Positive Provoking: Love

A well-known pastor and Bible conference speaker was asked what the meaning of Hebrews 10:24-25 was. He replied bluntly, “Go to church!” To be sure, the expectation of faithfully gathering together as a local body is in these verses. Many of us have heard them quoted in that way our entire Christian lives. Looking closer, however, yields more than just a command to go to church. These two verses are packed with instructions on what we should do when we get here.
 
• Thoughtfully consider positively provoking to love. (“stir up”)
 
• Why we should positively provoke others to love:
 It marks one as a follower of Jesus, John 13:24-35
 It fulfills the Law, Romans 13:8
 It follows God’s teaching, 1 Thessalonians 4:9
 It pleases God, 1 John 3:22-23
 It reveals God to a watching world, 1 John 4:12
 
• How we should positively provoke others to love:
 By our service to them, John 13:1-5
 By our growth in love, 1 Thessalonians 3:12
 By our intensity for love, 1 Peter 1:22
 By our sacrifice for them, 1 John 4:7-11   
 
It is not a matter of just going to church, but what do we do when we get here.