The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 3:7-12, “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

If any of you read yesterday’s Letter and felt that Simon Peter was laying it on women rather heavily, today he instructs the men, the husbands. Men are to deal tenderly with their wives. Christian women are “heirs of the grace of life” just like their husbands. That is to say that the LORD looks with favor upon women just as He does with their husbands. Warning to men: Failure to deal warmly and kindly with your wife hinders your prayers from being answered.

Peter summarizes it all when he says, “…be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.” That’s the positive side. Here’s the negative: Don’t return “evil for evil or insult for insult…” Peter understood what it meant for a man and his wife to argue. He was a married man (Mk1:30), and understood the difficulties resident within the household.

Yet, I think he had both husband and wife in mind when in verse 9-12 he said, “…not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” It’s virtually impossible to keep arguing if the other person quits! Getting the last word isn’t always winning. Certainly, it’s not from God’s point of view! The LORD always gets the final word!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please don’t argue. One day your mate will be gone, and you’ll regret that you argued
at all.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom