Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.
Insight and Highlight
Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
Scripture Commentaries
Provoking love is a big sacrifice made to ignite love when it is dying.
To love someone who does not love you is fundamental and remains a spiritual, moral standard, and attribute expected of a true child of God. It is a standard by which the virtue of true Christian conduct is measured.
Retaliating others' misconduct must not have a place in Christian conduct. It must be replaced by "...love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Sadly, Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 1 Tim1:5-6.
Laboring for the undeserving, loving the unlovable, praying for enemies, not reviling when reviled, not rewarding evil with evil, are all unique Christlike attributes found in a true child of God.
The Apostle Paul expressed a purposeful heart of disposition to love that he will very gladly spend and be spent, even to his last farthing.
All his life in ministry, he sought not his own but that of his followers even to the verge of his exhaustion, 1 Cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might, by all means, save some.
Yet with all these, to the Apostle, there was the painful consciousness of toiling without adequate return.
It was apparent to him that in spite of his intense craving for affection, the love for him varied with those he was loving. Yet he was undaunted, he kept on.
Not though that he himself was so strong, but in his weakness, he received strength to be strong.
The Apostle made it clear that everyone goes through challenges. When you consider yourself weak, others may be as weak as you are, yet they, out of their weaknesses remain undaunted and receive strength and were made strong,
2 Cor 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...
2 Cor 12:9 ....Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Cor 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Paul encouraged and provoked unto love expressing in 2 Cor 11:29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
What have you sacrificed to provoke, motivate and stir up love when it is unlovable to love?
Remorse corner
One way to provoke unto love is abstaining from rewarding evil with evil
1 Pet 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Call to Word action
1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I will be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1 Corinthians 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
The Christian clarion duty
Keep on doing good to those who hate you. By so doing, 1 Pet 3:9 .... ye should inherit a blessing.
By so doing, Prov 25:22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Prayer
Lord, help me consider how to provoke, motivate, encourage others to show love and do good works, in Jesus' name.
Good morning all and be blessed as we come into His presence.
God bless you.
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