◄ What Does 1 Peter 3:5 Mean? ►

The lasting beauty and attractiveness that radiates from a spiritual woman of God, comes from an inner purity of heart which honours the Lord and is submissive to her husband.

There were many such holy women mentioned in the Bible, both from the Old and New Testaments, and from each emanated a loveliness from deep within. They did not rely on their outer adornments to recommend themselves to others, but nurtured a heart that was submissive to their own husbands.

Sarah was one such woman of faith, and she, like so many other holy women of God, did not rely on her external looks, pretty trinkets, or any other sort of exterior embellishment to make herself appealing. She did not rely on the braiding of her hair or the donning of expensive dresses to make herself attractive.

Sarah's beauty, like so many saints of God, was not simply skin-deep. Her attractiveness was the fruit of righteousness, and a humble heart that trusted the Lord and obeyed His commands.

She displayed an inward life which was God-centred. She was ready and willing to yield to her husband's position of authority in the home, which was in compliance with God’s original plans and purposes from the beginning.

It was God Who ordained that the man should be the head of the home, just as Christ is the head of the Body, which is the Church. And just as Sarah honoured her own husband's sovereign, leadership position in the home, so we, as members of Christ’s mystic Body, should live in humble submission to His righteous authority – for He truly is our Lord and Saviour.

Sarah was one of many holy women who, in former times, hoped in God, believed His Word, and adorned herself with a submissive spirit and a humble heart – to the honour and glory of God.

All these holy women of God, radiate a richness of beauty and grace that surpasses the superficial allurement gained by any outward adornments or surface level charm.

May we, who are members of His Body, adopt the same submissive spirit and hope in the Lord, and may we honour God's Word by applying His divine order and rule in our own lives and homes. May we clothe the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God: "For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands."

Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons that can be learned from holy women and men of God. May I seek to live according to Your perfect plans and purposes with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, to Your eternal praise and everlasting glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.