The Virtuous Wife

The Virtuous Wife

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Guilty Conscience: Who is he that condemns?

(scene: one chair near wings, judge's bench or podium center stage)
WOMAN -- (enters angry) I can't believe I did it again! (stomps foot, sits) Why do I keep falling into the same sin, over and over?! (buries face in hands)
SATAN -- (enters wearing business suit, red face, horns, stands behind Woman, fakes sympathy) You look upset. Is something wrong?
WOMAN -- (unburies face does not look back) I just did it again. I swore I'd never do that sin again and the very same day I did it again!
SATAN -- I'm so sorry. But look at it this way. You're only human.
WOMAN -- Thanks for the sympathy. But I feel so guilty.
JUDGE -- (enters wearing black robe, crosses to bench, pounds gavel) This court will come to order. The defendant will approach the bench.
WOMAN -- (stands crosses to bench) Yes, your honour.
JUDGE -- How does the defendant plead?
SATAN -- (crossing) My client pleads guilty, your honour.
WOMAN -- YOU are my defence counsel?
SATAN -- (ignores woman) ...But we throw ourselves on the mercy of the court, Your Honour. My client is only human. And besides, she's not fully in charge of her faculties.
JUDGE -- I don't understand. If SHE's not in charge of her faculties, who is?
SATAN -- I am. I am the prince of the power of the air. In short, your honour the devil made her do it. (laughs fiendishly)
WOMAN -- I don't stand a chance, do I?
JUDGE -- With your co-conspirator as your defence counsel, your chances don't look good. But are you sure you want to plead guilty?
WOMAN -- I don't know, Your Honour. What choice do I have?
JUDGE -- We haven't scene the evidence. Has the prosecution prepared its case?
JESUS -- (enters opposite wearing tunic, carrying file folder) We have, your Honour.
SATAN -- Oh, no. Not you again.
JUDGE -- Order in the court. (pounds gavel)
SATAN -- Sorry, your honour.
JUDGE -- What evidence do you have against the defendant?
JESUS -- (opens file folder, let's it hang from one corner, showing that it's empty) I'm sorry, your honour. The prosecution's evidence against the defendant has disappeared.
JUDGE -- Disappeared?!
SATAN -- He always does this. He only does this to embarrass me.
JUDGE -- Order in the court. (pounds gavel)
SATAN -- Nobody told me that my client was a Christian.
JUDGE -- Order in the court. (pounds gavel)
SATAN -- Your Honour, I was blind-sided by the prosecution. I move for a change of venue.
JUDGE -- You can't move for a change of venue right in the middle of the trial! (turns to Jesus) Now, what's this about a lack of evidence?
JESUS -- Well, Your Honour. I was asked by my father to condemn all sinners, but after my death and resurrection, the evidence against all those who put their trust in me disappeared from the evidence room.
JUDGE -- Including the defendant's?
JESUS -- Including the defendant's.
JUDGE -- Evidence doesn't just up and disappear!
SATAN -- This is not fair. This is not fair at all.
JESUS -- I'm sorry, Your Honour. I know that it appears to be a little irregular. It looks like a lack of justice. But when I died I paid the penalty for all the sins of this defendant, even those she hasn't committed yet.
JUDGE -- How can that be?
JESUS -- It was a plea bargain, Your Honour. When the defendant admitted her sins and put her trust in me, she became immune from prosecution. No evidence can be held against her.
SATAN -- Your honour, this is a travesty of justice!
JUDGE -- Well, it doesn't seem right to me either. But if there's no evidence to hold against her, I must declare the defendant not guilty.
SATAN -- Well, of course she's guilty! Look at her face! She's got guilt written all over her!
JESUS -- Well, she didn't get the guilt from me!
JUDGE -- Case dismissed. (pounds gavel, exits)
JESUS -- Come with me, child.
WOMAN -- (exits with Jesus) I've got no reason to feel guilty, do I?
JESUS -- (exiting) Not as far as I'm concerned.
SATAN -- (follows) Hey, you're still human! It's only human to feel guilty! You can feel guilty if you want to.
-Bob Snook-

1 John 2:1
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
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