QT 2 Nov 18, 1 Cor 12:29-31, Clearly, the gift of tongues is not universal

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 (ESV) — 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

NOTE: This is pretty clear, not everyone has all the gifts. Not everyone speaks in tongues. Not everyone can heal. In the verse that follows, it says to earnestly desire the higher gifts, which is not tongues, but apostles (missionary work), prophets (evangelists), and teachers. Those are the things we should desire, not tongues. Why do we desire the lesser gifts. Of course, all gifts are important, and we need to honor those with lesser gifts. But there is a distinction in terms of the gifts we should desire. They are all important, but some have a greater impact in the world.

PRAYER: Father, help me to exercise my gift more and more under the power of the Holy Spirit and less and less under my own power. I don't want to rest on my logic or my mind. I need the mind of Christ to share the truths of Christ. Speak through me. Teach me so I can teach others.