1 Corinthians 14:6-12 No Lifeless Harps!
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 25, 2020 1 Corinthians 14:6-12
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
(Understanding the Text) Before this, Paul’s argument has been that prophesy is better for the church than speaking in tongues. Now, Paul turns to a different argument that minimizes the importance of tongues. He says that speaking is not what is important; it is the content of the message that you give that is important. He compares speaking in tongues to a musical instrument. There is a sound, but unless the musical instrument is played clearly, we will not know what song we are hearing. If the bugle does not give the battle cry loud and clear, we will not be able to respond to its message.
If we speak in a language that the others do not know, we are not speaking to them. We are talking to the air. As long as we do not know each other’s language, we are strangers to each other. In order to be a healthy church, we need to communicate together. We need to know each other, and that is done through words that others can understand.
(Revelation of God) The Corinthians must have valued spiritual gifts, especially tongues, a lot. Paul says that if we want to see the Spirit working, we should be asking for manifestations of the Spirit that will build up the church rather than showy demonstrations that do nothing for the people. The Spirit can work mightily, but He will not work selfishly. He always works to promote the welfare of the church, whether it is individual members or the church as a whole. When we are led by the Spirit, we too will seek to build others up rather than to focus on our own internal focus.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that speaking in Spanish in my bilingual church is not enough. I need to be able to facilitate understanding and communication. Words are not enough. I need to have spiritual power and meaning in those words so that others are built up. Please give me the words and the power of the Spirit to communicate Your messages to those You want to have built up. Don’t let me ever tear anyone down with my words and/or actions. Instead, I want to use the spiritual gifts that You have given me to glorify You and uplift those around me.