Thursday in Easter Week

1 Peter 3:1-17; John 20:1-31

We’re Only Visiting This Planet – Continued

We continue with yesterday’s thought along the lines of being aliens and sojourners, pilgrims and exiles, who are just passing through this earthly habitation.  This is not our home, nor should we become too enamored with it, for we are “looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

Following yesterday’s instructions regarding rulers and masters, today we begin with household matters and relations between husbands and wives, for a husband is the head of his household, which is a wonderful thing if he be a man of God.  But we mustn’t deduce from the order from which Peter proceeds that family relations are second to matters concerning rulers or masters, for the family was first ordained in creation, and the sacred relations between husband and wife and parents and children are grounded in the divine order given in creation.  But Christ further sanctifies what was a holy arrangement already, and now husband and wife love and serve one another through him.  So, for the sake of the other, each must put Christ first, “that your prayers may not be hindered,” the husband tenderly loving, the wife respectfully submitting.  In so doing, they prepare for the next world, for which they are both striving.  The moment one or the other gets the order mixed up, they will cease to strive for heaven, and instead strive with one another.

Peter rounds this section out with a call to the church to unity, sympathy, brotherly love, tenderness, and humility.  He cites the prayer book of the Church (the Psalms) for his proof text of the sincere and pure lives Christians are commanded to live (Psalm 34:12-16).  And then he gives a further call to embrace suffering if that is what God so calls us to do.  He instructs us to “have no fear of them,” that is those who would revile and persecute us.  He said the same thing to wives, telling them they were Sarah’s daughters “if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”  The Bible asserts that fear is completely unbecoming for the Christian.  As an alien, his hope is elsewhere, so what is there to fear?  If he seeks the Lord and does good, he shall have a clear conscience.  And if he is growing in grace and love, then “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).  This is important, for that which we fear, we tend to worship, either in adoration and praise, or fear and dread.  Thus, we are to fear God and Him alone.  So let us shed every attachment to this world, that we may live this life with godly honor.

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor View all posts by The Reformed Baptist