Read To Me Daily Semester 3Намуна

1CHRONICLES 4:
In yesterday’s reading in 1st Chronicles, we started with the listing of David’s sons. Then starting with the descendants of King Solomon, only the kings were listed. In that way we jumped up to the period of the exile to Babylon. 

PROVERBS 15a:
Here is a favorite verse from today’s group of proverbs:

Pro. 15 NLT 17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love
is better than steak with someone you hate.

Re-reading EPHESIANS 4:
This chapter 4 of Ephesians (which we re-read today) has only one instance of the words I translate as ‘joined as one with Christ’, but the chapter is all about that oneness. Let me share this translation note about the verse mentioning baptism:

5 NLT [We all worship//There is] one Lord, [we all fully believe in Christ/one faith], [we all have been baptized as his followers/one baptism],

In Indonesia ‘one baptism’ has been misunderstood by people on both sides of the main baptism debate. One side say, “One baptism means you should only be baptized once (so if you were baptized as a baby, don’t get baptized again anywhere else!)” The other side says, “One baptism means there is only one way to be baptized, and that is by immersion.” Both sides miss the point, because this passage is about things that unify us, not divide us!

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we want to grow up, to mature, to leave childish ways, and to not be subject to the various winds of false teaching that are in the world. Let us grow so mature that people are reminded of You each time they see us. Some of the qualities mentioned that we need are humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance. You have brought peace to us, so by the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to heal the divisions among us. The differing gifts are meant to unify us, not divide us. May our exercise of the gifts of the Spirit bring about more love in your body as we encourage one another on to maturity. Give us a unity that spans denominational boundaries. Let us not grieve the Holy Spirit, for that will rob us of our joy and assurance. Please heal our stubbornness. Because stubbornness, anger, hate, and unrepentance will give the Devil a foothold in our lives, by which he will seek to lead us back into spiritual bondage.