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Updated: Sunday, 11 May 2008, 23:33 (BST)

8 May 2008 | 1 Peter 3 v 1-7

In the same way, you wives should yield to your husbands. Then, if some husbands do not obey God's teaching, they will be persuaded to believe without anyone's saying a word to them. They will be persuaded by the way their wives live. Your husbands will see the pure lives you live with your respect for God. It is not fancy hair, gold jewellery, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you-the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God. In this same way the holy women who lived long ago and followed God made themselves beautiful, yielding to their own husbands. Sarah obeyed Abraham, her husband, and called him her master. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is right and are not afraid.

In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. But show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you-the grace that gives true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers

Notes

Respect seems to be a key word here, and it's one of those words which the Government has latched onto with various campaigns to raise the level in various arenas. Respect doesn't just happen, it has to be built up, and in my experience it starts with me and how I view myself.



If I look down on myself - "I'm useless", "I'm rubbish", "I could never do that", etc.- then I will live in a way that backs that up. Also, I won't value others as I should. I will either put people "on a pedestal" giving them an elevated status that is unreal, or I will put them down in the same way as I do myself.



The key to respect is acceptance. Firstly I need to see myself as God sees me. A chosen child, who is precious and valued. As I understand and live in the good of that, I can more easily give others the acceptance and respect they need to grow.



Of course we deserve none of this, it is purely "the grace that gives true life", a gift from God, that enables us to be acceptable in his sight and useful in his purposes.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Thank you for your amazing grace, it will never cease to amaze me that you chose me to be your child, and to join with you in your plans to bring fullness of life to the people of this planet. Amen



Written by Phil Pusey - Burton Youth For Christ
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