ICS Daily Devotions
Pursuing Love and Spiritual Gifts

Paul said, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts,” 1 Cor 14:1. Pastor Daniel has encouraged us to let this be the attitude of ICS. As a church, let’s pursue love among believers and desire spiritual gifts at the same time by learning from the Holy Spirit’s example of love and embrace. Let’s lean on the Holy Spirit for love, and spiritual gifts so we can function as a blessed church unit – to bless others.

For, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23,25

There is a diversity of gifts and denominations in the body of Christ and we might not be comfortable with every member of the body- and same with our church; we embrace brothers and sisters who come from different backgrounds, denominations, having different spiritual gifts. Let us take note that, it is part of a transformed life that we lean on the Holy Spirit to love those who are different from us. This is important in an International church such as ours, so we may maintain love, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit amongst us; this creates a community of encouragement and unity for ICS brothers, sisters, and ourselves to freely use our spiritual gifts to bless others individually and as a church.

Paul said, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts,” 1 Cor 14:1.

1 Cor 13:4-8 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.”

To walk in love is to be patient with one another. It means that we will be kind with our words even when we have differences. When we do not feel comfortable in some denominational practices, love for others always focuses about the positive and the good intent others have for us and for the people around us. Love is not proud when we have any spiritual gift, it is not being superior at all! Instead, it is a means for us to serve others. Love keeps no record of wrong even when we are corrected. To love gives us a higher capacity to serve and to embrace others. We will never fail to love each other if we choose to walk in love and humility, just as the Holy Spirit has with us.

Sermon Series: CG Campaign – A Transformed Life