Remember your feelings matter to God.
| posted 1/30/2009
1 of 1
Peter's letter is about suffering. Some sections seem like rules for ordinary Christian living. But Peter keeps coming back to this main theme: how to live during suffering.
Living with a spouse who doesn't admit his mistakes isn't quite as painful as being a human torch for one of Nero's garden parties. But it's suffering all the same. Peter's instructions apply for both: "[Have] compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing" (3:8, 9); "Do not be afraid of [others'] threats, nor be troubled" (3:14). And then there's the undergirding statement that helps you forgive, even when it's hard: "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (3:15).
One of the responsibilities of a spouse is to let the other spouse know, as tactfully as you can, when he's hurt you. Even when you do this, an apology may not be forthcoming. Living with a spouse who doesn't ask for forgiveness can take a terrible toll on your self-esteem. You may feel unworthy of an apology or think that your feelings don't matter—at least not to your spouse. But you do matter to God. Christ is your Lord. You are one of God's "called" ones (3:9). With that confidence, you can begin to forgive your spouse—even if he doesn't ask. (See also Jeremiah 33:1-9; Ephesians 2:14-18.)
Good Words to Remember:
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers. 1 Peter 3:12
Today's Challenge:
What situation do you need to forgive your spouse for—and then let go of it?
Copyright 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
share this page
