each of the past two years.
• That being said, there is nothing wrong with outward beauty. And, there is nothing wrong with reasonable attempts to maintain that beauty. The danger comes when the outward beauty is our only concern. Peter reminds these Christian wives that there is something far deeper, more meaningful and more powerful than outward appearance.
• That which makes the difference is inner beauty. God values a meek (not weak) and quiet spirit that reflects His heart. This kind of beauty does not perish. This beauty is what holy women of God seek to develop, maintain, and model. One way that modeling occurs is when women live with their husbands according to God’s direction–demonstrating the servant spirit of Jesus.

Respond:
• Describe your attitude toward outward beauty. Honestly, how important is it to you?
• How do you explain to a twelve-year-old what beauty really consists of? How would you help young parents teach their children how to evaluate and value real beauty?
• What do you see as the connection between inner and outer beauty? Why is inner beauty such a powerful witness?

Pray: Ask God to help you appreciate true beauty. Pray that you are helping others to have a Biblical view of beauty. Ask God to use our Christian wives as powerful witness to their non-Christian spouses.
 

Read: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Reflect:
• Peter (like Paul) contradicts first-century protocol; he actually addresses women. He assumes they can read, will read, and/or will be present when this is read. Outside the New Testament, those assumptions were rare. Women were often treated as property or expected to be illiterate and/or disinterested.
• The very act of calling a decision forth from them implies they were capable of making decisions and willing to make those decisions. The Christian community was making a new way for women in the world. But, it must be kept in mind that these instructions are to Christian women living with non-Christian husbands.
• Herein is the power of witness. More than likely, these are converts to Christianity who are married and whose husbands have yet to come to faith. What are they to do? They should live hopeful lives in the midst of the circumstances and demonstrate the heart of Jesus for their husbands to see. It was not an easy calling, but it was one that would make an eternal difference.

Respond:
• How do you explain to a wife in an abusive situation that this does not apply to them?
• What do you say to wives who are unhappily married to unbelievers but want to keep their marriage covenants?
• What is the most powerful witness a wife can provide to her husband?

Pray: Thank God for Christian spouses. Pray that Christian wives can live powerful lives of witness in their situations. Ask God to protect wives who are in bad situations.
 

Read: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Reflect:
• “In the same” or “The same goes for you…” are the choices that translators use to attempt to capture the “likewise” at the beginning of this paragraph. The obvious question, “Like what?” The nearest verb is “be subject to” and provides the “what.” In the same way, wives are “to be subject.” But, the object of the subjection isn’t yet there.
• Reaching back to v13 and v18, we see that we are to imitate the subjection all believers make to the governing authorities or slaves make to their masters. Subjection means keeping the laws, obeying the rules, following the orders of the person to whom you are subject. In other words, we live under the direction and oversight of the one to whom we submit.
• It’s important to note that submission is something we give, not something that is taken from us. Others don’t subject us; we choose to be submissive to them. At the same time it’s important to note that this is not a western slave orientation. This is not abuse, subjugation, or overpowering. This is a choice given as a means of demonstrating a heart for God.

Respond:
• Describe a situation in which you had to choose submission to someone.
• How would you explain to someone that submission is not a negative idea?
• In light of the absence of slaves, what image would you use for a reference point?

Pray: Thank God for the blessing of living in submission to His grace and mercy. Pray that we are a submissive people and model living confidently under His direction. Seek God’s direction in making your life a witness to others.

2,619,739 procedures involving Botox injections were performed in 2011–costing $1.7 billion. One “chin job” was done every 25 minutes–costing over $38 million. More than 90% of plastic surgeries are done on women. Be assured, there are multiple reasons for cosmetic surgery, many of which are not for vanity purposes. Unfortunately, especially among the young, the majority are done purely in the interest of appearing more beautiful than we perceive ourselves to be.

In a recent experiment circulated on YouTube©, women were asked to describe themselves to a sketch artist who was unable to see them. Then, a person they’d just met described them to the same artist. Inevitably the women ended up saddened and crying as they viewed the sketches. Each one I viewed described themselves as less beautiful than they were perceived to be by another person. The telling question was, “Do you think you’re more beautiful than you say”?

