Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 12:31, where we read these words:
"But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”After the Apostle Paul spent most of a chapter describing various spiritual gifts given to the church—some of which are still in use today; and others of which are not—he enjoins us to go after the "best” ones; but then tells us of "a more excellent way." This superlative path, of course, is that of love, eluci-dated so famously in the next chapter (1 Cor. 13).
Gifts and love are not at odds; but love is greater in every way. Gifts are of no account without love. The devil has excellent gifts (from God), but he has no proper love (for God). Let us employ our various God-given abilities fully and well—but let us always do it out of love for Christ, His gospel, and His church.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If temptations arise from natural causes, then natural means, as medicines, are to be used and applied, and people would do well to be persuaded thereunto.” —William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]
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