Verses that inspire

Are we keeping up with our studies of His Word still? Are we just as determined as we were in January? (Grin)

There are several verses that talk about the Word of God being vitally important in our lives....like food that we need to survive. But not just food -- really tasty food. Most of us have a sweet tooth, no?

The Psalmist spoke of God's Word as honey:

How sweet are your words to my taste,    sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)

Gracious words are a honeycomb,    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

And the second verse talks of our own words.... I truly believe that if we spend time in His Word, our words will be gracious to others. They will be sweet and bring healing.

Can't do it on our own, y'all. Nope.
Let's get into the Word and then see if our words improve; our relationships will be sweeter; our witness will be better!

If a verse or a passage has inspired you recently, leave a comment to tell all of us about it!

I Peter 3:8-12 Good days, good life

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,“Whoever would love life   and see good days must keep their tongue from evil   and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good;   they must seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous   and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (I Peter 3:8-12)

Ahhhhhh, good days.....
What makes a good day for you?
Sunshine? Warm weather?
Or at the opposite end of the spectrum, jingle bells and snowflakes to catch on your tongue?
Or do we long for the "good life"?
What do we think of when we think of a good life.....someplace where rich and famous people are lounging around a pool or cruising by in their incredibly expensive cars?
Those people aren't any happier than average people are. In fact, some of them are WAY more miserable than most!
(Personally, I think the good life is being down on the floor playing with grandkids. But that's just me.)

Peter is talking about the good life here in our verses. He's quoting from the Psalms, too, to back up what he says.
Let's dive in!
What is the good life and how do we live it? The truly good life comes from having God's blessing upon us. And whether we realize it or not, all of the groundwork that Peter has laid so far in his letter, is vitally important for receiving those blessings.....because God's blessing is pretty much inseparable from having good and honest relationships with others.

Yup. Seriously. That's why Peter has gone to great length in his letter so far. He's told us repeatedly how to interact with others. There are some other verses that shed light on this, too:

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (I John 4:20)

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)

Being rightly related to God and to others sums up the message of the Bible. So the good life is twisted together with good relationships, just like the strands of a rope. You can't have the one without the other.
Seriously. Think about it. If, so far as you are concerned, you are at peace with others:

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

....then life is sweet, even if we don't have a garage full of expensive cars, jewelry that rivals the showcase at Tiffany's, or the biggest stock portfolio ever.  Even if we don't have an abundance of things, life is sweet.
But if we are constantly at odds with others, then we can have all the stuff in the world, and life just isn't so good.

The passage that Peter quotes is from Psalm 34. It says that if we want to love life (really live it to the fullest, and be contented) and see good days (true happiness and the blessing of God) then we must do some things with our lips and with our lives.
Uh oh.
Sounds to me like Peter is zeroing in on "walk the walk, don't just talk the talk."
Does it sound that way to you, too?
Peter is summing up the section of the letter where he tells us how to live as aliens or pilgrims in this wicked world. It's a theme that will keep going into chapter four, to tell you the truth! We Christians are to be distinct in our behavior, noted for obedience to God and for submission to proper authority.... whether government, employer, or in the home. The commands that he has given us are radically different from the world and its ways -- and they are even opposed to our own natural inclinations. But if we live like Peter tells us, we will have a powerful witness for God.

This week we are going to look at how we should live, to experience the "good life." Now, before we get started, we do need to remember that our motive for living this way should be to please God and to glorify Him. The enjoyment we find in life is a result of our seeking to please God. I guess we can think of glorifying God in the way the world says, "make someone look good." When we seek to glorify Him and obey His commands, we inherit a blessing:

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (verse 9)

On the other hand, when our motive is selfish, like using God as a Great Benefactor in the Sky, we come up unfulfilled. We shouldn't selfishly try to use God to make ourselves happy. If we do that, we will be as empty as the gas tank we forgot to fill before we started out on a trip....

Yup. Peter is going to tell us that there are two areas where we must seek to please God -- there's our walk (behavior and attitude) and our talk.

I have a feeling we may need some bandaids for our toes this week.....

Friday slowdown

I Peter 3:7, conclusion

Here's our focus verse, one more time:

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (I Peter 3:7)

For the past couple of studies, we have focused on the "respect" portion of this verse....now I'd like to zero in on that last phrase:

 so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (I Peter 3:7b)

I had always looked at the end of the verse and thought it was just a general statement....how the prayers of a husband and a wife are hindered if they don't mutually submit, and respect each other. But as I have studied this week, I'm convinced that Peter has a particular type of prayer in his mind as he writes these instructions.

Remember that as we have studied, we have seen a recurring theme.... a thread that has run through each chapter. Peter has been telling us again and again how we should live -- in order to be examples to others. He has told us that in this "pagan" world, we need to shine so that God will receive glory, and unbelievers will be drawn to Him.
Because of that, I believe that the prayers Peter is referring to here are the prayers that a believer is praying, for his or her unbelieving spouse to come to a saving faith in Jesus.

