We Must Know What God Expects from Us in Order to Obey Him

Today’s Reading: Genesis 42; Mark 12; Job 8; Romans 12

Genesis 42:26–28
* The guilt of Joseph’s brothers is very much fresh and alive. Even what could have been received as a blessing from God is seen as a curse because of their guilt.

Mark 12:35–37
* Notice that Jesus does not teach that the Christ is not the son of David. Rather, he teaches that the Christ is not merely the son of David, but he is David’s Lord also. And if we want to truly know the Christ, we need to understand how he can be both.

Job 8:2–7
* Bildad’s argument (er, encouragement) is that Job’s words are wasted (wind) by claiming his innocence. God won’t pervert justice; the guilty are punished, not the pure. Again, that sounds good, but the view of God’s rewards and punishments is too narrow.

Romans 12:1–2
* After 11 chapters of doctrine, Paul begins the application section of the book. This pattern reinforces how our works must flow from our faith. We must know who God is, in order to worship him; what he expects from us, in order to obey him.