Please don't refresh this page.
We are submitting all your information.


This takes few seconds.
It will redirect after submission.
Devotional

Spur, Encourage, Provoke, Incite!

by BARBARA KINDSCHI LOVE Biblical conflict resolution God’s guidance & direction
Spur, Encourage, Provoke, Incite!
  • by BARBARA KINDSCHI
  • Comment
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25

In my apartment in China, I had a scroll with the three Chinese characters for “faith, hope and love” hanging on my wall. It got a lot of attention.  


“Did you write that?” Flattering. 


“Why those 3 feelings?” Conversation starter. 


Comments on love far out-numbered the other two. Perhaps teaching predominately female freshmen English classes had something to do with this. Sometimes I asked them to define love and giggling they gave examples from the Titanic to Korean soap operas to countryside grandmothers. Someone inevitably got out their threadbare pocket dictionary (and later their phones) to see how Webster defined it. 


“An intense feeling of deep affection or great interest and pleasure in something.”


In the Easter message I heard this year, the pastor asked us to move past this definition and focus on how God defines love.  


As I pondered his talk three things hit me. 


- God’s definition is all about Him. “We love because He first loved us.” “This is how God showed His love among us. He sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us.” 


- The Bible holds very specific descriptions. I Corinthians 13 alone gives us many responses to ‘what is love?’ It’s patient, kind, isn’t easily angered and doesn’t boast or keep a record of wrongs, to name a few.


- We’re not to hold onto this love. The I John passage continues, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” How? Hebrews 10:24 gives us some no-nonsense direction. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Other translations use stir, encourage and surprisingly, provoke and incite! None are passive or controlling.  


I Corinthians 13 helps me do this. Did my words help someone be kind? Was that response an example showing my listeners my list of wrongs? In the meeting was my joke leading others to laugh at something dishonest? 


Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus. Sorry Daniel Webster, but so much more than a feeling of affection.


Closing Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for Paul’s list that gives me specific attributes of love. Not just for a checklist but to direct me. Questions to ask myself. Not glibly – was that OK? No! Was it kind? Was I touchy or self-centered? Did I laugh at something unfair? If I say yes – then it’s more than not OK – it’s not love. Thank you for bringing me to this verse in Hebrews. It’s You that directs me to the scriptures I need. Show me how to spur my brothers and sisters to love. Show me – though it’s painful – where I’m not doing that. Forgive me. Thank you that you are love – help me never ever forget. Amen.
Resources
Song: I Love You Lord Medley by Jesus Image Musical medley by various artists, Calming 30 minutes of a variety of praise music focusing on Jesus’ love.
Article: Consider Each Other How to Stir Up Love by John Piper Very practical message on Hebrews 10:23-25. I would have loved to say all this in the devotional!
Question for Reflection

We might never write these out, but look over the love chapter. Which one are you having the most trouble with right now?

Comments
Barbara Kindschi
August 27, 2024

Too often I falsely see pessimism as being practical, having all the facts, making good decisions, not living in a dream world. When I was much younger when I said ‘don’t expect anything then you’re never disappointed’ I was being a smart aleck. I often expected a lot and was very disappointed! But I also had a pretty happy life with none of the disappointments faced in the worlds I’ve lived in. Now my pessimism comes out in not seeing or believing the best about people. “She failed on us last time- she’s going to do it again.” “You’re going to trust him?” Obviously that is not loving – not just because of I Corinthians 13 but because I’m forgetting what Jesus has done for me.