Let us consider how to
provoke one another
to love and good deeds,
not neglecting to meet together,
as is the habit of some.
Hebrews 10:24-25
"Provoke" is a provocative word.
It's also, usually, a bad word.
When someone provokes us, it's usually to anger. They push and push and push until a line is crossed. And then we blame our bad behavior on them.
I love that Hebrews encourages us to provoke others -- to provoke them, indeed, to love and good deeds. We are called to push and push and push one another until there is an explosion of love and service and blessing.
Pay attention to the whole verse, though. There's a context for this wonderfully provocative behavior. It's within the community of "meet[ing] together."
Hebrews isn't inviting us to provoke strangers. Rather scripture invites us to 1) meet together, 2) make family, and 3) nurture family. And whenever a family member seems to be rolling away like the tide, we're called to be provocative. We're called to call them back. And we're called to prompt them toward God's glorious standard.
In Christ's Love,
a provocateur
(Go love! Go faith!
Go good deeds!)
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