“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
1 Corinthians 14:1 NASB1995
The "desire earnestly" is the idea of “zealous passion” akin to what one may feel for their favorite sports team. There are tons of synonyms and all convey this idea. During the miraculous gifts dispensation of the first-century church, before the church had the complete written New Testament, many brethren possessed spiritual gifts by the laying on of the apostle's hands. (Acts 8:14-19; 19:6) There was nothing wrong with desiring the spiritual gifts in order to do the spiritual work of the Lord, And yet, it was not what they were to pursue. They were to pursue love. First. Foremost. Always.
Love is the "more excellent way” that the Holy Spirit began talking about at the end of chapter 12. Is demonstrated in chapter 13 verses 1-3, to possess the gifts without love, means nothing, is nothing, is useless and worthless. While you may desire the spiritual gifts, pursue the love that will render you the proper attitude in the reception and use of those gifts.
I did a podcast one time with brother Kenny Embry on Balancing the Christian Life. The topic of that podcast was “Love”, and Kenny had asked me what I thought one thing is that we miss about that topic, and this is the verse that I cited. Too many times we can think we know what love is, and we stop pursuing the knowledge of it and pursuing the practice of it. There are lots of things we can pursue and should pursue the knowledge and practice of as Christians, but none of them compare to love. None of them are worth anything if we are not pursuing love first and foremost and always.
How do you pursue love? You pursue love by trying to find the opportunity for it in every aspect of your life. In the decisions that you make all throughout the day. You pursue love by studying the scriptures to continually grow and mature in your knowledge of what true, godly, pure, righteous, holy love is. You pursue love by praying that God opens your eyes and mind and heart to learn about it and find opportunities to put what you learned into practice. You pursue love by learning from the experience and example of others. You pursue love because you love love.
Pursue Love!
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