Mark 12:10

"Haven't you read this Scripture:
'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;  The LORD has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes.'?


In our moment of defeat as we lay helpless and hopeless on the battlefield with the enemy bearing down on us about to plunge his fiery spear into our hearts, the true Heir of the Kingdom came to us and fought in our stead and repelled the enemy.  But what was to be a moment of gratitude turned into betrayal as we plunged our sword into His back in hopes that Satan and his army might be merciful to us and spare our lives.  Satan took His Body and hung it up as a trophy of his victory and there Jesus lay abandoned, rejected, and alone for three days while some wept, some cheered, and others stood indifferent, but everyone who wasn't slain was captured and forced into slavery.  With the death of our King, Satan's army's had won the war.

But the stone the builders rejected had become the capstone.  Jesus rose from the dead and empowered by his Father proceeded to destroy Satan's kingdom from the inside out and with him were all those who believed in his power and might to deliver us from captivity and joined him in his fight.  The man who became our sacrifice became our savior and it is marvelous in our eyes.

The third day of Holy week.

Job 35:6-8

"If you sin, how does that effect Him?  If your sins are many, what does that do to Him?  If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, or what does he receive from your hand?  Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only the sons of men."


Elihu is answering a question posed by Job, "What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?"

The answer is nothing at all from God.  Even when we do what is righteous and correct, we are only doing what was asked of us all along.  We do nothing above and beyond what has been our duty since the beginning of creation.  Why do you expect praise for things that are listed in your job description?  Can we give God anything he does not already own?  Who can cause God to be indebted to them?

Do we offend the Lord when we sin?  No, but rather God comes and shows us our sin that we might repent and be corrected.  His stance towards us has never changed.  God has never been against us but only for us and no sin will change that about God.  In the same way, none of our righteousness affects God either.  There is nothing we can do to earn the love of God.  We have it already.

Do you believe that?