Spur, Provoke and Incite!

 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

 

I hope this post I originally wrote in March of 2012 will bless you as you take its message to heart:

 

Do you see “the Day” approaching?

“What day would that be”, you ask?

The day of Jesus’ return.

As we draw closer and closer to His return the

corruption and the decay of sin will increase all around us.

We, however, are not to despair.

There is good news in that those who trust in Christ will know an increase in the power and presence of His Holy Spirit in their lives to accomplish His will.

We are also encouraged, through the verse we are looking at today, to ‘spur’ one another on towards love and good deeds. Spurring, provoking or inciting another individual on is usually not a welcomed behavior on the part of the one at the receiving end of it!

Yet that is exactly what we are called to do.

There is no question that at times it may be easier to NOT gather together, to NOT be provoked in doing what is right, to NOT be incited to love the brothers and sisters in Christ. If it were always easy and if we were inclined toward it then we likely would not need the admonition given by the writer of Hebrews.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I do need others to provoke, spur and incite me in ways I need to behave.

I need to be around those who love me enough to challenge me in my walk.

Yesterday, we talked about standing with others in their times of difficulty. It is equally important to stand with others in their times of complacency, apathy and indifference and spur, provoke and incite them forward in the things of God.

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Proverbs 27:6