Many times in our prayer request posts, and in private correspondence, too, I've heard about the people that some of us are praying for. People who are family or friends, or folks who we know because of business relationships..... many of us have people on our hearts, and we pray for them to be saved from their sin and start a new life in Christ.
Because of our concern for others, we have a natural, human tendency to take things into our own hands. We may have the best of intentions, but Peter points out that this kind of behavior may be counter-productive! Sometimes what we have to do is just back off, treat the other person with consideration, and not try to badger them into the kingdom of God. Sometimes we just need to trust God for the results and be a little more mellow -- but continue to pray for that person, and to model godly behavior!
I'm not saying a total "hands off" attitude. Nope. But there are times when if someone is resistant to God's Word, consideration is better than constant conversation. (Grin)
And another thing....Peter isn't making a guarantee here, that our unbelieving family member or friend will promptly respond to the Word. We need the leadership of the Holy Spirit to move forward, to know when talking is good, and when it becomes badgering. When we are dealing with someone who has been resistant to the Word, and pushed aside the gospel, the most effective things that we can do are to love them, to treat them with respect, and to pray for them.....and trust our Father God to change their hearts.

I'm going to suggest that we write down the name of an unbelieving person we are praying for. Maybe more than one. Let's pray that God will draw that person to Himself. And let's also pray that God will reveal to us some steps that we can take to develop our inner beauty. Let's ask His help in treating that person with respect and honor. If we have been guilty of badgering that person, confess that to God, and ask for forgiveness. Then let's trust God for the results.

See? I told you this was not just for husbands!! (Grin)
See ya next time!

I Peter 3:7 - Not just for husbands

Today we're going to make some practical applications to what Peter says in our verse:

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Be considerate.
Treat with respect.
Wow.
Those are not just good guidelines for husbands, but good guidelines for all believers! Whether we are looking at our relationships with other believers, or with unbelievers, those are golden!

Here are some practical ideas for us to think about.....and these are, again, things that both male and female members of a marriage can think about. After all, when I talk about the person who stays at home with the kids, sometimes it is the husband (21% in America), and many times, neither partner stays home! So let's just look at these and consider them -- some will apply to your life, and others will apply to someone else......

Our husband or wife may feel overwhelmed, and will appreciate it when we can take charge. Between taking care of the kiddos, making dinner, and doing the household chores, the caregiver of the family has a lot on their plate!  Be a partner -- not another person to take care of! It will be music to their ears when we offer to handle bath time, do the dishes, or any other chore we can do, while that person puts their feet up for a few minutes, er, seconds! Don't make them ask -- just do it!

The stay at home parent has a hard time turning off the "mom" or "dad" reflex. Many times the partner who works outside the home feels neglected, because the other parent is preoccupied with the kids or the home (or both). Understand just how challenging it can be for the caregiver to "turn off" those needs and focus on you.
Additionally, the caregiver can feel neglected, and needs to know how much we appreciate them! It doesn't matter if we say it in words, write a love note and put it on their pillow, or bring home a small, inexpensive gift occasionally -- we need to let them know that we care!

This one is SO IMPORTANT to both sexes: we need to watch how we talk about other men and women. Perhaps a husband looks at another mom and says, "Wow, she's a good mother!" Or, turn the coin over, and perhaps a wife compliments another guy for his parenting or appreciation of his wife..... Whether husband or wife, we want to be the best in our spouse's eyes. If we praise someone else (especially if we are not praising our mate enough) we make them feel less valued, like they may not be doing enough to meet our needs or to care for the family. And wow, we need to tread lightly on friendships or business relationships with the opposite sex.....our spouse may feel they are in a competition, and that is not a happy place to be!

Lastly, (and I really think this may be the most important one of all) both husbands and wives want to be heard. Really listen (not looking at the television!) when they are anxious and need to talk. Validate their concerns and don't brush them off or say, "Oh, that's not a big deal." Genuinely listen and volunteer to help.... plan some practical steps together to solve the problem.

These points may be very obvious, but give them some thought. Even in the best marriages, there are always some things that can be improved, and both husband and wife will be happier and more secure.

And to tell you the truth, all of these points could easily apply to our other relationships, no? Whether we are talking about parents, children, friends, or casual acquaintances, these are all pointers that can help us in those relationships. We can point others to Christ by behaving with compassion and consideration.

Respect. It's a beautiful thing. (Grin) We'll finish our study tomorrow......

What are we listening to?

We've not done one of these posts for quite a few weeks, and I thought it might be a good time to do one. We talked last week about the serene, quiet, tranquil, but strong spirit that Peter encouraged all believers to have.

