Do you know someone who provokes or irritates you? Probab ly. And, I suspect, you also are a thorn to at least a few others. Christians as well as unbelievers seem to have the capacity to "rub people the wrong way." Maybe you irritate friends with your dogmatic political views. You know you are right, and it is exas perating when others cannot see the error of their way. People who are always negative, domineering, overly optimistic and frivolous, or hypercritical can stir us to anger and despair. Hebrews 10:24 urges to us pro voke people — but not to anger, fear, hate, or despair. We are to "...consider one another to pro voke unto love and good works." Our natural tendency is to consid er ourselves and our pet thoughts and to provoke others to accept them or pay the price of our dis pleasure. But this verse in Hebrews asks us to consider one another— not self—and then to provoke them to love and good works — not anger. Provoking of this nature is dif ficult. A parent must ask, "What can I say to my son that will en courage him to love and serve the Lord?" not, "What can I do or say to make my son act so people will tell me that I am a good par ent?" The first approach is based upon considering others, the sec ond is self-centered. Perhaps if we would recognize our own shortcomings, we could consider the other Christian in a better light and provoke to love rather than simply condemn in an
ger. Note that the same word "Consider" is found in Matthew 7:3, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine owne eye?" At Biola we have urged our fac ulty, staff, and students to apply Hebrews 7:24 in their lives. Though all Christians need to apply the full council of Cod's Word, we neglect so often this basic concept. The faculty must consider each student with his or her own individual problems and needs. Students must recognize that there is no such impersonal entity as an "ad ministration" or "faculty." They are in Christ for a common purpose. We are proud of our students at Biola and Talbot. Many of them have been Christians for only a few years, and we cannot expect in them the degree of Christian maturity that comes from walking with the Lord for thirty or more years. However, they are unique. Instead of provoking riots, con frontations, and destruction, these students are perfecting the work of provoking young and old into a closer walk with Christ. They are, indeed, activists — activists for Christ. We do a lot of provoking in one lifetime. Ministers, teachers, neigh bors, members of the family all feel the brunt of our agitation. Let us develop the ability to stir peo ple up to greater service. Through prayer, well-chosen words, and a genuine concern for the other per son, we can effectively serve Christ. Page 5
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