Happy Mother's Day!

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. (1 Peter 3:1-6 ESV).

It’s always a difficult to take a holiday like today and write a devotional without seeming personal. I have never shied from personal references as I am often taught best through the examples of my family and others who are close to me. So, first let me wish all of you who are mothers a very happy and satisfying day. I know there are some who see this day a difficult for one of many possible reasons. To you I pray these words would be of encouragement and comfort to you. In our reading today the apostle instructs the wives to be submissive to their husbands, while later he will speak to instruct husbands to live considerately with their wives. It is nestled in a series of instructions concerning our responsibility of positive relationships with others. In fact, he will end the thoughts as he tells the whole church to have unity and sympathy and love and tenderheartedness and humility toward one another, and not to return evil for evil (cf. 1 Peter 3:8–17). Today we simply focus our attention on the women. I sincerely desire it to be a message of hope. I begin by asking the question: “What is the root cause of a woman’s greatness in the eyes of God?” What really makes a woman great? Peter tells us in the fifth verse of our reading. He lists three things. First, these holy women hoped in God. Second, because they hoped in God, they adorned themselves in a certain way, namely, with a gentle and quiet spirit. Third, by hoping in God and adorning themselves with this spirit of tranquility, they were submissive to their husbands. Because of these three things, Peter calls them “holy women.” Their spirit and their demeanor are distinct from the world and are precious in the sight of God (verse 4). And not only are they precious in God’s sight, but they are also powerful in the sight of unbelieving husbands. These are the women who have understood and taken the calling of motherhood to heart. While being a mother is often unrewarded and unheralded, God does not think of this position as anything less that essential in the kingdom. Strive to make you position that important! Happy Mother’s Day!