The Thursday after Jubilate Sunday
Posted on May 15, 2025 by under
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-12 (NKJV)
3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For
“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 “Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Devotion
Today’s text begins where the Epistles from the last two Sundays left off (1 Pet. 2:11-20 and 21-25). In those lessons, Peter taught that we should live ‘in the world’ by submitting to authorities, but we should not be ‘of the world.’ Since we are sojourners and pilgrims in this life, our conduct is different from the world. We act contrary to culture, since this glorifies God and provides an honorable witness among the unbelievers.
St. Peter continues this teaching in today’s text with special instructions for wives. Wives who have unbelieving husbands should not leave them or try to undermine them. They should submit to them, just as they submit to Christ. By this countercultural submission, they may even win their husbands to the faith. When these men observe their wives’ chaste conduct, they may glorify God because of them. As Jesus taught in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This special teaching for wives has a general application for all of us. We also have the opportunity to win others to the faith by our godly conduct. The Holy Spirit does the converting, but we can adorn the Word of God by our gentle and modest behavior. The Gospel will appear very attractive to those who do not yet know Christ!
Collect: Almighty God, Who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
