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“Provoke Each Other” by Kirk Hunt
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Hebrews 10:24 KJV
Given the opportunity to name a topic for one of these devotionals, my Gospel brother became gleeful. When he finally names a specific topic, it is supposed to be a challenge. A spur to good and Godly work.
Practitioners and experts are the most difficult audience. They appreciate the great displays of expertise, but they see the little slips of imperfection. They share your goals and aspirations, but they also know the craft you are trying to perfect.
Why should I bother with his challenge? Because he’s going to provoke me. To delve further into Scripture. Knowing his heart and expertise in the things of God, I’ll have to labor just a little better.
Ultimately, his challenge is for me to be more like Jesus. Knowing my friend, I can’t half-step. I will have to bring my best.
It is a kind of sibling rivalry. Thankfully, our heavenly Father has an infinite store of love and blessing for all of His children. No one loses the race for Godliness.
Who is challenging you? Who pushes you just a little further into the Arms of Jesus? What does an answer of “no one” say about you?
Think: My brothers and sisters help me get better in Jesus.
Pray: “Lord, help me embrace the men and women who will provoke me toward You.”
Copyright © November 2009, Kirk Hunt
Today, we often look at the word “provoke” in the negative. It’s good to see that the writer of Hebrews used the word as we would “encourage.” Aren’t you glad we have people who provoke us to love? I am. What would we do without those encouragers?
Blessings
Dell