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
“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.” This is a valuable reminder when we consider sharing our money, time and talent. We do not do these things because we need to be good enough, but because God is already good enough.
There is one word in there that sounds so funny to me: provoke. Really? Should we pull a bait-and-switch on folks to trick them into sharing of themselves? Well… maybe! Just a few weeks ago, a member of our congregation gave an excellent Temple Talk about how she considers herself selfish because she’s greedy for all the amazing relationships and learning she gains from serving others. She was very tricky to speak to people’s own needs as a reminder to them to serve others’ needs. And it worked! May we each be so bold as to provoke others to faithfully serve the neighbor.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, change our hearts and minds into places of hope and love. Fill us up to be servants, and incite us to provoke others to love and good deeds. Amen.