Hebrews 10:24-39

                                                           
 
     

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

Hebrews 10:24-39

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works ...”

(Heb. 10:24). Our text this month shall encompass this verse on through the rest of the chapter. Christians have the obligation of inciting one another to the love and good works as noted by the writer here. But there are other things throughout the balance of the chapter that should serve to do the same thing. These are four in number and we now consider them. What are these four things that should provoke, or incite us to faithfulness in our lives as Christians?
 

The first is found in verse 27. There is a “certain fearful looking for of judgment.” For the Hebrews, this is probably a reference to the impending destruction of Jerusalem which occurred only about seven years after Hebrews was written. But let us look at the matter of “judgment” here from the standpoint of the final judgment at the end of the world, realizing that this is not what the context demands here. Knowing that judgment will one day face us ought to be an incentive for us to live our lives against a background of “love and good works.” One who does not anticipate coming judgment is living an illusionary life that says, “I am not responsible to God; no judgment is going to come.” The man is foolish indeed who tries to ignore the fact of judgment. There are other reasons to faithfully serve God, to be sure, but coming judgment is certainly one of them.

 

The second is found in verse 32. Paul reminds the Hebrews of their former days as Christians. Many of them gave up much for Christ. They were persecuted, ridiculed on every hand. Now, was all that to be in vain? Consider this from the standpoint of our lives today. Whatever you had to give up to become a Christian is worth it, for God never asks us to give up anything that will be good for us. When we think, “this business of Christianity is just too hard; I think I’ll just throw the whole thing overboard.” Doesn’t the fact that your Christianity cost you something mean anything? Knowing that it did ought to incite you to a faithful life.

 

The third is found in verse 37. Someone is going to come; that is sure. In the case of the Hebrews “he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” is the Romans. Knowing that difficult times would be brought by them should have incited the Hebrews to faithful service. We need to understand that “someone is coming” also – eventually in final judgment! That ought to be an incitement; a provocation, to a life of faithfulness.

 

The fourth is found in verse 39. Knowing that one who abandons his faith would be brought to perdition; destruction, ought to be an encouragement. Who would want to be eternally destroyed? When we stop to realize that when we turn our backs upon the Lord, nothing but destruction awaits, it ought to cause us to move on to a faithful life.

 
All of us need to be “jogged along” from time to time! We all need to be provoked to do what we ought to do. Let us reflect upon these four things; think about them and use them as a means of encouraging ourselves as well as others to lives of faithfulness to the Lord. Surely we do not want to face a fiery judgment because of carelessness!    - Bill Moseley