1 Peter 3:3-4 “Let your beauty not be external ~| – the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes– but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.”
Because Jesus is the Light of the World, when we tell people that Jesus is our light or source of life and allow them to observe our good works or changed the lifestyle of living for others, we validate our faith.
Peter had been describing principles for society (1 Pet 2:13–-17) and the workplace (1 Pet 2:18–-25). Now he directs his commands to the family (3:1–-7). The context is a Christian wife and an unsaved husband: the wife’s new faith becomes her motivation for submitting to her husband (3:1) whether he is harsh or gracious.
Roman society was built on the gods; upsetting this religious structure was a threat to the family and society. Christians were frequently blamed for public calamities because they upset the status quo of the empire.
First, a “woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away [or divorce him]” (1 Cor 7:13, 39).
Second, she is to “be submissive to [her] own husband, 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, as they observe [her] chaste and respectful behavior” (1 Pet 3:1–-2).
Third, the wife’s “adornment must not be merely external . . . , but let it be the hidden person of the heart . . . a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Pet 3:3NKJ). This is not an exclusive command (as the word “merely” indicates), but it does imply a change of priority for the believing wife that makes her different and actually more attractive.
Christian women should devote themselves to manifesting their transformed lives and intentionally demonstrating attitudes of love, joy, peace, and hope. Outward adornment should be respectable, but not ostentatious.
Which is more important to you: outward or inward beauty? How can you let your “light shine” to be “precious in the sight of God?” (1 Pet 3:4).
“Lord Jesus, the beauty of Your character has captured my heart, though I have no idea what You look like. Teach me to reflect Your values and beauty of heart over the façade of fading fads.”