Threads

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. – Proverbs 31:19

You are joined to the Bride of Christ, The Church, holy and without blemish because the merits and righteousness of Christ Jesus have been given to you in Holy Baptism, and you abide in His Word by His grace.

So the beginning and end of each day - although you only know this by faith - are times of taking what is incomplete and unfinished in the way of good works, and working it into all that is built up to the end of the age. Your garment of righteousness has been woven and spun not by your own efforts, but by your Creator who, through His Bride, keeps hand on spindle and distaff, never tiring of this good and wholesome process.

It is the same for your day-to-day life, or garment, of sanctification. In every respect you are forging ahead in faith under the cross, with your body of sin crucified and joined to the Living One.

Just as threads going into fabric are neither self-aware nor contrary in behavior, you who were once dead in trespasses and sin have are continually built up as Christ is at work in you both to desire and to do His good pleasure. As you look inward you see nothing but sin and death, but the Seamstress has an end in mind that is glorious and beyond your understanding.

This all takes place over time, and it all involves the work of Jesus on your behalf, in Whom you may take rest and comfort as he enjoins and invites you to do. It is through His Bride that all needs are given and taught, so that you need not wrestle under pretensions and manmade notions, but may instead rejoice in the Truth, having a path in which to walk that is clearly delineated day by day, serving neighbor with the same love and forgiveness you yourself have received.

The threads and fabric in spinning do not change in substance when they go from distaff to spindle, but remain the same substance under the careful attention of She who hears and believes the voice of her Husband, even though the latter stage is more glorious than the first. The Bride of Christ will bring you good, and not harm, all the days of your life; from beginning to end; from distaff to spindle.

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