by Tammy Phillips
February 28, 2023
If you did not read yesterday’s blog, please do so first. Here is the link. BE DONE WITH IT.
So many of us have believed a lie that we have to be perfect in the public’s eye. I did for years. I was a people pleaser. Other’s opinions matter, but it is God, My Father, who I aim to please. All the days of my life have already been written in my book, and He knows all my imperfections. I am one of the reasons He sent Jesus…to pay for all my mistakes. At this point in my life, I may overshare, but I try to live as an open book, I share so you may know you are not alone in your journey. We are all imperfect but complete in Him. The whooping I received from Holy Spirt was too much for one day’s writing so here is the second part that really shook me up.
BE WON OVER WITHOUT A WORD
“In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word (of God), they may BE WON OVER WITHOUT A WORD by the way their wives live, when they observe your pure, reverent lives.” (1Pe 3:1-2 CSB)
I do not know about you, but I want to live in a way that my husband can be won over to the Lord without a word. HOW POWERFUL IS THAT? I want my ways to lead my husband closer to the Lord and my words not to drive him further from away. My “ways” include my conduct and behavior. It is how I walk and journey through life, day to day. The Greek word for way/conversation is a derivative of the word “anastrephō” which means to live, behave oneself, and be used. It also means to overthrow, overturn, turn upside down, to turn back, to turn hither and thither, to turn oneself about and do the “hokey-pokey” of life. Our every turn and return may affect our husbands relationship with the Lord. And you know, how we do life has to spill over to our kids and grandkids and everyone else around us. Words matter but actions matter more.
We can doll up for our husbands and the world but…
“Don’t let your beauty be of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry, but rather be what is inside the heart – the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”(1Pe 3:4 CSB)
Gentle, meek, and mild are definitely qualities I NEED to work on. Make-up and hair are easy compared to those. And a quiet spirit…still, undisturbed, and steadfast… Be quiet is pretty grand advice! It is worth a lot in God’s eyes. Will this whooping ever end? How many times must I be told to watch my mouth?
Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing. (1Pe 3:8-9 CSB)
Finally! I have been waiting for the summation in this whooping.
Be of one mind.
Be sympathetic (not self-centered).
Be compassionate. Feel the pain of another.
Be loving.
Be humble.
Give a blessing for insult. (WOW…kind of like love your enemy!) We were CALLED to do life in this way so that we may be blessed. All of this is very contrary to the flesh.
I thought Peter had said finally, but he was not finished.
“For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT and LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL and DO WHAT IS GOOD. Let him seek peace and pursue it because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil. “ (1Pe 3:12 CSB)
We heard all this yesterday in earlier chapters of Peter, but he felt the need to remind us, again. Once more, We are told to BE DONE WITH IT, SIN. I want God on my side. I want to do his will. I best zip my lips, crucify my flesh and be done with it.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding – because THE ONE WHO SUFFERS IN THE FLESH IS FINISHED WITH SIN – in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. (1Pe 4:2 CSB)
Peter warns that the end of all things is near; therefore…
Be alert. Watching.
Be in the right mind.
Be self- controlled.
Be sober-minded for prayer.
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1Pe 4:7-8 CSB)
We cannot love well if we are constantly complaining, speaking badly about or to someone. We are told to “be hospitable to one another without complaining.” (1Pe 4:9 CSB). We are to be fond of guests without mumbling, muttering, grumbling. We are to use our gift t to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. (1Pe 4:10 CSB). And, be clothed with humility because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. (1Pe 5:5 CSB). My mouth was way too proud of my ugly behavior last Saturday and I have been being humbled by His loving words for the last ten days. (Oh and by the way, my actions have not been perfect since then either, but I am going to keep on trying.)
I enCOURAGE you to learn from my mistakes and misbehavior. What we say, but more importantly the way we walk out life, can and will lead people to Jesus. Choose life. Live life in a way that others, including our husbands, will BE WON OVER WITHOUT A WORD!
Viva Magenta: Live. Breathe. Be…
P.S. Want to know God’s will for our lives? Look at this expounded list of “BE’s” from just 1 Peter:
Be sober.
Be holy in all conduct.
Be holy, for I am holy.
Be honorable in your conduct.
Be good.
Be as you ought to be in your conversation.
Be done with every trace of wickedness.
Be done with a bad nature.
Be done with all tricks.
Be done pretending.
Be done with jealousy.
Be done with backbiting.
Be done with evil speaking of every kind.
BE DONE WITH IT!
Be submissive to [your] masters with all fear.
Be submissive to your own husbands….
Be beautiful inside.
Be quiet.
Be gentle.
Be like minded.
Be sympathetic.
Be tenderhearted.
Be compassionate.
Be not afraid of threats
Be not troubled.
Be ready to defend the hope within.
Be humble.
Be a blessing.
Be turned from evil.
Be alert.
Be sober.
Be serious.
Be in the right mind.
Be self-controlled.
Be sober minded for prayer.
Be loving.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Be glad with exceeding joy.
Be not ashamed.
Be clothed with humility.
Be sober.
Be vigilant.
Be done with it.
Dare I go to 2 Peter?
Complete in Him 