BY: Pastor Bob Miller
CHAPTER READ: 1 Peter 3
SCRIPTURE SELECTED: 1 Peter 3: 3-4,8
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 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….8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
OBSERVATION: Peter is giving practical instruction on how we are to treat one another and live as Christians. He first of all talks to wives and then husbands and finally in verse 8 to “all of you” where he says to be “like-minded”. In other words, the instructions he gave to wives also applies to “all of us”. We are to spend much more time on our inward qualities rather than on outward adornment. A gentle and quiet spirit is what God notices as beautiful especially if we add sympathy, love for one another, compassion, and humility.
APPLICATION: I spend time each morning in the mirror to ensure my outward appearance is “put together” properly and that I’m presentable before others. How often do I spend preparing my inner self to ensure that my spirit is ready for the challenges of the day? This inner preparation each morning is of greater importance as it makes us beautiful before God. Time in the Word and prayer serves as effective mirrors to our inner self.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for showing me what truly matters! May I face this day with a spirit that is pleasing in Your sight! Amen