Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”
The Amplified Classic says it this way: “And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities.”
In the Body of Christ, we have been given the charge to love and care for one another, to restore one another, and to serve one another. We are told to prefer one another, honor one another, and consider one another. We are to watch over each other like we are watching out for our own body. We are all part of the Body of Christ. We are members of one another. We have been joined together by the Holy Spirit.
We are to provoke one another to good works. We are to study how to stimulate and incite people to love and to good works. It seems that not everyone is motivated in the same way. I do know that it is your job and mine to provoke people to obey God. Each person needs something different to motivate them.
I know, for me personally, since I came back to the Lord, it just seemed important to do for the Lord. I didn’t seem to need to be motivated. I just did it. Others may need to see that they are needed. Some may be shy or not feel adequate to do it. Some may have been hurt the last time they were serving. Some may feel they don’t have the time. There is an answer for every one of these issues, but we can’t let these issues turn into excuses not to obey God.
We who do serve need to provoke those who have not yet found a place to serve. We need to motivate, not humiliate them. We need to entice, not guilt them. We need to help, not belittle them. We need to love on them and see that they are healed, not disdain them.
It is time for the Body of Christ to rise up. The way we do that is for us all to serve one another and serve the world as well. The next verse says, “Don’t forsake the assembling of yourselves together.” Why? As we are assembled together, others can see our good works as we serve them, as we love them, and as we take care of them, which should entice them to do good works as well and join us in serving God.
Jesus is coming back soon, and part of the glorious church is being a vital, lively, serving church. Let’s serve one another until Jesus returns. Provoke one another to good works by doing those good works yourself!