Scripture: 1st Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and use your ambition to try to get spiritual gifts but especially so that you might prophesy.
Thought for the Day: We could probably spend a week just contemplating those first two words – pursue love. What would it mean to pursue love beyond the usual situations? For Paul, love builds up the community, yet in this one verse, Paul also points to the gift of prophecy. Most scholars are cautious in suggesting what Paul specifically meant by prophesy, but within the context of this chapter, it appears Paul is talking about speaking with the purpose of disclosing or making clear. Later Paul will speak of how prophesy encourages, strengthens and comforts. If we pursue love in and through prophesy, we will find ourselves helping the individual members of the community live into a life of love. Not a life that is “envious, boastful, arrogant or rude” (1st Cor. 13:4), but a life that “patient and kind”. Prophesy that exudes love will encourage, strengthen and comfort those within the community to live in the way of love.
Prayer: Help me to pursue love in all things, O Lord my encourager and strength. Amen.
This Coming Sunday…
