Over the last several weeks as I have talked with friends about going to church, I have heard many say something similar to, “I would, but my husband won’t go with me” or “I do, but my husband never wants to go”, or “How can I talk my husband into believing in Christ?”
In our ReEngage class this weekend, we watched a testimony video where the lady shared she knew that by living her life for God and showing her husband the same grace God shows her, she would draw her husband to God and their marriage would grow stronger.
Then she quoted 1 Peter 3:1-2:
“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.”
Another person wrote of the book of Peter:
“Peter is writing to Christians who’re experiencing stormy seas. The waves of persecution are foaming and a hurricane is due to hit. Peter wants his readers to stand firm in God’s grace–be a rock of grace in the midst of a sea of persecution. And Peter takes an offensive position. Peter wants unbelievers to see God’s grace lived out so some might come to repentance. So stand firm in grace.
“So if you wives are married to a non-Christian husband, then Peter says live God’s Word to impact them for the Gospel. That means forgiving them like Christ forgives them. Loving them sacrificially like Christ loves you. Delighting in them as your head, the way Christ delights in you. And fulfilling your role as a woman to her husband in every way.
“Your husband is disobedient to God’s Word, so the assumption of verse 1 is the saved wife will be obedient to God’s Word. It is only those wives who are obedient to the Word of God who are submissive to Christ. It is only wives who are submissive to Christ who can be submissive to their husbands. Plus, only those wives who are obedient to the Word of God whom God will use to possibly lead their unsaved husband to the Gospel of Christ.
“The verb ‘they may be won’ is future tense. Peter wants Christian wives to continue hoping in the future, that they might be the instrument God uses to win their husband to Christ. God is offering hope here–not a guarantee, but the passive voice in the verb “they may be won.”
Peter reminds us, God is the one who must save the husband. Saved wives can be God’s effective tool, but God must save.
“So how are wives to live God’s Word to become that effective tool to impact their husband? Look at the end of verses 1 and 2, “they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.”
Simply stated, focus on your walk over your talk. Actions speak louder than what? Words. Unsaved husbands are to be won without a word.
