Who have you provoked today?

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works


Who have you provoked today?


We tend to think of provoking as a bad thing, just look at the dictionary definition.


provoke (pre-vok´) verb, transitive
provoked, provoking, provokes
1. To incite to anger or resentment.
2. To stir to action or feeling.
3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter.
4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.


The first meaning given is 'to incite anger or resentment'. However let's look at the subsequent meanings. 'To stir to action or feeling', that's not so bad, right? Neither is this meaning, 'to give rise to, evoke: provoke laughter.' Then again this one isn't so inspiriing in a positive way, 'to bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.' When the Bible tells us this- 'provoke unto love and to good works' this is a very good thing. How are we to help each other? Provoking each other to love and good works is an amazing thing. Inciting good, stirring up good works, giving rise to love, deliberately inducing love and good works these are amazing thing and how many of us do this? How many of us provoke another person to love and good works? It's easy to provoke mischief. A simple cross word from us can incite dissent and bad feelings, can a simple loving word do the opposite? Do loving words come easy to us or do criticizing words slip more readily from our tongues? Provoking unto love and to good works. What would happen if we determined to provoke someone to love and good works today, tomorrow, everyday we live? It's a thought isn't it? The next time a cross word spills from our lips let's instantly remember this verse and see if we can't provoke love before we provoke anything else.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior we can learn to provoke to love and good works. May the love of God fill us fully, may the forgiveness of Jesus wash over us all creating clean hearts within us. May the righteousness of Christ fill our hearts, our minds, all of us so that we may be His fully and that His will may be done within us now and always.


Amen.