Mutual Provocation

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Heb 10:24 AV)

 No real context is needed here other than to say our writer is concerned for the Hebrews that they come to Christ and learn to live for Him.  There is no mystery as to how to apply the truth above, either.  The application is straightforward.  The means unto love and good works is the ministry of the encouraging fellowship and words of one another.  The previous verse tells us when and where this ministry primarily occurs.  It is when we assemble together.  What struck this writer as he read this passage is the realization that fundamentalists have the rebuking and the reproving down.  It is the exhortation that we struggle with. Criticism comes easy.  Encouragement does not.   Telling someone where he or she is wrong is second nature to us. However, humbly encouraging those who are falling to dust themselves off and get back on the horse is not so natural.  We can point out faults and errors.  And they should be, by the way.  I am not asserting we ignore faults.  What I am trying to express is that encouragement and faith in a person is a strong motivation for them to try again.  It is easy and lazy to rely strictly on correction.  It takes a heart of compassion, humility, and faith to see the potential in someone.

Sometimes, we as saints don’t have enough faith that God can do miracles in another person’s life.  In particular, the work of sanctification is subject to doubt because we tend to see faults rather than successes.  Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of encouragement.  There was plenty of condemnation.  There was much correction.  However, when it came to someone believing in me and what I could accomplish, there wasn’t a whole lot of that.  Maybe it was our generation.  I don’t know.   What I do know is when the LORD blessed me with three sons, I decided to raise them with the belief that if they surrendered themselves to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, they could accomplish anything the LORD would ask them to do.  I spent much time encouraging them to try again.  Rather than chasten them for their failures, I encouraged them to overcome them by relying on the LORD.  “By God’s grace, you can do this!”  was the attitude of our hearts.  Something my father taught us was to place expectations higher than the norm and then treat your child as if it was a foregone conclusion that he would meet them.  This belief that what I was I was not destined to be helped me avoid very hazardous decisions.  Encouragement goes a long way in the success of another.  If he believes you believe, then there is a chance it might happen.

When we hear of another’s failures, how do we react?  This reveals a lot of our opinion of ourselves.  If we are quick to condemn others, generally speaking, we fail to see our own faults.  If, on the other hand, in the spirit of meekness we determine to restore one from their faults, this shows the proper attribute of humility.  When we see someone else fall, how do we react?  Do we show compassion?  Do we offer to pray with them?  Do we make a phone call or text every once in a while, to see how they are doing and if they need help?  Do we testify we also had the same issue, but God is good to those who wish to overcome and will enable us to do so as the Holy Spirit works in us?  Do we offer some bible verses as encouragement rather than verses that will further condemn the saint who is doing a good job of condemning himself?  One of the purposes of our assembly is to provoke one another to love and good works.  We assemble to motivate one another to live for God.  We assemble that we might share our struggles with one another and seek support as we attempt to overcome that which does not please God.  I guess what I am trying to say is there is a place for reproof and rebuke.  But there is also a place for exhortation.  There needs to be a positive balance to the negative of correction.  If someone already feels guilty for his faults, no need to further heap on him more truth that will continue to condemn him.  Provoke him to good works.  Tell him you believe with all your heart that he will succeed by the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit!