The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 3:1-9, “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;

4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;

6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

7 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.”

Although my dear, loving wife has entered Heaven well ahead of me, I shall have to be careful with this passage. She lived by the principled standard we read in the words above; therefore, I have a dual responsibility: first, to the Word, then to my adorable, loving wife. At the same time, I am hardly overlooking what I shall inherit if I but abide by the Biblical standard above; namely, “that (I) might inherit a blessing.” Simultaneously, I shall avoid being selfish, noting that you, too, are enabled to receive His blessing.

I shall be honest and admit that I learned more from my wife than she learned from me. Could it not be that she was always looking upward? Which way are you looking?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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