Tuesday, October 17, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading 
1 Corinthians 14:1–12

Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound. If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church. (NRSV)

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Reflection

When I was in middle school and high school, I was in band. Before rehearsals began each day, it wasn’t uncommon for everyone to be practicing their own thing over top one another. As you can probably imagine, the result could most generously be described as noise.

I might have been performing a flawless concerto and my neighbor might have been playing the newest pop sensation, but the result was that none of our work was recognizable to anyone who came into the room. When we worked together, playing the same song, and starting at the same time with the help of the conductor, the result was a cohesive song that the listener could recognize.

Paul has a negative attitude towards people whose spiritual gift is speaking in tongues. Paul argues that speaking in tongues is by nature, an individual activity with God. The result is unrecognizable to anyone else hearing. A person might be communicating the great mysteries of the world with God, but no one else can understand them. The gift of prophecy, however, is all about interpreting and sharing God’s message in order to build the church.

Just like in band where it is important for each individual to practice their individual parts, at some point we all had to come together and practice as a band and share the wonderful music we could create when we worked together as a team. We as Christians are called to share our faith with the world around us, not just our individual relationship with God.

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Prayer
God, help me to work with your community in order to spread your message in a way that all can understand. Amen.

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Written by Katie Patterson, Youth Ministry Program Manager and Worship Manager

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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