"Let us consider how to provoke one another
to love and good deeds…" It reminds me of “I double dare you” on the grade
school playground although that usually involved provoking one another to
dangerous deeds that were never very good and certainly not well thought out.
The Greek word is paroxysm, which means a sharpening. The only other time the
word is used is for the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas that
resulted in their parting company. So we are to provoke one another to love and
good deeds with the same intensity as a sharp disagreement. This won’t be easy
for Lutherans because we prefer a more polite approach that includes the magic
word “please” or “If it’s not too much trouble…” If that doesn't work we still
don’t provoke. We motivate one another the old fashioned way aka Lutheran
guilt. But the writer of Hebrews provocation is based on confidence, full
assurance and unwavering hope in the faithfulness of God. The provocation to
love is a response to God’s love, as good deeds are a response to the good deed
done for us by Jesus who has opened a new and living way into heaven itself.
Now that sounds like something that might motivate a Lutheran. So what are you
waiting for? Get out there and do some good deeds today. I double dare you.
No comments:
Post a Comment