Win or Lose

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

WIN OR LOSE

1 Cor 14:36-40

36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.   39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

NIV

Is this a just a little bit of sarcasm? Is this just Paul or is God actually handing this out? It would do us all good to consider the word of God not being originated by us. That is to say we, the particular denomination we attend or are actually members of are not only ones who have the correct interpretation of the scripture. Can we say we are the only ones it has reached? Within the context of this whole dissertation about the gifts, it is especially pointed toward that understanding. We know, without question, there is a great divide within the greater body of Christ over the use of these gifts. Yet here we are seeing that if we think we have any spiritual gift at all, which would include pastors and teachers of the Word, and we do not acknowledge that these gifts which have been discussed are the Lord’s command, what we do have to say will be ignored. So then what should we do? We have to acknowledge the gifts as from God, and that He does not change and therefore He continues to gift people as He determines with whatever gift He sees fit to give whenever He decides. For us to say anything contrary to that would simply mean we do not know the truth, or refuse to acknowledge it as a command from God. We are reminded again that we should be eager to prophesy, and that we should not forbid the gift of tongues in the congregation. Yet that is exactly what many denominations do, they are not eager to prophesy and they forbid tongues.  So should we ignore whatever else they have to say? That is pretty strong language, but it really makes a mind, and a spirit ponder. We also have to see that even if we are among those who actually follow this command, and are eager to prophesy and do speak in tongues that is needs to be  in a fitting and orderly fashion, which implies being sensitive to the giver of gifts. We truly need to be operating within the Spirit, open to His moving in our lives, both as He gifts us and as we see Him gifting others. If we close our minds, our hearts, our spirits to what He wants to do among us, we lose. But if we open our minds,  our hearts and our spirits to what He desires to do for us, in us and through us, we and everyone around us wins. It is up to us, do we win or lose?