Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified (1 Corinthians 14:1-5).

Big chunk of text today, but where would you break it up?

I don’t know where you go to church, Beloved. Perhaps you believe that the spiritual gifts Paul describes here are still active. Perhaps they are a regular, even necessary, component of your worship. Perhaps you think that the gifts are no longer necessary–and therefore no longer extant–now that we have Scripture.

I’m not qualified to speak on the subject, and frankly that’s not the issue here. Paul’s point is, as it has been for many a verse now, that the role of gifts is to edify the body. In fact, the role of the Church service was to edify the body.

In other words, once again…it’s not about you.

So speaking in tongues is great, but it’s primarily between you and God. To everyone else it’s just noise.  Prophecy, however, was spoken in words that all could understand, so it was edifying for the entire church. You see, that’s what Paul was interested in. When it came to the church service, Paul was looking for the most bang for his buck.

Spiritually speaking

Happy Thursday, Beloved