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March 16
1: Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. Other translations say to "earnestly desire’ spiritual gifts, especially prophesy. Paul explains that the gift of prophesy is to be desired over speaking in tongues without the interpretation of tongues. He goes on to compare those three spiritual gifts; prophesy, tongues and interpretation of tongues.Prophesy edifies, exhorts and comforts other people whereas speaking in tongues without an interpretation only edifies the speaker. When you speak in tongues the rest of the church isn’t edified unless you interpret the tongue to find out what you were saying. If you interpret the tongue then that is just as good as prophesy because the whole church receives edifying then. Note that he is talking about speaking out in the church. When you are praying to yourself in the church or at home then you are encouraged to speak in tongues because you are praying God’s perfect will and you are being spiritually edified, (see verses 5, 18, Romans 8:26-27, Jude 20). But this discussion is about speaking out in the church with the gifts of the Spirit in operation. We are told to desire these spiritual gifts and especially desire the gift of prophesy.
Confession: I will earnestly desire spiritual gifts. I will desire to prophesy so that the church can be edified, exhorted and comforted. I will not look to publicly edify myself in a church service but I will look for the edification of the whole body.
Obedience is a tree of life!
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