Reading Plan:
1 Peter 3:1-7


Heirs of the Father
Author: Austin Sines


I had lunch today with my good friend Nick, whom I love talking to. Our conversations are usually sporadic and can include anything from theological topics to the reproductive cycle of a banana tree. Today, however, we found ourselves on a topic that we haven't covered yet, marriage. We talked about our own experiences from when we both first married our wives and the trials we faced throughout the many years of our marriages.

During this conversation, Nick said something that I think we men might not fully grasp in the context of our marriages. Marriage is hard, not just for us, but for our wives too. At the beginning of our reading today, Peter is giving us some great marriage advice, but I’d like to focus on verse 7.

“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.” 1 Peter 3:7

I love that Peter points out that we are both heirs. If we go back to 1 Peter 1:3 we read that through His grace and mercy, God, our Father has given us a new birth to a living hope. This is our inheritance. With this, we can never perish, spoil, or fade. My wife is an heir to an inheritance that outweighs anything and everything we could imagine. She is not just my wife; she is a daughter of our great God. We need to honor our wives as God honors them. We need to love our wives as Jesus loves our wives. We need to remember that Peter is writing this in a time when wives could be considered property. This is important to point out because Peter shows us that despite the cultural norm, we are in equal standing before the Lord. You might be wondering why I’m emphasizing marriages instead of fatherhood. To me, they are the same because being a good father starts with being a good husband.

Through marriage, you and your partner are cultivating more than a relationship with each other. You are creating a foundation that will support you and your family for generations to come. If that foundation is weak, it will not support you in your relationship with your spouse when you add the weight of a child or other big circumstances that inevitably throughout life.


Reflection:

• Find a quiet place to sit down by yourself, close your eyes, and think about these questions in the context of your marriage.
• In what areas do you need to honor your spouse more? Here are some examples:
  o Spiritually - Initiate church, prayer, Bible reading, ministry to others, and cultivating godly friends
  o Emotionally – Empathy, consideration, being emotionally present, and not disclosing personal information to the wrong people
  o Verbally – Positive words, not bad nicknames, volume, and tone
  o Financially – Work hard, plan jointly, spend wisely, and give generously
• Prayer: God, we thank you for the gift of such a great inheritance that we truly don’t deserve. As we continue in our relationship with our spouse, I pray that we make you the focal point of it all. Work in me to exhibit the fruit of your Spirit both inside of me and in the way, I relate to my marriage.

HAVE KIDS?
Use the content below to dive deeper into the Bible Reading Plan with your family.

Family Application: Loving God through Actions
Author: Nichole McCardle

• Our Bible Reading Plan today comes from the book of 1 Peter. In 1 Peter 3:1-7, Peter is giving some great marriage advice to husbands and wives. I don’t think that any of you are married quite yet, but Peter’s advice can apply to kids too! Peter instructs us to behave in a way that everyone can see our love for God through our actions. He also reminds us that our inner beauty is of great worth to God, rather than our outward appearance. Peter also teaches us to be respectful and considerate of others.
• During our reading today, we learned that not everyone in our lives has the same relationship with Jesus. Since we know that Jesus loves us and wants to be our friend forever, we can teach that truth to others. We can do that in many ways, but one way is through the way we act and behave. If our friends and family see us reading our Bible, praying, and worshiping Jesus, this can lead them to want to know Jesus too!
• 1 Peter 3: 3-4 says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” It is nice to have new clothes and cool hairstyles, but the Bible tells us that our true beauty comes from the inside. Make a list of 5 things that make you beautiful on the inside.
• Prayer: God, You are so wonderful! Thank You for creating me and loving me! God, help me to show my friends and family how wonderful and loving You are. Amen.