1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts

Desire is an operation of the flesh.

Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

It would seem a measure of self-control is required to establish the difference between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit. The problem is that the flesh can desire godly things. I know, I have done that myself. So how do we move from being babes in Christ to mature faithful servants operating in God will?

If you had not noticed, I parsed 1 Corinthians 12:31. I left out “And I will show you a still more excellent way.” That was Paul’s way of leading us into the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13.

1 Corinthians 13 English Standard Version

The Way of Love

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Gifts without love are not operating in God’s will.

My problem is living up to how God’s perfect love operates. Looking in the mirror I do not see myself that obedient, no matter how much I want to love perfectly. Then I remember the mirror is the law and I just want to break the mirror. Making love a law is like putting up a broken mirror. 

When do we stop trying and start being?