Even though it’s referencing the naming of a king, this text still speaks: 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Peter says, “…but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”

God knows the powerful witness of a beautiful life lived in an attractive relationship. It isn’t our outward beauty that attracts people to Jesus…it’s our inner beauty. Who we are, not what we look like, is what must occupy our hearts and empower our witness. The world needs to see people more concerned with their character than their carriage.

For a printable version of this week’s devotional, see the attached file: Insert 05-19-2013

Read: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Reflect:
• Like Paul, Peter develops a house-text. He’s already introduced the household servants. Now, he turns to husbands and wives. Unlike Paul, he omits the role of parenting and the role of being a child. But, the principles in Scripture are consistent. Each writer develops common themes.
• First, Peter addresses wives. For Western readers, this usually elicits surprise and, often, repulsion. We don’t want to hear talk of submission. We’ve fought too hard for women’s rights. But, the very fact that Peter (and Paul) mentions women is a huge step forward. This gave them status they otherwise wouldn’t have had. At the same time, it established a mission for those who were married to unbelievers (the situation Peter specifically addresses).
• Peter also addresses husbands. But, unlike Paul, it’s less about leading the home and more about how to show the compassion of Jesus within the home. The call is to demonstrate that the wife has value and should be treated well. All of that comes within the context of the spiritual life of the home. This is done so prayers will be heard and honored by God.

Respond:
• Describe a time when conflict with your spouse hindered your prayers.
• How do you show your spouse the kind of honor described in this text?
• How has your family been part of God’s mission to your neighborhood?

Pray: Thank God for your spouse. Pray that you are able to live out the life described for the home. Ask God to welcome us into His presence in worship tomorrow.

Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Reflect:
• Jesus’ mission was redemption. Nothing could dissuade Him from what He came to do. Even in the face of imminent suffering, confronted by the severity of what was to happen, His response was, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Redemption involved incredible suffering. It involved total sacrifice beyond the sacrifice of leaving heaven in the first place.
• The text reinforces the power of the image. “By His wounds…” He paid the price for us. He lived for us until that time. Everything He did, He did as a mission to the world. He never lost sight of broken humanity. Our suffering must be with a similar mission; otherwise, the suffering serves no ultimate purpose.
• If we suffer for doing wrong, we deserve what we get. If we suffer for doing good, but do it for personal gain/recognition, that recognition is as far as the good goes. If we suffer for doing good, and broken people are given hope and healing, suffering has served its ultimate purpose. People all around us are straying like sheep; they desperately need a shepherd. We have a relationship with the shepherd.

Respond:
• Read and underline Luke 19:10.
• Read and underline Matthew 20:28.
• Describe your personal mission. Does it include the redemption of broken humanity?

Pray: Thank Jesus for giving Himself for you. Pray that you can suffer for the right purpose–the redemption of broken humans. Ask God to reach into the lives of the people you love.
 

Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Reflect:
• Peter chooses to use the model of Jesus as his key example. Jesus demonstrates what suffering for doing good is all about. Peter captures the story of Jesus in simple lines: “reviled, he didn’t revile in return; suffered, didn’t threaten.” With every right to respond because He truly was an innocent sufferer, Jesus stayed on mission to the very end.
• Non-retaliation is the model that He laid before us. He did what we must all do–entrust ourselves to the One who makes final judgment. In the end, God will do the final judging, and it will all come out as it’s supposed to. There is absolutely no circumstance in which we will be wiser than God.
• Jesus modeled a non-verbal approach. He wouldn’t even answer back. Instead, He refused to open His mouth. The odds are perfectly in His favor that He wouldn’t have said anything He shouldn’t have said, yet He stayed silent anyway. If we want to know how to live a life that evokes response, we should simply watch and imitate Jesus.

