A Word for Husbands from 1 Peter 3:7

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 01-08-04

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Consideration

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Peter 3:7

 

            Message of the verse:  “7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.  (NASB95)  “7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. If you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.”  (NLT)

            Peter finishes this section with this verse by writing to husbands about how they are to treat their wives, and for some incentive to do a good job he says that your prayers can be hindered if you don’t follow these instructions.  Husbands are to live with their wives in and understanding way.  They are not just to dwell with them, but understand them; they are to know them, to study them so that they do know them better.  Husbands are to realize that their wives are fragile, Peter is writing about their physical strength.  Showing honor to the wife is speaking about their emotional needs, and when Peter is speaking about not having your prayers hindered he is writing about their spiritual life and needs. 

            Dr. Wiersbe makes a good statement in his commentary on 1Peter where he writes, “Speaking the truth in love is a solution to the communications problem (Eph 4:15).  It has well been said that love without truth is hypocrisy, and truth without love is brutality.  We need both truth and love if we are to grow in our understanding of one another.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I must admit that I have fallen in many of these things that Peter has written about, and I must also admit that I have pretty much lost hope that any of these things will ever be done.  I have prayed about them and asked God to make me a better husband, yet it does not seem to ever happen.

 

The Word of God is convicting to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  It would be good to say that I trust the Lord to make this a happier and better home, but I must be doing something wrong, for that prayer has never seemed to be answered in a continual way.