Hebrews 10:11-25 (NRSV)
Read Hebrews 10:11-25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. Verse 12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," Verse 13and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." Verse 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Verse 15And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, Verse 16"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds," Verse 17he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Verse 18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Verse 19Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, Verse 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), Verse 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, Verse 22let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Verse 23Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Verse 24And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, Verse 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Devotion
When we were young, I remember that my brother and I excelled at provoking one another in negative ways. Poking one another in the back seat of the car when our parents weren't looking, tattling on each other and similar behavior probably identified us as normal young siblings.
Unfortunately, when people get older, they often don't leave behind their ability to provoke one another ... they just do it in more subtle ways.
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews puts a positive spin on that word "provoke." We read in Hebrews 10:24, "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds." That truly is something for all of us to consider. Let us consider how to use our natural inclination to provoke one another in positive ways!
Prayer
God of love, you worked the ultimate good deed for our human race through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By your Spirit, inspire us to provoke one another to reflect your love in the good deeds we do for one another. Amen.