Provoking To Love And Good Works

by JOHN MCCORMICK | Category: General | Jan 1944

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works" (Hebrews 10.24).

The English word provoke means" to call forth or stir into action" that is, to call forth what is in a person whether it be good or bad For example, "Ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath (Ephesians 6.4; Colossians 3 21) is calling forth that which is bad but the scripture in Hebrews 10 is calling forth that which is good namely, love and good works How are we to accomplish this 9

We remember that in our natural condition we were lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3 4) More than this we were "haters of God " (Romans 1.80, R.V.M.), but now we love God. What has brought about the change? The answer is given in 1 John 4.19, "We love, because He- first loved us." If we are to call forth the love of others we must first love them. In many cases the love is not immediately reciprocated. But a continual expression of love, not in word, but in deed, will eventually bear fruit. The power of example is great, and eventually bears fruit too. Note that the Thessalonian church became an ensample by imitating the apostle (1 Thessalonians 1.6). As he had bestowed tender affection on them (1 Thessalonians 2.7, 8) they returned in like kind as he had given (1 Thessalonians 3.6). The apostle exhorted them to continue and abound. His prayer was, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you" (1 Thessalonians 3.12). He reminds them in chapter 4.9 that they are taught of God to love one another, but his constant desire is that they abound more and more (verse 10). If such a condition be found in us, then as the love of God produced love to Him, so will our love provoke the love of others. We should love according to the divine pattern, and not according to our likes and dislikes.

"Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love " (Ephesians 5. 1, 2).

Then God's desire for His children is that they maintain good works. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2.10). In this matter too the apostle appeals to the power of example. He called forth good works by his own example. Thus in 1 Thessalonians 2.10 and 12, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe ... to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into His own kingdom and glory." That which marked the apostle in all his dealings with the saints was that his own godly example should provoke others to follow Him. It is no wonder that he writes "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11.1).

This principle works in other directions. In 1 Thessalonians 2.14 we read:" For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own -countrymen, even as they did of the Jews." Such a comparison would provoke their patient endurance of the sufferings which were befalling them, so that in their turn they became ensample to others. Notice what he says in 2 Thessalonians 1.4, "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions which ye endure. " But how much more did the Lord Himself by His example provoke others! "For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1 Peter 2.19-24).

In the matter of giving, the example of the churches of Macedonia is used by the apostle to provoke the churches of Achaia unto the same godly exercise. Their giving had been liberal, not out of their riches, but in their deep poverty they gave beyond their power. First they gave themselves to the Lord, then they gave of their possessions to relieve the poverty of the saints in Judea (see 2 Corinthians 8.). What an example! True, the Corinthians had a ready mind in the matter, but they had not as yet completed it (see 2 Corinthians

9.1-5). It is interesting to note that the churches of Achaia also are brought forth as an example to the Macedonians, so that it is written, "-Your zeal hath stirred up very many of them" (2 Corinthians 9.2), thus the action of each provokes the other unto love and good works.

May it be ours in all things to shew ourselves an example to others, that we may consider one another, and provoke one another to the glory of God.

JOHN MCCORMICK | Jan 1944
General