DECEMBER 1 – Reading 335

by John Christian Pra | December 1

“DESIRING THE HOLY SPIRIT”
(1 Corinthians 12:1 – 14:40)

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1

What is the last thing in your life that you strongly desired? Maybe it was a person in a relationship where you were constantly thinking about them and desperately doing all you could to be in their presence. Or perhaps it was a financial goal you were working towards to be able to put a down payment on your family’s dream home. Desire is a strong motivator and leads us into a passionate pursuit of what we seek most. 

In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul gives one of the clearest teachings on the gifts of the Holy Spirit in all of Scripture. Within, he shares the source of these gifts (God Himself), the purpose of the spiritual gifts (building up the church), and the proper use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (orderly and guided by love). 

The church in Corinth was notoriously messy. They were constantly finding themselves in trouble and throughout this book Paul is seeking to help correct some of their confusion. One of their main issues was their disorderly use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the hierarchy they were creating within the church based off of which gifts they saw most important. 

Paul enters into this mess and starts to refocus them by teaching them that the gifts are all given by God, each gift has it’s place within the body of Christ, and all gifts are for the sake of each other, not the individual. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul shares the guiding principle of the gifts which is love. Love should be our goal, not gifts. 

But then, Paul surprises us. Instead of telling the Corinthian church they should relax for a while before trying to use these gifts again, he actually encourages them to keep on desiring these things. When someone makes a mess, we usually try to steer them into a different direction, not right back into the messy aftermath where they were struggling beforehand.

However, Paul knew something vital. Without the Holy Spirit moving within us and through us, we will be a dead church. Earnestly desiring the gifts of the Holy Spirit is a necessary part of our walk with Jesus because we desire to see Jesus in our midst. 

Pursue love. Let this be the guide for how we practice the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

Desire the spiritual gifts. Don’t let mess scare you. We need the Holy Spirit working in us and through us.

Reflections:

• Is it difficult for you to desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?

   

• How does love guide our decisions and actions when it comes to the spiritual gifts?

Application: 

• If you are saved by Jesus, what gift of the Holy Spirit has God given you? Ask a pastor or leader to help you navigate this.

   

• What would earnestly desiring the spiritual gifts in your life look like?

Closing Prayer:
Father God, you are the giver of all good gifts. Thank you for bestowing Your Holy Spirit upon me and giving me gifts for the sake of furthering your Kingdom here on earth. Teach me today what it looks like to walk in the gifts you have given me. Forgive me for not allowing love to be my guide and pursuit in my Christian walk, allow me to stay humble as I use whatever gift you have placed on my life. Now I ask, stir within me a passion for these gifts that I may walk in your power. Amen.