WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP, DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY NORTHERN EUROPE
SPIRITUAL ADORNMENT OF CHRISTIAN WOMEN
I Peter 3:1-6
Most women care a lot about the outward appearance – the clothes they wear, their facial appearance, their hair dos and such like. Some spend a fortune on cosmetics and fashion with the aim of improving their look. However, the emphasis of Christian women should not be on outward adornment but spiritual (1 Timothy 2:9, 10). While a Christian woman should be conscious that her body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and she needs to take appropriate care of it, God does not want her to lay undue emphasis on the ‘outward man’ but rather on the ‘inner man’. This is what counts most in the sight of God.
THE NECESSITY OF SPIRITUAL ADORNMENT 1 Peter 3:2-6
We should bear in mind that none of God’s commandments is redundant. Everyone has both its purpose and benefits. God’s requirement from Christian women to make effort to cultivate and adorn the inner man is no exception! Below are some of the reasons why we need to adorn ourselves spiritually. One, it paves the way for spiritual growth and steadfastness (2 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:10). Two, it makes us spiritually fruitful (2 Peter 1:8). Three, God is glorified therewith (John 15:8). Four, unbelieving husbands may be won to the Lord and other women will edified through your chaste lifestyle (1 Peter 3:1, 2; Matthew 5:16). Five, the inner man that is being adorned is not corruptible (1 Peter 3:4). Six, God values our spiritual adornment (1 Peter 3:4).
CULTIVATING THE INNER MAN 1 Peter 3:1-6
The believer’s heart is likened to a piece of soil which needs to be cultivated and watered regularly in order to bear the fruit of the grace of God. It is this fruit of God’s grace which shows itself in different dimensions that beautifies the heart. How then do we bring about this heart cultivation and the spiritual adornment? One, feed on God’s word daily (1 Peter 2:2). Two, read good Christian books and edifying messages (Proverbs 13:20). Three, apply the word of God to your life on a daily basis (James 1:22). Four, endeavour to bear the fruit of the Spirit and add on different Christian virtues to your life (Galatians 5: 22, 23, 2 Peter 1:5-7; 1 Timothy 2:9, 10). The possession of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is an evidence of spiritual growth. The ornament of a ‘meek and quiet spirit’ decks our hearts like gold. This is part of the fruit that the Spirit of God bears in us. The married women are especially enjoined to add on the Christian virtue ‘humility’ which shows itself forth in their being obedient to their husbands (1 Peter 3:1, 5, 6). Four, be prayerful (1 Thessalonians 5:17; John 16: 23, 24). Prayer brings the believer closer to the Lord and in turn brings the Lord closer to her! Five, be sober, vigilant and reflect over your life on a regular basis (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 13:5).
CATALOGUE OF SPIRITUALLY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN 1 Peter 3:5, 6
There is a catalogue of women in the bible who possessed true spiritual beauty. For a few of them there is a mention in the scriptures of their natural beauty but the inner beauty of these women made them examples of women worth emulating. Below are a few examples of such women and some of the spiritual qualities which contributed to their inner beauty. One, Sarah. She reverenced her husband ‘calling him lord’ (1 Peter 3:4). Two, Abigail. She used God’s wisdom to solve a family problem and to prevent David from shedding blood (1 Samuel 25: 13-38). Three, Hannah. She got her problem of barrenness solved through her supplicating spirit (1 Samuel 1:6-28). Four, Mary. She was devout and had a meditative spirit (Luke 1:46-55; 2:19, 51). Five, Anna. She served God till old age (Luke 2:36-38). Six, Dorcas. She was liberal to the saints (Acts 9:36-39). Seven, Lydia. She gave heed to God’s word and was hospitable to God’s ministers (Acts 16; 14, 15, 40).
God’s injunction to Christian women, is to concentrate more on the inward adornment than the outward. Inward adornment is indeed what makes us truly beautiful! “Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31: 30). “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair… But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3: 4, 5).