{Blog Tour} 1 Peter by Sue Edwards - Week 5

Kregel Publications is hosting a "graduated blog tour" of the book 1 Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times by Sue Edwards. Each week a group of bloggers will be completeing the weekly lesson, blogging about what we've learned, and linking it all up on the Kregel page (you can find that here).  

Week five was entitled, "Strengthen the Sacred Mix." This week was all about how men and women should interact. As brothers and sisters in Christ we are called to treat each other with respect.  The focus this week was on 1 Peter 3:1-7 which not only calls wives to be submissive to their husbands, but also calls husbands to treat their wives with respect.There is a lot of truth spoken in those verses.

Jesus is our roll model - the one we need to be like. He has set the standard we need to aim for. Our lives need to reflect this. One of the days lesson was about what "true beauty" means. I think many might say things that are outward. However, God does not look at outward beauty. It is our hearts. It is how we treat others. It is how we feel about ourselves. All of these things contribute to our beauty.

The week didn't just focus on women, but this is a women's Bible study after all. There was also a day devoted to men. Peter called men to be respectful of their wives and children. This was not a cultural standard of the day. Women were considered property and had no rights. Peter was calling for the men to act differently. In fact, men are told that if they don't treat their wives and heirs with respect, their prayer life will be hindered.

I remember back to the first few years of my marriage. I was young and I my outlook on life had definitely been shaped by the world. I did not vow to "obey" my husband. What an archaic term! At least I thought so at the time. It took me years to realize that the Biblical model was there for a reason. Once I allowed my husband to lead our household, it was amazing how little we fought over trivial matters. I still remember the screaming matches I would instigate with him - little more than temper tantrums really. I look at how far I have come and I am so thankful that God didn't let up. He continued to show me things and how I needed to change my behavior in order to change things in my relationships. In fact, he is still doing this today. He never gives up and we all continue to need to improve. After all, our standard was set by Jesus.


Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of the book through the Kregel Publications Blog Tour program. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions stated above are mine alone.