Are you trying to provoke me?

Submitted by GSutis01 on Mon, 2009-07-27 09:32

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Hebrews 10:23-24

Do you ever doubt your faith in Jesus? Do you ever have those moments when you just aren't sure if what you believe is true? I think we all have and we all will continue to have those times in our lives when it's hard to believe. In our verses today, we are told to "hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering". If we have trusted in Jesus and professed our trust in Him, then we need to hold on to that faith and our profession. It is supposed to be the foundation that the rest of our life is built on. When the times are hard and you aren't sure what is happening, hold on to Jesus. When everything is great and going according to plan, hold on to Jesus. At all points in your life, hold on to Jesus, because He is worthy and because He died so that you could have the chance to hold on to Him.

The devil wants you to doubt. He wants to plant the seed of doubt so deep in your mind that you can't shake it. There is a difference between doubting and questioning. We are told to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" We are to look at our faith and make sure it is genuine, but we are not to doubt it. If we find that we are not in the faith, then we need to get it right, fix it. We can have assurance in our faith because, "He is faithful who promised". We can be faithful because He is faithful and that leaves no room for doubt. So by all means, examine your faith and make sure that it is genuine, but don't just sit around doubting. When the devil tries to make you doubt, remember the profession of your faith, and most importantly remember who you placed your faith in.

The next verse is also very important to our daily walk with the Lord. "let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." The way you live should be a testimony to others. We know that we should live a certain way so that the lost will see our lives as consistent and desire to have a relationship with the Lord, but do you think about your brothers and sisters in Christ needing something from your life? When someone provokes you, how do you respond? Most of the time, we use being provoked as an excuse for our actions. We say that we weren't responsible for our actions because they were asking for it. We are to provoke one another to love and good works. What if all Christians were to strive to live their lives in a way that would provoke others to love and good works? Do you think that we could make a difference? What if just those who read this today started living to provoke others to love and good works, do you think that we could make a difference? Why don't we find out?

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