QT 17/07/2024 Wed. 1Cor 14. Avoiding organ rejection. 避免器官排斥.

QT 17/07/2024 Wed. 1Cor 14.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/1cor14

Love dislikes organ rejection within the body (1Cor 12:15). Love is the most excellent way (1Cor 12:31, 1Cor 13:1-13). Love is about building up others (1Cor 14:1-40):

(1) The way of love should be followed (1Cor 14:1);

(2) Desire gifts that give "upbuilding and encouragement and consolation" to others (1Cor 14:3), "so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged" (1Cor 14:31);

(3) Strive to bestow a "benefit" on others instead of being a non-contributor (1Cor 14:6), being "lifeless" (1Cor 14:7) or muffled (1Cor 14:7);

(4) It should enhance the knowledge of others (1Cor 14:9) and not be "without meaning" (1Cor 14:10,11,13-16,18-19);

(5) It should "build up the church" (1Cor 14:12) and should be "for the strengthening of the church" (1Cor 14:26) rather than reputation of self;

(6) It should edify others (1Cor 14:17), including "unbelievers" in Corinth (in the case of "tongues", 1Cor 14:22), and "believers" (in the case of "prophecy", 1Cor 14:22).

REFLECTION: The exercise of gifts should not be about showing off of one's own wealth, education, gifts and spirituality in the Corinthian church environment. Am I trying to show off under the disguise of exercising spiritual gifts which I supposedly have?

APPLICATION: It's not about me but the edification of others, "decently and in order" (1Cor 14:40), both in Corinth, and in the local church.

星期三 2024年7月17日 今日读经：哥林多前书14章.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1Co/14/
听 https://www.bible.com/bible/41/1cor.14.cnvs

爱不喜欢身体内发生器官排斥(林前12:15)。爱是最佳的道路(林前12:31,林前13:1-13)。爱是造就他人(林前14:1-40)：

我们要追求爱(林前14:1);

要渴慕能使人“得着造就、安慰和劝勉”的属灵恩赐(林前14:3),“好让大家都可以学习，都可以得到勉励”(林前14:31);

致力于让人得“益处”而不是做一个毫无贡献(林前14:6)、“没有生命”(林前14:7)或音调不分(林前14:7);

它应该让人长知识(林前14:9)而不是“没有意义的”(林前14:10,11,13-16,18-19);

它应该“造就教会”(林前14:12)且应该“加强教会的聚会”(林前14:26)而不是为了自己的名誉；

它应当让别人得着造就(林前14:17)，包括在哥林多“未信的人”(以“说方言”为例，林前14:22)和“信徒”(以“讲道”为例，林前14:22)。

反思：在哥林多教会的环境里，操练属灵恩赐不应该是炫耀自己的财富、教育、恩赐和灵性。我是否以操练属灵恩赐为名在那炫耀自己？

应用：重点不在我，而是在造就他人，“规规矩矩按着次序行”(林前14:40)，在哥林多，也在当地的教会。