I Peter 3:1-6  The first two chapters of Peter's letter have reminded us of who we are in Christ Jesus.. chosen, holy, protected, growing, being built together as the spiritual house.. the children of God our Father.. called to proclaim His greatness; to do what is right, and to follow in Jesus' steps.. 

Now, he gets personal. What does this look like in reality? Specifically..  Peter starts with wives... As women of God we will be:

Submissive to our husbands.. We are to have the right attitude towards his leadership in the family and in our relationship.  The purpose is to be a witness for Jesus.. to our husbands if they are not saved.. and to others also.  We are to be "chaste and respectful".  To act in meekness and humility and gentleness..  to act like Jesus.

We are also to not worry about our external "adornment " more than our internal reality.... "let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God." May Jesus be seen in us!

How?  "For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves..."   The key to inner beauty is the "living hope" that is ours in Christ Jesus.  We look back to chapter 1... God our Father "caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance.. imperishable.. reserved in heaven for [us] who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 

When we know who we are in Christ and we fix our hope on Him.. we will be more and more like Him and less and less like the world.  Hallelujah!

Father in heaven, we see what values the women (and men)  of our world hold dear...and we know that they are not worthy of You... they are not lasting.. and they are contrary to who You have made us to be.  Yet, we all have a tendency to want to be beautiful and popular and perhaps somewhat "better" than the next person. Forgive us Lord and bring us into the Light. Let our minds dwell on what is true and noble, right and pure,  lovely and excellent and worthy of praise.. in Your sight. Our hope is fixed on You. You are able to do all things!  You are our deliverer and refuge! Draw us closer we pray. In Jesus' name, the Name that is above all names.. Amen.