I thought of a song that seemed right for that. Maybe it will recharge our batteries!

Here I remind myself what You said over me

Here I remind my soul who You are

You said You won’t relent

Won’t let go, won’t forget

Every promise You have whispered to my heart

As I wait, As I wait on You

I’m gonna run and not grow weary

I’m gonna walk and not grow faint

Rise up on wings like eagles 

To soar

I know with everything you’re with me

I know you’re working as I wait

Lift me up on wings like eagles

To soar

This desert holds a song I will sing, on and on

You’re a river when the ground I walk is dry

You will set the crooked straight

Clear my path, make a way

You will lead me from the valley to the heights

As I wait, As I wait on You

Creator, Keeper

Lifebreather

Your name is greater than anything I’ve faced

Sustainer, Saviour,

Strongholdbreaker

Your name is greater than anything I’ve faced

As I wait, as I wait on You

I will wait, God, I will wait on You

Leave a comment if you have a song or perhaps some verses that are in your head today!

Peter tells the husbands! (I Peter 3:7)

Ya know, the first thing that immediately struck me as I was studying, is that Peter takes six verses to address the women who were married to unbelieving men, and only one verse to address men who were married to unbelieving women! (Grin)
OK, OK, you're right, I gotta quit keeping score.....
It actually does make sense, though, and I bet we will understand more after we dig in!

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (I Peter 3:7)

We've mentioned many times before, that in that culture, women were basically considered property, except for a few exceptions that we've studied. A young woman was completely under the authority of her father, and then she married, went to her new home, and was completely under the authority of her husband!  So when you think about it, the concept that a woman would change her religion, apart from her husband doing it FIRST, well, that was unthinkable! Startling! Unheard of!
Peter was writing to these peeps early in the life of the church. Many people were becoming Christians well after they had been married. Just imagine what could happen in a marriage when two people had been unbelievers....and then the wife became a Christian and her hubby didn't.

For one thing, when his wife began to spend a lot of time with other people who were all talking about this person named Jesus, and she wasn't at home as much as he was accustomed to, it would have been perfectly normal for this husband to distrust this situation. He could get suspicious and even be jealous of how things were moving forward.
And for her part, think of the temptations that this wife would face now. First, it would be very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that she knew more than her husband did, about God and the scriptures. Satan uses pride to his great advantage, even when it starts with tiny seeds..... Secondly, she would keep seeing these other men who had placed their faith in Jesus, and she might wonder why her husband couldn't be more like them!
All of those pressures could cause the wife to rebel against her husband's leadership in the marriage. That is why Peter went to great lengths to advise these ladies of helpful, not hurtful, conduct that would make their faith appealing to their husbands. He encouraged them not to badger their spouses to follow Jesus. Because both the rebellion and the nagging would make it less likely (instead of more likely) that the husbands would become believers!
I think that is why Peter spends more time addressing the women -- in that culture, if the husband became a believer, it was just assumed that the wife (and the household) would, too. And if she didn't, she would be far less likely challenge or question her husband about his faith. That's why Peter doesn't take nearly as much time (one verse) to address that situation.

Since the same letter would be read to both men and women in the early church, I feel certain that the husbands of unbelieving wives would have been encouraged to avoid some of the same things that Peter told the wives to be careful about....

Like not nagging the unbelieving spouse -- remember that Peter said someone could be won "without a word." Once someone has heard the gospel, and decided initially to reject it, there is nothing to gain by "beating them over the head" with it. And it's not just verbal nagging, either. I've heard of some spouses who come up with some other ways to reinforce their wishes for the unbelieving partner to come to Christ..... playing the radio on strictly preaching channels when the unbeliever would like to listen to a favorite show or song.....running into the pastor "by chance" at the mall.....putting tracts in certain areas of the home.....even putting Bible verses on the bottom of their energy drink cans.
Oy vey.
That's not appealing behavior. That's manipulation. And I think it just might drive the person further away.....

Like not focusing on the externals -- this is another thing Peter wanted everyone to be careful about. We talked last week about not spending so much time on outward beauty that we neglected the inner person. I think that for the husbands, this could also be a point to be aware of....are we trying to impress others by pointing out what a great job we have? Are we telling others about how much money we make, or how many "toys" we have in the garage and at the marina? (Grin)  It's unfortunate that there are many who call themselves Christians who are trying to win others by focusing on how they will prosper if they come to Christ. But as Peter makes clear, that kind of focus on temporary, external things won't work in the long run.

I expect that Peter would say that our men should try to develop the inner characteristics of a gentle, quiet spirit, too. The kind of spirit that is characterized by "power under control." That men, too, should cultivate the tranquil spirit that we talked about last week. Not constantly stirring things up, or causing strife with spouse or with friends.
We'll continue this week with some advice for families, not just husbands and wives!