Respond:
• Underline the phrase in v21, “so that you might follow in His steps.”
• Describe a situation when you chose to “follow in His steps,” and it proved a good thing to do.
• How do you convince others that “trusting Him who judges justly” is a positive, effective response?

Pray: Thank God for Jesus’ example. Pray that you are able to follow hard on Jesus’ way of doing things. Ask that Madison Park be filled with those seeking to follow Jesus.
 

Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Reflect:
• Honestly, some people deserve punishment. They are simply getting what they have coming. There’s nothing to be proud about if you’re being punished because you’ve done something wrong. Peter says that “credit” is given to those who are punished when they don’t deserve it. That kind of situation would have been common in Peter’s day.
• God honors the obedient when they don’t deserve suffering yet choose to endure. Christians are commended for being faithful–especially when the world is choosing to treat them badly. Simply being a Jesus follower can put people in situations where they will be discriminated against and even persecuted. In those situations, we are to be faithful.
• God honors faithfulness. God honors the life of one who is isolated and picked on, discriminated or persecuted, simply because they are choosing to follow the path of Jesus. God extends grace to bear up any follower who is mistreated for His sake. He will strengthen, encourage, comfort and empower those who seek to be like Jesus in His reaction to mistreatment.

Respond:
• Relate a time when you were punished for something you were guilty of doing.
• Describe a time when you received punishment or discrimination based on what you believed and/or the fact you sought to follow Jesus.
• Was there anything you could have done to prevent the reaction of others? Were you tempted to cave in and avoid the problem?

Pray: Ask God to help you avoid doing things for which you could rightly be punished. Pray that our ability to undergo recrimination for our faith is a strong testimony to those around us. Commit to God a life that will be honorable to Him.
 

Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Reflect:
• Four paragraphs in a row use the term or the concept of submission/being subject. The pattern is continued in the following paragraph with the use of “likewise.” At the heart of Peter’s concern for a submissive spirit is the model of Jesus. Even as we are called to be submissive, Jesus demonstrates submission to His Father.
• Submission is more than a simple act of service, however. Being subject in these contexts is to fulfill a mission. The act of being submissive actually serves to model the heart of those who seek to live above the cultural norms. We choose submission for a reason. We are subject because we know that it has a positive impact on unbelievers and, especially, skeptics.
• Because not all those who are over us are kind and gracious, some of our submission will be unpleasant and even painful. But, believers endure. We stay at it. We don’t drop out simply because it’s hard. In fact, because of Jesus’ persistent obedience to the Father, we will do no less. We endure because we are on mission to demonstrate the life of Jesus.

Respond:
• In what situations do you find it most difficult to be submissive to others? Why is that?
• If athletes develop their endurance through repeated efforts, how do Christians develop theirs?
• How do you model a submissive spirit without coming across as a doormat? Should that concern you?

Pray: Pray for a submissive spirit. Ask God to help us model endurance–even when times are hard. Ask God to help you know how to submit in each specific situation.
 

Read: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Reflect:
• Bond slaves is the term used (v18) to introduce this section. Some English translations use servant or slave. But, the concept should not be confused with American slavery. They are two different issues. Roman slavery was not race nor ethnicity based. It was much more like a household employee.
• However, that didn’t mean there weren’t both good and bad situations. Some households treated their servants as family; other households were cruel and abusive. Often, when the slave was a believer, the treatment became severe. Peter calls for Christian servants to be consistent in their response to their situation–no matter the treatment they received.
• Respect stands as the key. Respect recognizes someone’s position or power over others. In that light, we are courteous and kind. No matter the treatment received, any follower of Jesus must show respect to those over them as they do to the Lord. In fact, our respect for the Lord is the catalyst and model of how to be respectful to others.

Respond:
• Describe a time when you observed significant disrespect being shown. What was your opinion of the person being disrespectful?
• Does being an employee or student or member of an organization seem like a possible application for being a Christian servant? How so?
• How can our respect for God be a catalyst for our respecting others?

Pray: Thank God for another day of corporate worship. Pray that God helps us model respect for any who are over us. Ask God to give you a respectful heart toward others.