What are you Pursuing?
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”
It is fascinating to me that after spending an entire chapter explaining spiritual gifts and another chapter celebrating love, Paul begins chapter fourteen with a command that brings everything into proper perspective. He doesn’t tell the church to chase spiritual experiences. He doesn’t tell them to seek the spectacular or spend their lives trying to discover every spiritual gift. His first command is simple: “Follow the way of love.” Only after establishing that priority does he tell believers to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. The order matters because when we reverse it, we often end up pursuing the wrong things.
Sadly, history has shown us what happens when the gifts become more important than the Giver. Some believers become so fascinated with the supernatural that they begin measuring spiritual maturity by experiences rather than obedience. Others have seen those abuses and swing to the opposite extreme, becoming skeptical of anything that appears supernatural. Neither response reflects the balance Paul teaches. He never tells us to ignore the gifts, nor does he encourage us to make them our primary pursuit. He reminds us that love must always lead the way. The greatest evidence of a Spirit-filled life is not simply what God does through us, but what God is producing within us.
Think about the ministry of Jesus. Everywhere He went, miracles followed Him, but Jesus never chased miracles. He chased the will of His Father. The miracles were simply the overflow of a life completely surrendered to God. The same is true for us. When our greatest desire is to know Christ, obey His Word, and love people well, we place ourselves in a position where the Holy Spirit can work however He chooses. We don’t have to manufacture anything. We don’t have to force anything. We simply remain available and obedient, trusting God to accomplish His purposes through our lives.
Perhaps that’s the question each of us should ask today: What am I pursuing? Am I pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus, or am I simply looking for an experience? Am I growing in love, humility, patience, and faithfulness, or am I only interested in discovering my gifts? Paul reminds us that these things are not enemies. We should eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. We should pray that God uses us in powerful ways. But those desires should always be built upon a foundation of love for Christ and love for people. When love leads the way, the gifts find their proper place, and Jesus receives the glory.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and for the privilege of being used in Your Kingdom. Guard my heart from pursuing experiences more than I pursue You. Teach me to follow the way of love in every area of my life, and help me eagerly desire whatever gifts You choose to give so that I may serve others and bring glory to Your name. May my greatest pursuit always be Jesus. In His name I pray, Amen.
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”
It is fascinating to me that after spending an entire chapter explaining spiritual gifts and another chapter celebrating love, Paul begins chapter fourteen with a command that brings everything into proper perspective. He doesn’t tell the church to chase spiritual experiences. He doesn’t tell them to seek the spectacular or spend their lives trying to discover every spiritual gift. His first command is simple: “Follow the way of love.” Only after establishing that priority does he tell believers to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. The order matters because when we reverse it, we often end up pursuing the wrong things.
Sadly, history has shown us what happens when the gifts become more important than the Giver. Some believers become so fascinated with the supernatural that they begin measuring spiritual maturity by experiences rather than obedience. Others have seen those abuses and swing to the opposite extreme, becoming skeptical of anything that appears supernatural. Neither response reflects the balance Paul teaches. He never tells us to ignore the gifts, nor does he encourage us to make them our primary pursuit. He reminds us that love must always lead the way. The greatest evidence of a Spirit-filled life is not simply what God does through us, but what God is producing within us.
Think about the ministry of Jesus. Everywhere He went, miracles followed Him, but Jesus never chased miracles. He chased the will of His Father. The miracles were simply the overflow of a life completely surrendered to God. The same is true for us. When our greatest desire is to know Christ, obey His Word, and love people well, we place ourselves in a position where the Holy Spirit can work however He chooses. We don’t have to manufacture anything. We don’t have to force anything. We simply remain available and obedient, trusting God to accomplish His purposes through our lives.
Perhaps that’s the question each of us should ask today: What am I pursuing? Am I pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus, or am I simply looking for an experience? Am I growing in love, humility, patience, and faithfulness, or am I only interested in discovering my gifts? Paul reminds us that these things are not enemies. We should eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. We should pray that God uses us in powerful ways. But those desires should always be built upon a foundation of love for Christ and love for people. When love leads the way, the gifts find their proper place, and Jesus receives the glory.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and for the privilege of being used in Your Kingdom. Guard my heart from pursuing experiences more than I pursue You. Teach me to follow the way of love in every area of my life, and help me eagerly desire whatever gifts You choose to give so that I may serve others and bring glory to Your name. May my greatest pursuit always be Jesus. In His name I pray, Amen.
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