Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 3:7

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Yeah, I know, six verses to wives and one for husbands.  And the verse to husbands doesn’t give any great detail.

Well guys, hang on to your hats – I’ve got a few things to say.

1.    Our wives, like Eve, are “helpers meet” for us.  OK – that means (as God is sovereign) that she’s our wife His will and we need them.  It was not good for Adam to be alone and it is not good for us either. (No, we’re not going to get into the “call” to singleness.)

2.    Our wives, like Eve, are under our care – our protection and our provision (all of which is under Him).  They are our responsibility – we are their under-shepherd.

3.    Our wives, like Eve, are being assaulted by the snake.  He still wants to deceive and confuse and misdirect.  We cannot be like Adam and just “be there.”  We have to take action – whether it’s direct or through prayer.  Do not be silent like Adam.

4.    Our wives, like Eve, are being told lies.  They are seductive  but perverse lies.  Every day in innumerable ways they are being told they are “not good enough.”  From their weight to their aging to the cereal they pick for the kids – they are being told they are failures.  Our (husbands’) voices have to over-ride the voices of the world the flesh and the devil.  We must sing the Song of Songs to our wives.

5.    Our wives, like Eve, are there to labor alongside us.  They (Adam and Eve) were given the care of the garden.  You may be the “head” of the household, but if you don’t know where the mustard is kept, you’re not a functional member of the household.

Let me comment on the phrase, “as with a weaker vessel (LITV).”

There is no getting around the fact that the word “weaker” carries a moral import.  Of all the possible definitions, I am inclined to the following: “By implication, meaning afflicted, distressed by oppression, calamity, and so forth.”  The reason is both practical and Biblical.  First, as I have listed above, the world, the flesh and the devil are in overdrive when it comes to women.  Second, since we are all under the grace and provision of God and God has demonstrated that He uses women for His glory, I have a hard time even considering that they are somehow less spiritually fit in Christ than men are.

I once thought of this:  “My wife is not a bucket, she’s an alabaster vase.”  The vase is by its nature less hardy than the bucket but it is of greater beauty and value.  Plus, you’d carry compost in a bucket but never in an alabaster vase.”

As husbands, we are commanded to be “showing honor” to this vessel – giving dignity to our wives.  You and I are commanded to live with our wives, “in an understanding way” (moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living).

“Understanding” = Knowledge - gnosis. Present and fragmentary knowledge as contrasted with epígnōsis, clear and exact knowledge which expresses a more thorough participation in the object or knowledge on the part of the knowledgeable subject.

Now, that is never going to just happen.  Our sinful default is selfishness.  We must take the time and make the effort to understand how she lives in the world, what her needs are and how we might bless her.  It has to be done on purpose!

The why is really simple – she’s your wife AND your sister in Christ.

The cost of not making every effort to obey?  Your prayers/worship will be cut off (hindered).

How can we do this?  I have no special words here.  Pray – study and ask her.  Determine in your heart that you want to obey and ask God to show you how to obey for her.  Formulas work in the lab and recipes work in the kitchen – but, your ministry to your wife will be as unique as she is.

Patti is hardly a “weaker” person than I am.  Emotionally and in many ways spiritually she is my better.  As I learned that, I have come to cherish it and cherish her.  I will be honest, I pray that we both go home to God together – one, because I’d miss her terribly and two, because I want to see her face when she gets there.  Silly – maybe – but it has greatly shaped my prayers and actions in regards to this most special gift God has honored me with.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

http://tc2v1.blogspot.com/2012/08/walk-with-p-me-03-more-about-me-than-us.html

This and That – Us in Him 0908112

Well – tomorrow night is the night, 6 pm is the time and Caribou Coffee is the place.

We are prayerfully offering Him an opportunity for Him to bring folks to a place and time where they can learn of Jesus.  We’ve worked very hard to stay out of His way in this and to only move when we were confident in His leading.

Of course all the typical fleshly stuff has raised its head.  Will anyone come?  Will they come back?  Who will come?  Will it be “successful?”  Who do we think we are?  Where do we get off starting a study?   But – we’re pretty familiar with all these questions and the doubt and fear that come with them.  For the three of us, they are old nasty companions.

What I’m asking of you – is that you pray that we will not forget for a minute that this is an offering to Him, for Him and about Him.  “We,” are just secondary instruments for Him to work His providence.  It ain’t about us – it’s about Him.

Don’t think for a second that your prayers are a requested as some “vote for us” kind of thing.  We know many things we need to be careful about but YOU know some we don’t.  It is those things we ask you to pray about.

Oh, EGO – (whatever that really is :-&).  Pray that our flesh will not interfere with our service !

We all have hopes and dreams concerning the study.  Our imaginations run hot and cold.  Pray that our imaginations will be sanctified by His Spirit and that they do not become, in any way, the controlling factor in this.  This must be His work or it will not work!

Pray that in all ways and all circumstances He will be glorified in what we are doing.  We know He has equipped each of us and us as a team to do works of ministry.  Pray that we do not forget that our gifts are His to be used for His glory and honor.

We have invited, “The wondrous, the wondering, the wandering and the wounded.”  Pray that we are enabled to be with and for them what He needs us to be.

We are keeping in mind:

2Co_4:1  Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

2Co_5:18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

2Co_9:12  For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

And

Heb 13:18  Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

Worminess??? Why not??

C.H. Spurgeon used the word “worm” to refer to himself in contrast to the holiness of the Lord.  He uses “worm,” a lot. 

I get tickled at folks who just cringe at this appellation (like I used to).  It is kind of an icky way to view one’s self.  But if we just keep in mind the term is used in contrast to the wonder, righteousness, holiness and glory (to name a few attributes) of Christ, then I think we will be able to handle it well.

But I also think the “world” desperately wants us to ignore or reject that “worminess.” 

My first reaction to this was negative.  Hey, I work with people who are trying to improve their skills, talents, relationships, etc.  Calling them “worms” would not be productive – except in those few instances where my client is a believer.  But even still it’s a tough thing to accept.

Well, check out:  http://urbanext.illinois.edu/worms/live/index.html

Worms have no small importance in God’s creation!  They are no less important in “tending” God’s creation than we are.  They are part of the plan too.

No, I’m not expecting anyone other than believers to “get’ this.  And let’s not take this analogy too far. 

If I am a believer, my “worminess” has purpose and meaning.  The article above says, “Having worms around in your garden is a real good sign that you have a healthy soil.” 

Now that kind of relates to our role as His worms here.  We are light, we are salt and whoa to the places that have neither.  Of course, we are worms as well and whoa to the place that has no worms.

Think about this.  We consider ourselves, mankind, the pinnacle of creation – the “top.”  But where would we be without worms?  Wormlessness is not good – physically or spiritually.