When is a penny not a penny?

Genesis 42

Here is the faithfulness of God. Man's evil is just as subjected to God's sovereignty as are man's good deeds. There is nothing that is somehow beyond Him. Take heart and be encouraged.

Mark 12

This chapter is another rapid-fire series of quick exchanges. The parable of the vineyard is certainly an indictment of Israel. We can't simply leave it there, though, can we? We have the words of the very same servants and we have the life of the Son. What do we do with them?

The chapter ends with yet another hard lesson. It (money, stuff, relationship, everything) really does belong to God. Oh how we hate that. Surely my wise decisions and hard work have made the difference. Then again - not so much.

Job 8

It seems that Bildad has joined the local Orthodox Ass Fellowship and sits next to Eliphaz. It seems that they were looking for a televangelist gig as well.

"If you will seek God
and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright,
surely then he will rouse himself for you
and restore your rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small,
your latter days will be very great."

Says who? They've turned back to our old friend "religion".

Romans 12

I don't know exactly what it is about this chapter. It's a tug of war within. Picture the old Frosted Mini Wheats commercials. The moralist in me loves the talk of 'sober judgment' and patient suffering, but then I read 'Let love be genuine' and I'm slapped back into the reality of my complete inability to live this life apart from Christ.