Quiet as a Mouse
Today's Verse:
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. ~1 Peter 3:4
We live in a noisy society. Growing up in the sprawling urban city life, we have noise from cars, trucks, buses, planes flying over us, people shouting at parks, the crowds at sporting events, media in our homes, and so much more. For me, quietness is a blessing! We sometimes describe a very quiet setting as, “It was quiet as a mouse.” The idea is that a mouse is very quiet as it goes about its business so it does not get caught. Quietness is a necessary component to being a good Christian.
There is the personality of quietness.
Quietness is being still. It is the absence of commotion, constant noise, continuous talking, and endless racket. One of our famous maxims is, "Silence is golden." Quietness is listening carefully without saying anything. Quietness is sitting at the side of someone who is grieving and allowing them to grieve while we silently embrace and comfort them. Quietness is focusing on the preacher as he preaches and exhorts the body of Christ through the Word of God. Quietness is allowing God to speak to us: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
There is the performance of quietness.
Quietness is a fundamental and necessary mark of submission. Quietness is a chaste conversation coupled with fear. Peter instructs wives who have unsaved or weak Christian husbands on how to favorably submit to their husbands, even though it is very difficult. He exalts the importance of a meek and quiet spirit. Submission is best performed when we are quiet and have a teachable spirit. Most contentions that we have are seldom resolved because we keep defending our rights and trying to prove we are correct. Proverbs 17:1 says, “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” Many marriages can benefit very much from this verse. We have too much wrangling, arguing, and complaining in our homes. We are good Christians who read our Bibles and pray, but we have this blind spot called self-righteousness. We are at strife with our spouses, our children, and our parents. You know what Proverbs 17:1 is exhorting us to do? It is better to have less things in our homes and lives and be quiet. “I can’t submit to my husband, or to my parent’s authority!” Yes, you can! The first step is to be quiet from saying anything. The best way for us to work on our hearts is to be quiet.
There is the perfection in quietness.
Quietness in the sight of God is of great price. It is of inestimable value. You cannot put a price on it. It is priceless. It does not devalue but instead appreciates. God places a very high premium on quietness. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 says, “For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” We need to cease from being busybodies in all of our affairs. Find something productive to do, work hard at it, and be quiet. Paul says in v. 13 that this is well doing. Quietness could help that unsaved husband get saved. Quietness could help a weak Christian husband to start growing in the Lord. Quietness will lead to less conflicts and solve some that have been left open. Quietness is being still and knowing Who God is. Quietness is pushing out the noisiness we allowed in our hearts and letting the sweetness of the Holy Spirit to be in control.
Be as quiet as a mouse! This requires us to work on our hearts and to keep it with all diligence. Start today in making a meek and quiet spirit a work of God’s grace in you.
Have a quiet God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 8-10