The Grace of Inner Beauty

“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.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

July 26, 2022

Marriage presents many challenges. One of those is that even in the marriage of two believers growth in the faith may not be at the same pace. If the wife is ardently pursuing a closer walk with God, the husband may be slow to understand what it means to deny himself and take up his cross and follow Christ. Whether a wife is married to an unbeliever or a slow-walking believer, the truth remains the same. The power of the grace of inner beauty far outweighs in value the appeal of outer beauty. The “without a word” does not mean “without the gospel.” The gospel is to be adorned, made attractive, by self-sacrificing love, faithfulness to her husband in thought, word, and deed. She doesn’t resort to manipulation, like meeting her husband at the door wearing sensual clothing or using social occasions to make her husband jealous by flirting with other men. To all women, whether married or unmarried, the ultimate and most important attention-getter is humble strength, wisdom, kindness, being a helper and encourager. A complaining, grumpy, discontented, bossy, and vain woman is not attractive. Nor is the wife who is indifferent to her physical appearance in the name of “holiness.” Imagine homes where the women are devoted “10s” in God-fearing love, anxious to do what is pleasing to Christ. How eye-catching is that! Husbands, if you have such a woman in your life, let her know how much she is valued. H

A time to pray: “Lord, protect and strengthen those women who are unappreciated by their husbands. Set their minds on the sweet rewards the Savior will give them for remaining faithful in the beauty of righteous living.”