Tues Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

“Since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (I Peter 3:7)

When wives heard this 2000 years ago, the world could not have contained the smile that was on their faces. When it comes to eternal life, a relationship with God, to the most important part of all of us, which is our spirit and our soul, wives are equal in every way to their husbands. In other words, when you think about it marriage is more than just a relationship of a husband to a wife. Men, your wife is your sister in the Lord. Ladies, your husband is your brother in the Lord. The husband-wife relationship lasts until “death due us part.” That brother-sister relationship is for all eternity.

As a bonus there is an added reason why you husbands had better listen to what Peter says. He says you had better treat your wife right,

“So that your prayers may not be hindered.” (I Peter 3:7)

The word “hindered” literally means “to be cut off.” Have you ever been talking on the telephone and just got cut off? That is what this word means. If you don’t treat your wife the way God expects you to treat her, don’t even bother trying to pray, because God will cut you off. Do you know what that means? Your fellowship with God depends upon your relationship with your wife.

That is why in a way it is just unfair being a pastor. I can’t stay mad at Teresa. I have to be right with Teresa, because if I can’t pray, I can’t preach, and if I can’t preach we will starve to death!

I want to wrap up by saying this. Everything I have said goes for single men just as much as it goes for husbands. The same way a husband treats his wife is the same way you single men should treat your dates - with understanding, with honor and grace. In our weddings, we actually have a throwback to Roman customs, because we use the phrase, “to give one’s hand in marriage.” Whenever a wedding took place, a wife could be given into “the hand of her husband” which means he was responsible for her welfare and he had primary control or the father could choose to give the bride away “without hand” which meant the father was still primarily responsible for her welfare and he was still in control.

The point is the wife was always in somebody’s hands. Husband, God has placed into your hands not just a woman, but a joint heir of the grace of eternal life who is to be treated with understanding, respect, and honor. When you wrap those chords around her heart your knot will stay forever tied.