His Love Provokes Us to Love Others

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" (Hebrews 10: 24)

The word "provoke" evokes a harsh, antagonistic tone for modern readers of the King James.

The original word is "paroxysm", which means irration and incitement, but also excitement and exhortation.

How do we get people excited about loving others and doing good works?

Tell them all that Jesus is and all that He has done for us:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

and also

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)

Paul later writes:

"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5: 15-17)

and also

"20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

and also

"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

When we see how much God loves us (actively, presently, and eternally), how can we not love others?

Is that not what the Bible says, anyway?

"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)

Paul prayed that we would comprehend His love (Ephesians 3: 16-19), and when we understand His love for us, then we love others.

Today, if you want to get other people excited about loving God and other people, let them know how much God loves them!