Day 615 - Psalm 57

 Julie

God's glory is over everyone and everything.

Michelle

David is taking refuge in the shadow of God.  He cries out for help and says God sends his love and faithfulness.

Day 614 - Romans 16 & Psalm 56

 Julie

This last chapter seems to be a prayer for those in Paul's life. 

David is telling God that he does have trust in him. While he is being persecuted he know that God is going to take care of him because he has in the past.

Michelle

I couldn't tell if he was talking to God or to all believers or the people in the cities he was visiting.  I say that because he seemed like he was introducing people to someone and telling them to greet them in Christ Jesus.  What I found most interesting was the number of female names that he spoke of and that he spoke of them in regards to those that are worshipping, or leading, or that are faithful believers and that have risked themselves for God and Paul.  The part that stood out most is when he tells them, "watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.  Keep away from them.  For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites".  This was very moving and very basic instruction but it says so much.  It's something we need to be mindful of even today.  Something else that stood out was when he said "Greet also the church that meets at their house".  I feel like this is a nod to worshipping wherever you can.  Like saying, you don't have to meet at the church, necessarily, but anywhere that you can meet together in worship.

David is saying that he puts his trust in God when he is afraid.  We should follow suit.

Day 613 - Romans 14-15 & Psalm 55

 Julie

Again we are reminded that we should not pass judgment on others. This time we are shown that we were meant to be different and see things differently and that we should be accepting of those that do not think or act or do as we do, but love them and understand them. This is one of the big things wrong with the world today is that everyone thinks that you have to think exactly like they do and it's causing great dissention in the world. We are forgetting that it's ok that we don't all see things the same way and that the only person that can judge us is God and the only person that we really have to answer to in the end is God. "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." We need to remember this and learn to love everyone regardless of their issues.

God will cast down those that do us wrong as long as we stay faithful to him. This is a prayer that David has while he is be persecuted.

Michelle

I think you said this exactly as I was thinking it.  We are meant to be different.  As in chapter 12 it says everyone has different gifts, the same is with our thinking and the ways in which we worship.  I specifically says that we do different things in reverence to God and that we should not judge or hold in contempt those that are different from us.  

The beginning of this reading is what stands out the most to me.  When it says, "My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught...My hear is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.  Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me...I would fly away and be at rest.  I would flee far away...I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."  Some days I feel this way.  

Day 612 - Romans 12-13 & Psalm 54

 Julie

I have always liked these two chapters of Romans. To me they are some of the most important ones in the Bible as they remind us how to be good people. In this we are given a blueprint for what the gifts of grace are and we should have grace for others. This lays out how we can do that. We are told what it means to be a true Christian and this is where I think people tend to fall short. To love others to treat others with kindness to do for others even those that are considered our enemies. We are reminded that it is not our place to instill vengeance on others, God tells us "vengeance is mine" and that if we treat those that do us evil with kindness they will be marked for God's vengeance. I think one of the most confusing and difficult parts of this one is where they talk about the government and submitting to authorities. God tells us that we should listen to them and do as we are told unless it goes against God's Word, and that he has placed these people in these positions. However, it is difficult because we see the evil that these people are doing and we want to rebel. So I think that this is a hard one and that it's probably a test of our faith to do what we are asked by God even if we don't understand. 

This psalm also speaks to what we read above. Especially this verse, "He will return the evil to my enemies; and your faithfulness put an end to them." 

Michelle

Chapter 12 has been the most meaningful to me in my journey.  Probably because when I started, this is the chapter for the study we were doing at church, and it really changed me.  It opened my eyes to some things, and drew me in to a place I imagine God wanted me to be.  I still reference verse 2 when I need a reminder.  When I think of it, it makes me want to go through the study again so that I can see where I am now and maybe see if there are new things I need to focus on.  I do agree that this gives kind of instruction for how we are to be and how we should act with others.  The study we did focused on numerous things from this reading about how we are to act or worship in different areas of life.  I could go on about this chapter.  I think you are correct that we all fall short when it comes to treating others with respect and kindness, even those we consider our enemies.  It's hard to remember that we are not supposed to take revenge on others.  We need give it to God to take care of it, as with everything else.  

Interesting, the same verse stood out to me as referencing today's reading.

Day 611 - Romans 11 & Psalm 53

 Julie

So we are still learning how those that were considered sinners by the standards of the time were saved by the grace of God. The analogy of the Gentiles as a branches on a tree that are grafted in because of the salvation that they have received from God. 

This psalm seems to fit perfectly with the above reading. It's another way of explaining that all people are children of God if they choose to be.

Michelle

The analogy about the branches is interesting.  IT was the part that stood out most.  I like how it said that even if you get broken off, you can still be grafted back on and that the roots support the branches, not the other way around.

The psalm seems to be saying that people have forgotten God even though he saved them from those that were attacking them.  

Day 610 - Romans 9:30 - 10 & Psalm 52

 Julie

This is our message telling that everyone has the ability to receive salvation but it requires belief, trust and faith. We must ask for forgiveness and know that God is there for us all the time.

The steadfast love of God endures forever and David is showing how he trusts in that.

Michelle

I did not understand this reading at all.  I appreciate your interpretation.  

David seems to be questioning the evil people around him but then says he trusts in God always.

Day 609 - Romans 9:1-29 & Psalm 51

 Julie

Paul is telling the people that they have failed God he has not failed them. God has forgiven those that have repented regardless of their sin. 

He seems to be asking for forgiveness of his sins and asking God to cleanse his heart.

Michelle

I got lost in this one, but after reading yours, that makes sense.  What did stand out was the part that compares God to a potter.  God uses everyone in different ways, some will be hardened, which I think could be a test of their faithfulness, and some will be used for a special purpose or common use.  

I got that same thing from this reading.  What stood out most is verse 17, "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise".  I found this very powerful.  Like I am giving myself up to you as a sacrifice, all broken, so that you will make me whole.