Desire Spiritual Gifts

Today's verse surprised me a little bit.  I had always thought that we were all give different gifts and God gave us the gifts He thought we should have and we should just be happy with that.  The thought never occurred to me that we could or should actually desire the gifts and ask for certain ones.

1 Corinthians 14:1-2(NKJV)

1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 

2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 

So according to 1 Corinthians, not only is it OK to desire spiritual gifts , it tells us the one that we should desire the most.

Prophesy.  Just to make sure we are on the same page here is the definition for prophesy.

proph·e·sy

verb (used with object)

1. to foretell or predict.
2. to indicate beforehand.

3. to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration.

4. to utter in prophecy or as a prophet.

verb (used without object)

5. to make predictions.
6. to make inspired declarations of what is to come.
7. to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead.
8. Archaic . to teach religious subjects.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prophesy?s=t

Wow!   Look at definitions 3, 4, 6, and 7.  Looks like a big responsibility but I guess God wouldn't tell us to desire it unless He planned on giving us the ability to fulfill His plan so desire it I will!