Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Every word of this passage is so clearly defined in symbolic references. The virtuous woman is clothed with strength and honour. If we return to the previous three verses, we will see the clothing she makes, the linen which references white and purity, the scarlet for the sacrifice of Christ and the purple signifying the royalty of our Lord.
Her strength and honour reveals her character and her uprightness. Are you an honourable person upright in character and righteousness?
“She shall rejoice in time to come.” My friend, that is godliness given by knowing God. The godly have the joy of the Lord which is their strength. There is no real joy apart from the Lord. There may be circumstantial happiness when things go well in you life. Don’t confuse happiness with joy. Many people can be happy and have no joy and many can have little happiness (circumstantially) but have great joy in their hearts. Joy, true joy comes from the Lord.
The time to come is heaven. Are you going to be there?
Notice, when she speaks she speaks wisdom and kindness.
Proverbs 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
As we have said so many times before; what we say and what we do comes from the heart.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
The virtuous woman speaks wisdom and kindness because that is what is in her heart. That my friend is given by God. God changes the heart at salvation giving us a new tongue, new speech and new actions.
Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Proverbs 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Finally we see the virtuous woman looks well to her household, she is not idle. She takes care of her family and is diligent in doing so. Looking closely at the last phrase, (she eateth not the bread of idleness) you will find she is self sustaining trusting in the Lord, rather than relying on others, she makes her own bread. I wonder how may idle people we have in our world today, relying on others rather than trusting in the Lord and being self sustaining.
My friend there is only one who can change your soul, heart and mind to be such a person as this virtuous woman, Jesus.
2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
