"Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."
1 Corinthians 12:29-31
Previously in the chapter, Paul was talking about how we are all needed, just like all the parts of the body are very different, but still absolutely needed. Then, here, he mentions some specific things that are needed. Paul talks about gifts here, but not just any gifts... specifically some of the "best" ones. Ones that we should want to have.
Moses said "would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:29). The gifts of apostles and prophets aren't things that we are restricted from seeking, nor are they impossible to achieve. Of course, obviously, God keeps his house in order and we can't all be overlapping with each other in terms of being the spokesperson for God with the authority to administer his kingdom on the earth. So what does seeking these types of gifts mean? ... I think it is the idea of receiving revelation, and having that close relationship with God. Nephi's father was a prophet, but Nephi wanted to see what his father had seen for himself. And he prayed and asked for it, and God showed him. If we all did have that close relationship with God, and were obedient to God so that we could retain that level of spirituality, it would surely make the world a better place.
Teaching is a gift dear to my heart, and miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretation are all excellent gifts as well... things that we can all have, as needed in doing God's work. But we probably don't all need them at the same time, and the fact that we have different gifts helps us to be humble and learn to be unified with others, because we need them to help us out sometimes. We're all awesome in different ways... none of which are unimportant or worthless. We can develop whatever gifts we have, and then work on some new ones... hopefully getting better and better as we progress, and also helping others to do the same.
And then the clincher at the end. All of this is super-important, but Paul is going to show us something even more excellent. :) We'll talk about the "more excellent way" tomorrow. :)
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."
1 Corinthians 12:29-31
Previously in the chapter, Paul was talking about how we are all needed, just like all the parts of the body are very different, but still absolutely needed. Then, here, he mentions some specific things that are needed. Paul talks about gifts here, but not just any gifts... specifically some of the "best" ones. Ones that we should want to have.
Moses said "would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:29). The gifts of apostles and prophets aren't things that we are restricted from seeking, nor are they impossible to achieve. Of course, obviously, God keeps his house in order and we can't all be overlapping with each other in terms of being the spokesperson for God with the authority to administer his kingdom on the earth. So what does seeking these types of gifts mean? ... I think it is the idea of receiving revelation, and having that close relationship with God. Nephi's father was a prophet, but Nephi wanted to see what his father had seen for himself. And he prayed and asked for it, and God showed him. If we all did have that close relationship with God, and were obedient to God so that we could retain that level of spirituality, it would surely make the world a better place.
Teaching is a gift dear to my heart, and miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretation are all excellent gifts as well... things that we can all have, as needed in doing God's work. But we probably don't all need them at the same time, and the fact that we have different gifts helps us to be humble and learn to be unified with others, because we need them to help us out sometimes. We're all awesome in different ways... none of which are unimportant or worthless. We can develop whatever gifts we have, and then work on some new ones... hopefully getting better and better as we progress, and also helping others to do the same.
And then the clincher at the end. All of this is super-important, but Paul is going to show us something even more excellent. :) We'll talk about the "more excellent way" tomorrow. :)
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