I had already picked where I was going to aim this exhortation before I realized it was Mother’s Day. Surely the Spirit was at work in this. The exhortation comes from 1 Peter 3 where Peter has just finished saying this- You were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls…and then there is a pause and a transition…In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands. Feel the weight of that first. Peter says people straying and being brought back by the shepherd is not unlike women being submissive to their husbands. Wives are to follow their husbands like sheep follow the shepherd. And then there is this safeguard. If any of the husbands are disobedient to the word- win them over by your submissiveness as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. So husbands, you have a massive weight of responsibility to lead the sheep in your home, like Christ leads the church. And women, you are to follow your husband like a sheep follows a shepherd. How are you all doing with this? Men with your responsibility and women with yours? For you women specifically think of all the things you could be doing for your husband. The laundry, the dishes, the cooking, working part time, all the things you could be doing. Good things. What Peter says is precious in the sight of God is a gentle and quiet spirit. How are you doing with that? This is what God desires. This is what pleases Him. Go ahead and do all the other things but if you are not doing them with a gentle and quiet spirit then you are doing it all in vain. A husband wants a wife that he can trust. He wants a woman who will do him good and not evil. He wants a woman who is diligent and wise. He wants a woman who opens her mouth in wisdom and kindness is on her tongue. He wants a wife who praises him. But above all, if he is a godly man, he wants her to have a quiet and gentle spirit. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
So women as you go about your duties taking care of your household and your children lay all of your vanity down at the foot of the cross and take up the righteous garments for your soul, the garments of being gentle and quiet in your spirit.
Joshua Dockter – May 12, 2024
