The best gifts
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31
What are the best gifts. Of course, this is talking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but how do we know which gifts to desire. Beyond that, is it even our place to decide which gift to use? Well, this is one of those sentences with the understood subject of you, so if (You) is in the phrase, it looks like it is up to me personally. But (you) earnestly desire the best gifts. In reality, it is up to (you) personally to desire the gift, not choose the gift. Below are three examples of choosing the best gift:
First, in Acts 3:6 & 7 Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Peter and John saw the lame man at the gate Beautiful and knew that the best gift for that time was not silver or gold, but strength in the man’s feet and ankle bones.
Again, in Acts 9:40 – Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Here, Peter desired the best gift of raising Tabitha from the dead. A total and complete healing.
Lastly in Acts 16:18 it says: And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” Paul desired the best gift in this situation and cast that evil spirit out of the girl and set her free.
There is no record of the Holy Spirit telling them what to do or which gift to use. They desired the best gift by themselves. It was the gift needed for their immediate circumstances. Of course, they were well prepared because they were earnestly desiring the best gifts at all times. From these passages and many others, we can discern that the best gift is the gift that is needed at the time. The lame man needed healing, not money, so Peter desired that gift to heal the lame man at the gate. Paul needed discerning and casting out demons, so he desired that gift from the Holy Spirit.
There is one instance when someone tried to buy the gifts and that did not go so well. (see Acts 8:14 – 25) These gifts of the Spirit can only come from earnestly desiring them from the Holy Spirit and cannot be purchased from any person.
Let’s talk about earnestly for a minute. The definition of earnestly is pursuing with serious intensity. I have to be honest with you and say, I don’t believe that I have ever pursued the gifts of the Holy Spirit with serious intensity, although I am learning to. Of course the apostles were taught by Jesus personally, but even Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12) So now we know that the works of the Holy Spirit are not limited to the apostles that walked with Jesus in the world. He said whoever believes in Him will do these works. He even went so far to say that those who believe in Me WILL do these works also. It almost sounds like a requirement.
So here is what I am encouraging you to do today: Earnestly desire the best gifts! It is not unscriptural. it is not ungodly, and it is not wrong. In fact, it’s a command. You earnestly desire the best gifts and then you will see a more excellent way. That sounds like a promise and you will see that excellent way when you intensely desire His best gifts.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
The Daily Dose 