Betrothed

Proverbs 18:3—“When wickedness come, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace.”

            When you look at the actual Hebrew words this verse shows a progression or path.  First comes the morally wrong position.  This morally wrong position causes a despising or contempt.  In the Hebrew two paths emerge.  One is to dishonor and shame.  This leads to exposure through stripping or defaming.  The other path puts a slightly different twist on the contempt.  The contempt leads to lightly esteeming.  The lightly esteeming leads to a surrender as a gathering of crops in the ripeness of age or a betrothal.

            As we all have to deal with our own morally wrong or wicked positions at some point in our lives (“for all have fallen short of the Glory of God”), which path you chose determines whether you become a woman of disgrace or a beautiful bride.  Many chose to hide their shame fearing the exposure, so they have no close friends and stay very busy; trying to ward off the day of exposure.  But there is another path.  Our contempt could lead us to lightly esteeming our own lordship over our lives.  It can lead us to the Cross-where we confess our inability to direct our own steps and the dire need to be clothed in the righteousness that can only come from God.  This surrender and defeat of our selves leads, not to a shameful exposure, but a beautiful betrothal.  Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and you’ll find yourself a Bride dressed in white.

 Lord, I pray that our sin will not drag us down the path of dishonor and shame, but instead I pray for a humble heart that will lightly esteem my own power.  Lord I desire to be that Bride dressed in white.  And I choose to surrender to Your Lordship.  I confess that You are my righteousness, that by the Grace of God, I will not be a foolish Galatian , but will cast down my throne of human effort and watch Your Spirit complete the good work You have begun in me.  Thank you for Your Grace and Mercy Lord Jesus!