Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Follow the Way of Love
Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12

Paul begins this passage by exhorting the Corinthian church to follow the way of love. ‘And eagerly desire spiritual gifts’, he exhorts. But they were to remember that the seal of their spiritual zeal was to be the edification of the church.

For Paul, the edification and building up of the church can be achieved if there are the twin characteristics of intelligibility in speech in the gathered assembly and order in the conduct of the church.

Paul argues for intelligibility for the sake of both fellow believers (that they might be edified) as well as for the sake of unbelievers (that they might hear the word of the Lord and be converted).

In the exercising of the gift of tongues, Paul explains that it can be used privately as much as one pleases, but in the community only for the purpose of edification. And this requires intelligibility. Furthermore, those who speak in tongues must also do so in an orderly sequence.

Thus, the church needs to avoid thinking that being ‘spiritual’ has to do with the visible and the audible signs. Instead ‘spirituality’ is all about the edification of the church, the true expression of love for the saints.

The desired end-result of corporate worship and our ministries is not only to enrich our personal experience in the Spirit, but also to build up the church itself.

Pray for your church that it may express the love God calls us to display.