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 politer 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 provocation in these passages 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.
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