The Christian marriage.

1 Peter 3:1 - 7

Wives and husbands..

This chapter deals about the biblical concept of how wives and husbands should treat each other.

3:1 Wives fit in with your husbands plans, for then if they refuse to listen when you talk to them about the Lord, they will be won by your respectful, pure behaviour. Your Godly lives will speak better to them than any words.

There are Christians who are married to non Christians. The non Christian and the children are sanctified through the Christian spouse.It is not easy to try to convince the non Christian spouse about the Lord.Don't waste your energy if he is the type that will tear everything you put up.His time is not up yet.

Rather, just show your Christian love for him.He can see the difference why a Christian behaved differently from a non Christian.Some people don't see any difference because, some people are just Christians in name sake only.

Usually , when a man becomes a Christian , he will bring the whole family along .But if it is a woman , it is usually she alone who would come to church.

Wives need not preach to their husbands about Christianity but to live an exemplary life that would please their husbands Praying for the husbands salvation and that he will become a Christian .

God asked us to go out and evangelize but not everyone has the gifts. Just leave it to God and His timing .

3:3 Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on jewelry or beautiful clothes,or hair arrangements

3:4 Be beautiful inside your hearts with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to God.

When you become a Christian , you are transformed and you see things in a different perspective. Your changed life speaks louder and clearer than your river of words .

Peter instructed that Christian wives should develop their inner beauty rather than their outward appearance. You should not be obsessed with fashion.

This does not mean that you should completely ignore the outward appearance or unconcerned or bother to care . You need to present a neat, simple and beautiful appearance from the inner beauty that radiates from the inner you.

What is important is your attitude and spirit. Live your Christian faith quietly and consistently and your family will see the Christ in you.

3:7 You husbands must be careful of your wives, being thoughtful of their needs and honoring them as the weaker sex.. Remember you and your wife are partners in receiving God's blessings and if you don't treat her as you should ,your prayers will not get ready answers.

Husbands and wives submit to each other or ideally mutual submissions out of love for each other and for God. . Women are weak only physically and not intellectually .

Women need to be protected from physical attacks or family abuse.
A man who honours his wife will protect, respect , help and stay with her. He will not expect her to work full time outside and full time at home. He will lighten her load whenever possible, be sensitive to her needs, be courteous, considerate , insightful and tact.

If a man does not treat his wife kindly, his prayers become ineffective, because a right living relationship with God is based on a right living relationship with others.

Reference
Life Application Bible.