"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" 1 Peter 3:7.
These thoughts today are specifically directed to husbands, but wives will be keenly interested in that they directly affect them.
Men, who we are as husbands determines where we are with our Father. Our level of spirituality is impacted by our relationship with our wives. Who we are at home is who we are before our Creator.
According to the directives for husbands and wives that we see in 1 Peter 3, wives are to submit to their husbands, and husbands are to be understanding, loving and honoring of their wives. Husbands who disregard these directives place their spirituality in peril, because their prayers will be hindered.
Such words are sobering, and personally humbling. My wife knows me better than anyone, and can attest to my failings in this area. However I may appear to others as a pastor, she knows the true reality. The reality check for living as an authentic Christian is to live in “an understanding way” as a husband. However much I may fail in this daily, I have learned in recent times that this is important enough to pray, in my morning quiet time, that I might live as an understanding husband today.
The “understanding way" husbands are to love their wives is with a view of their weakness, and the need to honor her "as a fellow heir of the grace of life." It calls to mind the perfect equality we have in Christ, as Galatians 3:28 reminds us, that “there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Having prefaced the important priorities for husbands and wives, we are challenged in 1 Peter 3 to "be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:8-9). To inherit a blessing, we are called to be a blessing. As with husbands and wives, our conduct with one another has a direct bearing on our spiritual condition. Who we are with others is who we are before our Father.
May this day find is living in harmony with our spouses, with one another, and ultimately with our Father, and His Son, our Lord Jesus.
©Steve Taylor, 2023 --Used by permission
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