Let Us Provoke...
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey.
Some people imagine the Christian life as a quiet cabin by a lake. Just me, my Bible, and a little peace and quiet. There is nothing wrong with enjoying silence with God. Jesus often withdrew to pray. But He always came back to people. He healed them, taught them, served them, and even laid down His life for them.
That is our calling too.
The writer of Hebrews says we should "provoke one another" to love and good works. That is a strong word. It means to stir each other up. To encourage. To challenge. To remind one another what matters most.
Sometimes we need that.
It is easy to drift. We get tired. We become discouraged. Someone hurts us. The church disappoints us. Life gets busy. Before long, we begin to pull away. We stop gathering with God's people. We stop serving. We stop encouraging others. Our faith slowly becomes private instead of lived.
That is not the life Jesus calls us to.
God did not save us so we could hide from the world. He saved us so we could shine in it.
The greatest growth often happens in the middle of ordinary relationships. We learn patience when people test it. We learn forgiveness when someone fails us. We learn kindness by serving someone who cannot repay us. We discover Christ's love not only in quiet moments with Him but also in loving the people He places beside us.
Church is not a place filled with perfect people. It is a family learning to follow a perfect Savior.
So do not drift into spiritual isolation. Show up. Worship. Encourage someone. Pray with someone. Serve where you are needed. Send a note. Make a call. Speak hope into a weary heart.
Someone else may need the encouragement only you can give today.
And you may discover that, in helping strengthen another believer, God quietly strengthens you as well.
Have a great week!
-Pastor Corey
