Very Precious in the Sight of God – Children

• Very Precious in the Sight of God
• 1 Peter 3:1-6
• Precious…
• Precious stones, jewels …
• An heirloom …
• Our children …

• Precious to God…
• “Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel --4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” -- 1 Peter 3:3-4
• If you want to be precious to God…
• Don’t focus on outward appearances…
• Esteemed among men but not God…
• And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. – Luke 16:15
• Cleanse the inside
• Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.

• Cleanse the inside
• Matthew 23:25-28 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
• Behave so men will see God, not us…
• Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
• If you want to be precious to God…
• Focus on the unseen person of the heart…
• Good trees are like good hearts…
• Luke 6:43-45 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
• Good trees are like good hearts…
• 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

• The Ungodly Woman
• Proverbs 7:10-11 And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. 11 She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home.

• A meek and quiet spirit …
• Accepting the role God has allotted you…
• Not weak, but strength held in control…
• Like the holy women of old…
• Swift to hear …
• James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath
• Jesus our example
• Matthew 21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

• If you want to be precious to God…
• Have chaste conduct…
• Adornment of good works…
• 1 Timothy 2:9-10 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
• Chaste = Pure
• 1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

• If you want to be precious to God…
• Trust Him!
• Holy women trusted in God…
• 1 Peter 3:5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands …

• Demonstrating your faith…
• Don’t focus on outward appearances
• Focus on the unseen person of the heart
• Have chaste, pure conduct
• Trust in God
• Very Precious in the Sight of God
• 1 Peter 3:1-6