Fri Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

Peter gives us one of the more interesting and somewhat misunderstood verses in the Bible.

“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear.” (I Peter 3:3)

I personally know people who take this verse and use it to defend the fact that they don’t wear makeup and except for a wedding ring they don’t wear any jewelry. They never get their hair styled and they just look as plain as they possibly can, because they equate plainness with piety. So, some women let themselves go. They love to use this little mantra, “Don’t love me for what I look like. Love me for who I am.” That obviously is true, but on the other hand there is nothing spiritual about walking around looking like an unmade bed all day. One wife was getting ready to get to church, she dolled herself up, and said to her husband, “Do you like my makeup?” He said, “I not only like it, but I appreciate it.”

Indeed, the people who interpret the verse like this are not really consistent, because if you are not supposed to braid your hair or wear gold or jewelry then if you read the rest of the verse women shouldn’t wear clothes either (I better not hear one man say, “Amen!” either.)

No, Peter’s point is simply real beauty is not what is on the outside, but what is on the inside.

There are two kinds of beauty. There is the physical beauty of the body and the spiritual beauty of the heart. I don’t care how much plastic surgery you have. I don’t care how much you exercise. I don’t care how well you take care of yourself. Ultimately for all of us, the physical beauty of the woman and the physical handsomeness of the man fade away.

“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.” (I Peter 3:4)

There is a beauty that never fades. There is a beauty that never grows old and is never tarnished by gray hair, false teeth, or a wrinkled face. Weather doesn’t decay it and time doesn’t age it. This is a beauty that gets lovelier and lovelier and is a beauty that looks better, smells nicer, and tastes sweeter with every passing day. It is the beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit that trusts God, walks with God, and radiates the very love of God.
Ladies, the heat that is generated by a quiet and gentile spirit that shows a husband respect and love, tender affection and a submissive spirit can melt the coldest heart.